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.
I don't like them fellas who drive in two runs and let in three.
Pitching keeps you in the games. Home runs win the game.
I like to hit with men in scoring position.
You've got to have one of those guys on your ball club that, when you have runners on scoring position, you know that guy is going to drive the ball and put the ball in play and pick them up.
We've got to be good enough to put runs on board.
I loved coming up with players in scoring position and I had to drive them in.
For me, the game starts with starting pitching.
Having a relentless lineup full of professional hitters works on so many levels. It works in terms of pure baseball reasons: if you get on base, you're going to score runs.
You really want to try to continue to pile up outs as often as you possibly can. Whether they get a hit or not really doesn't affect the way you continue to approach that lineup, especially with a five-run lead.
I don't really think about the runs too much. I mean, if we get, like, a five-run lead, then I'll start to pitch according to that.
