Major League Baseball is the best league in the world, full of capable hitters up and down every single lineup.
I like my friends to be the hitters. The pitchers, they all have the same brain as I do. The hitters see the game from a different perspective.
For me, that's the difference in good hitters and bad hitters. If you can stay in the zone and make them throw you pitches, you'll be able to drive the ball a little bit better.
When you feel like you're going to have a low-scoring game, why not have one of your better hitters have a chance? All of a sudden you're in the ninth inning and you have one of your best hitters on deck that doesn't get up. I always think about that.
I notice a lot of hitters fraternize with pitchers. I see guys laughing and giggling before the game. These are the same pitchers who are trying to beat them. I've never seen Roger Clemens talking to hitters before the game. Bob Gibson was the same way. Man, I don't even see (Greg) Maddux playing golf with hitters.
That's one thing I learned from watching great hitters hit. A lot of hitters, they're ready to hit from pitch one.
I know my Dad's a National League guy. I'm an American League guy. I tell him all the time we got better hitters. He's like well we got better pitchers. I'm like cause you all got those easy outs at the end.
The power of home run hitters in the majors is different from those here. It's probably difficult for me to match that power now.
Why shouldn't we pitch to Babe Ruth? We pitch to better hitters in the National League.
With heavy hitters like 'Who's in Control' and 'Stunde Null,' it's easy to imagine British Sea Power wailing on Flying Vs in front of a packed arena of screaming fans.
My average against hitters is pretty good.
All small men, all non-power hitters, must learn to bunt well. It's half your game.
Needless to say, I have more no-hitters than Nolan Ryan.
Good hitters don't just go up and swing. They always have a plan. Call it an educated deduction. You visualize. You're like a good negotiator. You know what you have, you know what he has, then you try to work it out.
I'm good friends with Lee Westwood. Bubba, Rickie Fowler. A few of the top hitters.