If there's a runner on third with less than two outs, I clearly do not want to strike out.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
But I got a guy on third, I was in a jam the other day in a game, all those situations, when you need a strikeout there, in big spots. But we are very aware of that fact, that these guys put the ball in play.
If an umpire misses a called third strike and the other side ends up scoring because of it, I'm not going to forget it. If there are runners on second and third and two out, and if the umpire has just given the hitter an extra strike and the next pitch goes into the hole and both runs score, I've got to say something to the guy.
You would be amazed how many important outs you can get by working the count down to where the hitter is sure you're going to throw to his weakness, and then throw to his power instead.
I hate striking out, but at the same time, I'm much better at letting them go rather than, earlier in my career, worrying about it so much before the next at-bat against the guy. You grow as you play, and every year, I work to cut them down.
I was never a strikeout pitcher. Why should I throw eight or nine balls to get a man out when I got away with three or four?
There are only three outs an inning, and they should be treasured. Give one away, and you're making everything harder for yourself.
I hate striking out, doesn't matter what time of the game. I just don't like striking out.
Just because you're down to your last strike, you're not out yet. You can always do more. You'll always have more at-bats to take. That's true in baseball, in rescuing animals, and in life, generally.
Honestly, the type of runner I am, I'm a physical guy, and I try to set the tone early in the game, so you're going to see it a lot in the first and second quarter.
Your goal as a hitter is to get on. And if the third baseman is playing back and letting you lay down a bunt, I don't have a problem with that, even if it's late in a no-hitter.