Jake Arrieta Quotes

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.

My main concern is when it's 2-0, I've got to keep it at 2-0. It gives us a little more of a chance. To give up four more runs, that isn't going to get it done. I don't care who you're facing or who you're playing, it's not going to get it done.

Every innings is important.

The only time I really try for a strikeout is when I'm in a jam. If the bases are loaded with none out, for example, then I'll go for a strikeout. But most of the time I try to throw to spots. I try to get them to pop up or ground out. On a strikeout I might have to throw five or six pitches, sometimes more if there are foul-offs. That tires me. So I just try to get outs. That's what counts - outs. You win with outs, not strikeouts.

Preparation is very important. The pitcher is going to do his job and prepare for you, so you as a hitter must do the same. I always watch videotape of pitchers before the game and even sometimes during.

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 just wanted to keep the game close until we scored some runs.

I think we match up with anybody because our pitching. In a short series you run your big three out there or four out there. That generally is what wins a series - pitching and defense. If we can catch the ball and not give away any runs like we do sometimes.

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?

If I get two strikes, I'll go to a pitch maybe that will help induce that a little bit.

But I'm not going to walk Barry Bonds, like some teams do, in the first inning with nobody on.

American League teams don't bunt very often. National League teams bunt a lot.

Your most precious possessions on offense are your twenty-seven outs.

How are you gonna score if somebody doesn't drive in the runs?

For me, the game starts with starting pitching.

Strikeouts are important. Anytime you can generate an out without the ball being put in play, there's nothing that can be done in those situations.

My approach every game is to try to keep the ball down and get ground ball outs.

I'm just trying to score as many runs as I can each time. The more I can make over a hundred, the better.

When you allow stolen bases, that changes the game.

Every single pitcher is making changes every single start. You can talk to any pitcher about this.

I kind of realized that when I take more pitches I put better swings on them.

I like to hit with men in scoring position.

I don't worry about infield shifts at all - you play where you're gonna play. I'm just gonna pitch my game.

We've got to be good enough to put runs on board.

Guys don't want to get to two strikes, so you have to make quality pitches early in the count, try to get them to put the ball in play.