Last year was an incredible year for me. The last week of the season was not what I wanted. The year, as a whole, made me really happy.

Once they start the game my focus is on baseball,

I wasn’t too into rivalries, … I was just happy to watch the Cubs.

I think the biggest thing right now is I’m not locating my fastball. If I come back and I’m locating my fastball better (and not succeeding) then we’ll be able to kind of see if...

First of all, he throws a hundred

We really needed to win this one, … The way we hit the ball tonight, the way we pitched, we deserved to win.

Burke’s probably going to get a standing ‘O’ for sure, and deservedly so, … He’s been unbelievable.

It’s tough to get swept in the World Series. They did an unbelievable job of pitching.

It was great just to see him out and about. He had tons of energy last night, and it was nice to see him.

The first pitch was a slider. I tried to repeat the same pitch and I left it up in the zone.

I’m not sure right now if the fans and public know how exciting it’s going to be — at least here in the U.S.. I know in a lot of other countries, people back home...

It doesn’t bother me. Put it this way. If we went out there in a different order, we might get confused and run out backward. This is probably a good idea.

Yeah, they obviously have a tremendous pitching staff. Just watching their games on TV, it’s amazing that their starters have been able to do what they have done and they seem to get stronger at...

I’m upset about it now. But Tuesday it’s going to be gone.

I was happy to get out there. No. 1 is always kind of tough. I’m glad we got it for Roy because he deserved it. I’m glad we got it for Baggy, too.

I don’t want anybody feeling sorry for me, … It is what it is.

That was, I don’t know, how many days now, … It was really completely different circumstances, different pitch, whatever else you want to say.

I’m as confident as I’ll ever be. As long as I’m not hurt, I know I can get guys out. That’s not a big deal.

Obviously, I threw him a pitch I wish I could have back,

Hickey’s awesome. The best thing about Hickey is he keeps everything simple, doesn’t try to overcorrect things.

I’ve got to stay aggressive. And if I face him again, I won’t change anything, … It’s frustrating, but you don’t change anything. That’s the last thing you want to do.

It really is (important). We really needed these game. To take two is a real momentum builder for us. Everybody’s taking care of their business.

Yeah, seeing just how well those other areas have developed. Shoot, Japan and Korea were exceptional teams. We knew they would be mechanically sound, but we didn’t realize the talent they would have.

It didn’t matter as much to me, … I would have enjoyed pitching in that game but I had pitched in four of the past five games.

I didn’t realize how intense the games were going to be. To be honest, it felt like a playoff atmosphere out there.

It’s nice to put it to bed, move on and get to go to the World Series, … People looked at that like it was the end, but we never had a doubt that we...

He hit it a mile.

Hickey’s awesome, … The best thing about Hickey is he keeps everything simple, doesn’t try to overcorrect things.

Because of that, we know that even when we drop two [games] on the road, we’re capable of coming in here and winning three straight. We have a ton of confidence here. It’s a stadium...

My fastball has always been straight my whole career, … I wish I had movement on a night like this.

I need to get that in a better area. If I’m getting guys out doing that, then that’s what I need to do. If I’m still not getting guys out, if I’m still not pitching...

Last year, I felt good going into the playoffs, but I definitely felt like I had thrown a lot of innings as well, … I feel a lot fresher now than I did any time...

This is not as bad as it gets, … We’re still up 3-2 [in the best-of-seven NLCS]. If that were the seventh game of the series … I guess that’s as bad as it gets.

Roy threw great tonight. We needed him to win the game. After (Wednesday) night, we felt great to split now.

I think everybody on our team can smell it. We know how close we are, but at the same time, we know we’ve got to finish really strong. We have to win two games. I...

I think the circumstances today, with a one-run game like that to end it like that, was really emotional for us,

Put it this way — we’re not oblivious to the scoreboard,

This is going to be a great opportunity and I can’t wait to pitch, … I don’t know if I’ve given up a bigger homer. I know I’ve given up a longer homer. But this...

Obviously, if you’re hurt, not able to do it, that’s one thing. But if you’re just not sure, and you think, ‘I might not be ready for the season if I do this,’ I don’t...

It just feels amazing right now, but we know we just have to concentrate on tomorrow. There are going to be great pitchers going at it tomorrow and we know it’s going to be a...

Any closer, if you pitch long enough, you’re going to face some failure. He was able to bounce back from it as good as anybody. I hope the same is true for myself. I feel...

Normally, it takes a guy to trip on his shoe or not pay attention.

I know a lot of people want to think it did, … but it just didn’t.

They feel like playoff games,

Some people will say it doesn’t matter, but I think it was a pretty important win just because of losing those four in the playoffs and going 0-6 here this year, … We need to...

I just can’t wait to get back, … I’m going to be so pumped up to get out there in the World Series. It’s going to be amazing.

When he strikes somebody out to end an inning, there’s just an explosion of applause. Not that it’s not loud when any of our pitchers gets a strikeout to end an inning. But when he...

Last night I was able to establish my fastball early, which is something Phil has told me to do repeatedly, and I finally listened to him. And [pitching coach Jim] Hickey, too.

Our mindset is to do our job. That’s what we’re getting paid for. If we can’t hold a four-run lead, then we’ve really blown it. Andy did a fantastic job. It’s our job as a...

Tonight I made some bad pitches, … They were hitting some sliders that were staying in the zone.