Want a NOOK? Explore Now
I wasn't afraid to fail. It's really as simple as that.
As a seven-year-old kid pitching a ball against a brick wall, John Smoltz decided to be a professional baseball player when he grew up. And from that simple decision until his last season on the mound in the major leagues, it was his faith, work ethic, and love for the game—even more than God-given talent—that propelled him through challenges that would have ruined other athletes.
Starting and Closing chronicles John Smoltz's final season in a major league uniform, capping a legendary career that included fourteen years as part of one of the most dominant starting rotations in baseball, a Cy Young Award, and a World Series title—all while battling and overcoming "career-ending" injuries. At age forty-one, Smoltz was making yet another unlikely comeback from his fifth surgery. Recounting the story of a season that tested his perseverance and deepened his faith, Smoltz flashes back to watershed moments in the skeptic-defying journey from being one of the best starting pitchers of all time, to closer, to starter again.
One of the most intelligent, talented, and passionate players in the game, Smoltz delivers insights into modern major league baseball, its place in popular culture, and the value of competition. He writes with unflinching honesty about becoming a true Christian and finding in his beliefs the peace and strength to stay focused—through postseason triumphs and defeats, upheavals in his personal life, and the sting of being sent to the bullpen. What emerges is an inspirational story of spiritual growth and family values, from a man who believed not just in himself but in God's plan for him—and one more year.
Chapter 1 Why Not? 1
Chapter 2 Burn Notice 11
Chapter 3 So You Say I've Got a Chance?! 25
Chapter 4 Once a Tiger 37
Chapter 5 Perseverance 53
Chapter 6 Bullpen Business 71
Chapter 7 Closing for Dummies 89
Chapter 8 Me and the Homeboys Upstairs 105
Chapter 9 No Decision 119
Chapter 10 1 + 1 ≠ 2 135
Chapter 11 Fairway Tales 149
Chapter 12 Starting Over 167
Chapter 13 Hiccups 179
Chapter 14 Success and Failure 187
Chapter 15 Chasing Rings, Part I 205
Chapter 16 Chasing Rings, Part II 213
Chapter 17 Vindication 231
Chapter 18 A Sweep Worth Savoring 245
Chapter 19 A Hamburger, a Hot Dog, and a French Fry Walk into a Bar… 257
Epilogue 273
Acknowledgments 279
Index 283
LoopyGA
Posted June 8, 2012
This was a gift for my Mom, who is a die-hard Braves fan. She absolutely loved the book and kept talking about it the whole time she was reading it. She even read part of it to me. So, if you love baseball and the Braves, you'll love this book about how Smoltzie didn't want his career to end and kept pushing for one more year.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 7, 2012
Great book i really enjoyed it
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 5, 2012
I really wanted to like this book, but I can't help but feel underwhelmed. Seems like a case of missed potential.
Not much of the book actually focuses on his final season of play. Based off of the title, I would have thought much more would be said about that. Big disappointment.
The book also had a very poor editing job. I have about 20 pages left, and thus far have seen for instances where the phrase, "I could care less," is used. I'm sorry, but it's, "I couldn't care less." If this incorrect phrasing were used in a direct quote, I could see letting it make print-- but they weren't. Sort of along with the editing/writing, much of the book is repetitive-- too many sentences start the same, "Now, I have to tell you..." or, "Let me just say..." you get the idea. I get that the book is probably supposed to have a bit of a conversational feel, but after awhile it gets grating to have no variety in sentence structure.
Anonymous
Posted July 26, 2012
Chipper, smoltie, and maddux. My favorite braves
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.John Smoltz is one of the best pitchers to ever play major league baseball. For over twenty years he pitched for the Atlanta Braves, chosen eight times for the All-Star team and winning the Cy Young Award for best pitcher in 1996.
He pitched in the starting rotation for fourteen years when an injury caused him to move to the bullpen and become a relief pitcher. After three years in the bullpen, he asked to rejoin the starting rotation. Many people, particularly in the sports media, asked him why he did this. His response: Why not?
Smoltz begins the book with three things people need to know about him:
1. All he ever wanted to do was win
2. He's not afraid to fail
3. He never did anything in his baseball career just to set a record, or to be able to say that no one else has done what he has done
Smoltz lived in Michigan, and his grandfather worked at the Detroit Tigers stadium. Young John grew up going to Tigers games, and he loved the Tigers. He was thrilled to be drafted by his hometown Tigers to play baseball, and disappointed when they soon traded him to the Atlanta Braves.
His disappointed turned to happiness when he realized that the Braves were willing to work with him, that they valued their young players and worked hard to make him a successful pitcher. (The Braves are known for their excellent farm system.)
Injuries plagued Smoltz throughout his career, and he pushed his body through the pain, hoping to avoid Tommy John surgery, which could end his baseball career. He eventually had the surgery, but with his amazing work ethic, he began a grueling rehab program and came back to pitch again, although as a closer.
As a person who worked best with a steady routine, Smoltz found it difficult to get used to the unpredictability of being a reliever. As a starter, he knew which day he would pitch, so his mind was set. He could play his favorite hobby, golf, on his off-days. He said that "by going to the bullpen, I sacrificed two things that really helped me tick; knowing what was coming and feeling like I was in control."
Besides baseball, two other things motivated Smoltz: golf and being a born-again Christian. He described the moment he knew that his relationship with God had to change, and how his life changed for the better because of it. He soon became a popular speaker at 'baseball church' gatherings, and later founded a Christian school in an Atlanta suburb.
Now that he is retired, Smoltz has set his sights on joining the Champions Tour in golf , and Tiger Woods has said that publicly that Smoltz is the best amateur golfer he has seen. Smoltz frequently played golf with his pitching teammates, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux, and you can feel the joy on the pages where describes their bonding over golf.
Smoltz was not re-signed by the Braves after twenty years, and he joined the Boston Red Sox for a final season. He describes the sadness he felt at leaving the team he helped to bring to 14 post-season playoffs, although with only one World Series title. I found his analysis of the toll that pitching in so many consecutive post-seasons took interesting, and I have to say it never occurred to me how damaging it could be.
Boston was a disaster, and Smoltz was happy to be picked by up the St. Louis Cardinals after the Red Sox released him halfway through the season. He was happy to be able to contribute to the Cardinals playoff run, but wistfully says that he wished he could have ended his c
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 1, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted May 30, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted June 25, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted May 8, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
I wasn't afraid to fail. It's really as simple as that.
As a seven-year-old kid pitching a ball against a brick wall, John Smoltz decided to be a professional baseball player when he grew up. And from that simple decision until his last season on the mound in the major leagues, it was his faith, work ethic, and love for the game—even more than God-given talent—that propelled him through challenges that would have ruined other athletes.
Starting...