Aaron Small Quotations

Please, somebody pinch me when it's all over.

I'd like to strike this guy out, ... so I can get this ball.

I'd like that opportunity; it would be a good challenge,

I can't give free passes away. Walking guys and hitting a guy, that's uncalled for. I can't do that. That just plays out of my game; I'm a control guy, getting quick outs. When I give out free passes, it makes it tough for me. It's inexcusable.

I hated missing every bit of it up here. (Team trainers) were real cautious and careful with me, which is good, so it's not something that pops up later.

I felt better each start. Last night, it all came together. I feel like I'm right where I need to be.

We've faced a lot of average pitchers this season ... and haven't done anything against them.

He changed the grip on my sinker last spring and got it to sink more consistently. He had me put my middle finger on the seam instead of my first finger, and slide it up on the ball about two inches. Those two inches made a huge difference.

I feel great. It's definitely moving in the right direction.

Sure, I'd like the opportunity. It would be a good challenge for me. I was excited about the start I had against them in spring training. That was neat.

I thought it was a double down the line. I forgot who was over there. What a play.

I was thinking about my career, and it's been eight years since I've come back to Spring Training in consecutive years with the same team. It's nice to come in, people know you and you know them. It's a little more relaxed.

You didn't know I could hit, did you coach?

The 7-0 thing is nice, but more importantly, it's a team win,

Mel taught me a new grip on my sinker in spring training, and I've used it all year, ... It has really helped me.

That was huge; that play right there gives them their fourth run if they score it, and it ends an inning, ... Any time you make a play like that, in a game like this, it swings the momentum to the team that makes that play.

Walking guys, hitting guys, I can't do that, that's uncalled for. I wasn't bothered by the situation, I felt good on the mound.

Each game is its own game, ... Facing them a week ago, you learn some things from the way they approached you, and you learn from watching the other guys, how they set them up. But it always comes down to executing.

Every game is so magnified and so crucial right now. It doesn't matter how you get it done as long as you win. They don't have to be pretty as long as you get them done.

What amazed me was how loud it was,

What an exciting moment, ... That (the ovation) was special.

I've been all over the place, ... It's a lot of places. They kind of run together after a while.

They say this is a game of inches. Well, those few inches changed my whole life.

Putting up those runs just made me relax even more,

This is fun. I couldn't have scripted it this way. I'm just hoping for a fairy tale ending.

I never could have imagined having a night like this in my career.

I've heard I have an outside chance as the fifth starter, and if not maybe as a middle or long reliever. They like my flexibility to work in any situation. I'll be ready for whatever they want me to do.

Once I felt good, it was a matter of just getting in games and getting my pitch count up. They were really cautious, which was good. It's something you don't want to nag you or to pop back up later. I hated missing every bit of it up here, but we took our time and got it right.

That's a good thing to hear, and I appreciate it, ... I also think that without the defensive and run support, nothing happens. It's a team game.

I know I'm an insurance policy. I've been that for the last six or seven years. This has been a dream come true. After my first start at Yankee Stadium I said 'Don't pinch me, I don't want to wake up,' but now it's serious time and I want to help this team any way I can.

I'll try not to get too caught up in the situation, ... I want to focus that it's 60 feet, 6 inches that I'm throwing to. Just another batter; this one is just wearing a Red Sox uniform.

I'll tell people I'll really look back on this year. Right now I don't really get too caught up in (his success). To do it for this organization, it is an honor.

I didn't feel like my heart was in the game anymore. I told the chaplain: 'I'm just releasing it to God. I surrender. I'm tired of doing it myself. Pray with me.' I wasn't looking for a sign. Just some peace.

There's times I looked around, but never in awe, ... In Columbus, we had about 1,200 people and here we had, what, about 50,000, so it's a little different.

It just wasn't my time to leave the game.

The big thing for me is getting ahead with strike one, ... Early on in the game, I wasn't doing that. I was just glad it wasn't worse than it was.

The hamstring was perfect. Got to go over to first a couple times and no problems at all. The arm strength is coming and I just look for it to get stronger each time.

It really hasn't sunk in yet, ... To do it at this level, with this team, in this kind of race we're in. I'm just glad I could help this team. They gave me an opportunity. They had the faith to bring me up here.

It's all my teammates. They deserve the credit,

It's fine if that's what people want to call me, because I have journeyed a lot, ... I've earned a lot of frequent-flyer miles over the years.

It's a rewarding feeling right now. It can't get any better than this but I hope it does.

This is the way I used to hold that pitch.

They really gave me my first real shot, a chance to pitch in the big leagues, ... To do it here against them, it's special. I can't put this into words yet.

If I could put up the zero, we had a great chance to win this game.