--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You never want to be in a defensive mode…" description: "\"You never want to be in a defensive mode or have a defensive mindset. You always want to know that you're in control as the pitcher, you make him get h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61f/clayton-kershaw-4174_always_you-never-want-to-be-in-a-defensive-mode_2023202.png" --- # You never want to be in a defensive mode or have a… ![“You never want to be in a defensive mode or have a defensive mindset. You always want to know that you're in control as the pitcher, you make him get hits, you're never passive, always aggressive. If I get beat, I want it to be because I got rocked, got hit hard, never because I walked a couple of…” quote by Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61f/clayton-kershaw-4174_always_you-never-want-to-be-in-a-defensive-mode_2023202.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61f/clayton-kershaw-4174_always_you-never-want-to-be-in-a-defensive-mode_2023202.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61f/clayton-kershaw-4174_always_you-never-want-to-be-in-a-defensive-mode_2023202.png) > “You never want to be in a defensive mode or have a defensive mindset. You always want to know that you're in control as the pitcher, you make him get hits, you're never passive, always aggressive. If I get beat, I want it to be because I got rocked, got hit hard, never because I walked a couple of guys and before you know it.” [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Maintain an aggressive, controlled mindset in competition, avoiding passive defense. **In simple terms:** Stay aggressive and in control. Key Takeaway Adopt a proactive, assertive approach. Themes sports mindset competition Mood determined intense Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - baseball pitching - business negotiations - public speaking Key Concepts psychology strategy confidence Questions to Reflect On - When does aggression become counterproductive? - How can you stay controlled while aggressive aggressive? A Different Perspective Aggression can lead to reckless decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Defensive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defensive/) [Defensive Mindset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defensive-mindset-2589288/) [Defensive Mode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defensive-mode-3675811/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Mindset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindset/) [Mode Defensive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mode-defensive-3675810/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Want Defensive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-defensive-1345767/) ## Related quotes > [I always had that defensive mindset when I was an attacker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-wan-bissaka/i-always-had-that-defensive-mindset-when-i-was-an-attacker/) [Aaron Wan-Bissaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-wan-bissaka/) > [I want to be in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-nance-jr/i-want-to-be-in-the-defensive-player-of-the-year-conversation/) [Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) > [I'll knock down the open jumper when it's there, but I want to get after it on the defensive end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/i-ll-knock-down-the-open-jumper-when-it-s-there-but-i-want-to-get/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [I want to be Defensive Player of the Year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hibbert/i-want-to-be-defensive-player-of-the-year/) [Roy Hibbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hibbert/) > [I want to be the defensive player to break the MVP barrier. I want to break barriers. I want to do things when people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-watt/i-want-to-be-the-defensive-player-to-break-the-mvp-barrier-i-want-to/) [J. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-watt/) > [You want to be Defensive Player of the Year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-garrett/you-want-to-be-defensive-player-of-the-year/) [Myles Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-garrett/) > [You don't want to give the defensive back any signals about what route you're going to run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/you-don-t-want-to-give-the-defensive-back-any-signals-about-what/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [I want to be a defensive stopper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hart/i-want-to-be-a-defensive-stopper/) [Josh Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hart/) > [I want to be the Defensive Player of the Year and, if I have the chance, be MVP.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-embiid/i-want-to-be-the-defensive-player-of-the-year-and-if-i-have-the/) [Joel Embiid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-embiid/) > [I want to be on the All-Defensive team, be rookie of the year, make the All-Star team, all that type of stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiggins/i-want-to-be-on-the-all-defensive-team-be-rookie-of-the-year-make-the/) [Andrew Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiggins/) > [I want to win all the awards. I want to be All-Defensive Those are all goals that I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/i-want-to-win-all-the-awards-i-want-to-be-all-defensive-those-are-all/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [Any time I'm healthy I feel like I'm the best defensive player in the NFL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrann-mathieu/any-time-i-m-healthy-i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-defensive-player-in-the/) [Tyrann Mathieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrann-mathieu/) > [Before I signed for Liverpool, I was playing for Newcastle as a No. 10 - basically, I was always attacking. I didn't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georginio-wijnaldum/before-i-signed-for-liverpool-i-was-playing-for-newcastle-as-a-no-10/) [Georginio Wijnaldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georginio-wijnaldum/) > [I have my meals delivered... you know what I like? Chicken and rice... But the problem with being a defensive lineman is, if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-douglas/i-have-my-meals-delivered-you-know-what-i-like-chicken-and-rice-but/) [Hugh Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-douglas/) > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) ## More by Clayton Kershaw > [I'm not trying to strike everybody out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/i-m-not-trying-to-strike-everybody-out/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) > [I'll never take for granted the opportunity to put on a Dodger uniform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/i-ll-never-take-for-granted-the-opportunity-to-put-on-a-dodger-uniform/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) > [My changeup needs to be better. Until I feel comfortable throwing that pitch - or any pitch - in any count, I've got stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/my-changeup-needs-to-be-better-until-i-feel-comfortable-throwing-that/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) > [At the end of the day, if we don't win that game, we're going home, anyway, so what does it matter. I just wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/at-the-end-of-the-day-if-we-don-t-win-that-game-we-re-going-home/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) > [I've failed my fair share of times no doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/i-ve-failed-my-fair-share-of-times-no-doubt/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) > [I don't know if money is something to really celebrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/i-don-t-know-if-money-is-something-to-really-celebrate/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) > [I take a little pride in my diaper-changing, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/i-take-a-little-pride-in-my-diaper-changing-actually/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) > [There's a responsibility to the coaches, to the organization, to the front office, to the owners, to everybody who believes in you enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/there-s-a-responsibility-to-the-coaches-to-the-organization-to-the/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) > [The Steph Currys, the Jordan Spieths, those guys are exciting to watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/the-steph-currys-the-jordan-spieths-those-guys-are-exciting-to-watch/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) > [Baseball is going to end some day. I realize that as soon as you retire you know, people forget about you in this game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/baseball-is-going-to-end-some-day-i-realize-that-as-soon-as-you/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) > [I'm a big Taylor Swift fan. I really like her song 'Mean.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/i-m-a-big-taylor-swift-fan-i-really-like-her-song-mean/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) > [I grew up a Dodger and got drafted by the Dodgers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/i-grew-up-a-dodger-and-got-drafted-by-the-dodgers/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) > [You can make a lot of cases that you can take the win stat out of the game and you can still figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/you-can-make-a-lot-of-cases-that-you-can-take-the-win-stat-out-of-the/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) > [I don't care how you get the outs. It doesn't matter to me how bad it looks, how good it looks, how many strikeouts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/i-don-t-care-how-you-get-the-outs-it-doesn-t-matter-to-me-how-bad-it/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) > [I learned the slider out of desperation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/i-learned-the-slider-out-of-desperation/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) [Explore all 115 Clayton Kershaw quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You never want to be in a defensive mode or have a defensive mindset. 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