--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Strikeouts are something that just…" description: "\"Strikeouts are something that just happen. You don't go for strikeouts, because your pitch count gets too high. When you do get that opportunity, you h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/gerrit-cole-7763_day_strikeouts-are-something-that-just-happe_1926334.jpg" --- # Strikeouts are something that just happen. You don't go… ![“Strikeouts are something that just happen. You don't go for strikeouts, because your pitch count gets too high. When you do get that opportunity, you have to put them away with whatever is working that day.” quote by Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/gerrit-cole-7763_day_strikeouts-are-something-that-just-happe_1926334.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/gerrit-cole-7763_day_strikeouts-are-something-that-just-happe_1926334.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/gerrit-cole-7763_day_strikeouts-are-something-that-just-happe_1926334.jpg) > “Strikeouts are something that just happen. You don't go for strikeouts, because your pitch count gets too high. When you do get that opportunity, you have to put them away with whatever is working that day.” [Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pitchers should focus on execution, not chasing strikeouts, using the best pitch at the moment. **In simple terms:** Focus on execution, not chasing strikeouts. Key Takeaway Use the best pitch you have now. Themes baseball strategy performance Mood focused pragmatic Type advice instructional When to use this quote - Game situations - high pressure innings - coaching decisions Key Concepts Pitch selection risk management Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide which pitch to throw in a critical moment? - What risks do you accept when avoiding strikeouts? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on strikeouts can lead to higher pitch counts and fatigue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Don Strikeouts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-strikeouts-2987799/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Pitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pitch/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Strikeouts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikeouts/) [Strikeouts Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikeouts-just-478651/) [Strikeouts Pitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikeouts-pitch-2987798/) ## Related quotes > [I think my job is to keep the ball down. I always say I try to go out there and get early contact, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-degrom/i-think-my-job-is-to-keep-the-ball-down-i-always-say-i-try-to-go-out/) [Jacob deGrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-degrom/) > [Yeah, strikeouts just kind of happen. It's not something I'm trying to do, I'm just trying to get outs as fast as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/yeah-strikeouts-just-kind-of-happen-it-s-not-something-i-m-trying-to/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) > [If I'm not going to make the pitch, then so be it. I'm not going to try to manipulate the ball or muscle the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/if-i-m-not-going-to-make-the-pitch-then-so-be-it-i-m-not-going-to-try/) [Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) > [Strikeouts are part of my game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-scherzer/strikeouts-are-part-of-my-game/) [Max Scherzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-scherzer/) > [Casey wanted us to stay loose. That didn't mean clowning around. He just meant we should be confident and relaxed. We shouldn't feel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-mantle/casey-wanted-us-to-stay-loose-that-didn-t-mean-clowning-around-he/) [Mickey Mantle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-mantle/) > [I was never a strikeout pitcher. Why should I throw eight or nine balls to get a man out when I got away with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-coveleski/i-was-never-a-strikeout-pitcher-why-should-i-throw-eight-or-nine/) [Stan Coveleski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-coveleski/) > [Each strikeout brings me closer to my next homerun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-ruth/each-strikeout-brings-me-closer-to-my-next-homerun/) [Babe Ruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-ruth/) > [You never go into a season thinking you're going to strike out 200 guys or that you would have the most double-digit strikeout games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/you-never-go-into-a-season-thinking-you-re-going-to-strike-out-200/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [My goal is to get outs as soon as I can. Strikeouts aren't that big a deal to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/my-goal-is-to-get-outs-as-soon-as-i-can-strikeouts-aren-t-that-big-a/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I don't try for strikeouts, but batters just swing and miss. I'd exchange strikeouts for more innings. As a starter, my job is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-santana/i-don-t-try-for-strikeouts-but-batters-just-swing-and-miss-i-d/) [Johan Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-santana/) > [In business, you take a swing and you hope that you hit a home run, but sometimes you strike out. Strikeouts and failures are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/in-business-you-take-a-swing-and-you-hope-that-you-hit-a-home-run-but/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-scherzer/strikeouts-are-important-anytime-you-can-generate-an-out-without-the/) [Max Scherzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-scherzer/) > [Strikeouts are part of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/strikeouts-are-part-of-the-game/) [Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/) > [Pro-rated at 500 at-bats a year that means that for two years out of the fourteen I played, I never even touched the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-cash/pro-rated-at-500-at-bats-a-year-that-means-that-for-two-years-out-of/) [Norm Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-cash/) > [If you strike out 100 times, but your strikeouts are with two outs and nobody on base, those don't bother me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chipper-jones/if-you-strike-out-100-times-but-your-strikeouts-are-with-two-outs-and/) [Chipper Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chipper-jones/) ## More by Gerrit Cole > [You don't want to let the other team feed off your outward physical demeanor. But at the same time, you can't go out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/you-don-t-want-to-let-the-other-team-feed-off-your-outward-physical/) [Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) > [You never want to be in a bases-loaded, no-outs position, but dammit, when you're there, you better enjoy it. You better not sit there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/you-never-want-to-be-in-a-bases-loaded-no-outs-position-but-dammit/) [Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) > [I think if we just stay focused on what we focus on, which is ourselves, playing good ballgames, trying to win every day, don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/i-think-if-we-just-stay-focused-on-what-we-focus-on-which-is/) [Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) > [It wouldn't be any fun if you didn't fail sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/it-wouldn-t-be-any-fun-if-you-didn-t-fail-sometimes/) [Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) > [I'm a sucker for Wrigley, so I feel I'll probably be a sucker for Fenway, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/i-m-a-sucker-for-wrigley-so-i-feel-i-ll-probably-be-a-sucker-for/) [Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) > [There's hard work to be done, which I'll do. I'll continue to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/there-s-hard-work-to-be-done-which-i-ll-do-i-ll-continue-to-do-it/) [Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) > [We definitely like to celebrate the wins, that's for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/we-definitely-like-to-celebrate-the-wins-that-s-for-sure/) [Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) > [Regardless if your career is short or long, I personally would rather win more often than not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/regardless-if-your-career-is-short-or-long-i-personally-would-rather/) [Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) > [When they have the lead, you don't want to fall into too predictable counts because they're playing with house money at that point. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/when-they-have-the-lead-you-don-t-want-to-fall-into-too-predictable/) [Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) > [I just like to leave it out there and feel like I put in a good day's work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/i-just-like-to-leave-it-out-there-and-feel-like-i-put-in-a-good-day-s/) [Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) > [Every good team is going to have a good culture in the clubhouse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/every-good-team-is-going-to-have-a-good-culture-in-the-clubhouse/) [Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) > [Every start is an opportunity to get better and to learn how your body is feeling and what you need to do moving forward.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/every-start-is-an-opportunity-to-get-better-and-to-learn-how-your/) [Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) > [You get into a situation where your back's up against the wall and you don't have any option but to go out swinging, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/you-get-into-a-situation-where-your-back-s-up-against-the-wall-and/) [Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) > [In an industry where you don't always get to see your family as much as you would like, getting to hug your mom after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/in-an-industry-where-you-don-t-always-get-to-see-your-family-as-much/) [Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) > [I've obviously learned a lot, a lot of mental toughness, learned how to deal with some adversity. Hopefully I'm better for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/i-ve-obviously-learned-a-lot-a-lot-of-mental-toughness-learned-how-to/) [Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) [Explore all 87 Gerrit Cole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) ## More Baseball quotes > [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. 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Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/) [Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/) > [Pitchers pitch differently. Hitters, hardly anyone has the same stance. That's just how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/pitchers-pitch-differently-hitters-hardly-anyone-has-the-same-stance/) [Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/) > [Five World Series rings, 3000-plus hits, the fame, the fortune and playing for the second most historic franchise in baseball... These are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/five-world-series-rings-3000-plus-hits-the-fame-the-fortune-and/) [Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/) > [I don't want the electronic strike zone. I like the element of sometimes pitches don't get called. Guys don't receive it well or whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/i-don-t-want-the-electronic-strike-zone-i-like-the-element-of/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [If I was going to make one rule change, I would bring the DH to the National League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brett/if-i-was-going-to-make-one-rule-change-i-would-bring-the-dh-to-the/) [George Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brett/) > [In all honesty, once you become a professional, number one, you're no longer a fan. I don't root for the Dodgers, really. 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