--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You've got to try to close every inning…" description: "\"You've got to try to close every inning out, take it one inning at a time, one batter at a time.\" — Gerrit Cole" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/gerrit-cole-7763_close_you-ve-got-to-try-to-close-every-inning_1372197.jpg" --- # You've got to try to close every inning out, take it one… ![“You've got to try to close every inning out, take it one inning at a time, one batter at a time.” quote by Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/gerrit-cole-7763_close_you-ve-got-to-try-to-close-every-inning_1372197.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/gerrit-cole-7763_close_you-ve-got-to-try-to-close-every-inning_1372197.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/gerrit-cole-7763_close_you-ve-got-to-try-to-close-every-inning_1372197.jpg) > “You've got to try to close every inning out, take it one inning at a time, one batter at a time.” [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. Consistent, focused effort on each small task leads to overall success. **In simple terms:** Take things one step at a time. Key Takeaway Break goals into manageable parts. Themes focus consistency performance Mood motivational analytical Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - games - practice sessions - training drills Key Concepts sports psychology goal setting Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance detail with overall strategy? - When is it okay to adjust the plan mid‑game? A Different Perspective Over‑focus on minutiae can hinder big‑picture vision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Baseball is continuity. Pitch to pitch. Inning to inning. Season to season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/baseball-is-continuity-pitch-to-pitch-inning-to-inning-season-to/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) > [I really believe that what happens one day affects the next, and I think that came from that experience of learning that if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-really-believe-that-what-happens-one-day-affects-the-next-and-i/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [We've got to decide, how much replay do we want? Because if you start doing it from the first inning to the ninth inning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/we-ve-got-to-decide-how-much-replay-do-we-want-because-if-you-start/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [“The recipe says 'stir until the dough holds together'. You'll have a better chance of finding the fountain of youth than stirring this batter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/the-recipe-says-stir-until-the-dough-holds-together-you-ll-have-a/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [We may have been born on third base, but we worked like we were starting from home plate. You know: batter up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-winklevoss/we-may-have-been-born-on-third-base-but-we-worked-like-we-were/) [Tyler Winklevoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-winklevoss/) > [“(Baking Advice from her mother) It's easy enough to beat an egg into the batter but it's a lot harder to pull one out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-ray/baking-advice-from-her-mother-it-s-easy-enough-to-beat-an-egg-into/) [Jeanne Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-ray/) > [When I start thinking in the batter's box, that's when I get into trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-uggla/when-i-start-thinking-in-the-batter-s-box-that-s-when-i-get-into/) [Dan Uggla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-uggla/) > [I Pray Is Batter Than Wish .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail/i-pray-is-batter-than-wish/) [Ismail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail/) > [“Is that a hat?" I asked, pouring eight rounds of batter into the griddle. She grinned at me. "A sweater." She held it up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-tiernan/is-that-a-hat-i-asked-pouring-eight-rounds-of-batter-into-the-griddle/) [Cate Tiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-tiernan/) > [You realize you're up here for a reason, and no matter who's in the batter's box, I feel like if I can execute my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-corbin/you-realize-you-re-up-here-for-a-reason-and-no-matter-who-s-in-the/) [Patrick Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-corbin/) > [If I'm playing well I'll get through a bat in three weeks. I batter them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-flintoff/if-i-m-playing-well-i-ll-get-through-a-bat-in-three-weeks-i-batter/) [Andrew Flintoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-flintoff/) > [When you go up there in the batter's box, you're engaged to hit. It's the same thing with baserunning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-martinez/when-you-go-up-there-in-the-batter-s-box-you-re-engaged-to-hit-it-s/) [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) > [When I was in the batter's box, I felt sorry for the pitcher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rogers-hornsby/when-i-was-in-the-batter-s-box-i-felt-sorry-for-the-pitcher/) [Rogers Hornsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rogers-hornsby/) > [As a batter you are generally playing a mental game most of the time and having too long to prepare can work against you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-root/as-a-batter-you-are-generally-playing-a-mental-game-most-of-the-time/) [Joe Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-root/) > [A tempura batter has a lifespan of only moments before the flour becomes too saturated with water and a fresh batter must be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-kenji-lopez-alt/a-tempura-batter-has-a-lifespan-of-only-moments-before-the-flour/) [J. Kenji Lopez-Alt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-kenji-lopez-alt/) ## 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. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/) [Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/) > [When you're in the middle of a pennant race, you can't go up there thinking about home runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-sosa/when-you-re-in-the-middle-of-a-pennant-race-you-can-t-go-up-there/) [Sammy Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-sosa/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. 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. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/in-all-honesty-once-you-become-a-professional-number-one-you-re-no/) [Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/) > [I'll tell you what's helped me my entire life. I look at baseball as a game. It's something where people can go out, enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-caray/i-ll-tell-you-what-s-helped-me-my-entire-life-i-look-at-baseball-as-a/) [Harry Caray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-caray/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [What we should have done is kept the same team that played in the '95 World Series. Those trades (Eddie Murray & Carlos Baerga)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-belle/what-we-should-have-done-is-kept-the-same-team-that-played-in-the-95/) [Albert Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-belle/) > [“I can buy baseball cards to view an entire career on the back of a little square of cardboard. But nobody sells major league…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg-jr/i-can-buy-baseball-cards-to-view-an-entire-career-on-the-back-of-a/) [John Ortberg Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg-jr/) > [The wind always seems to blow against catchers when they are running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-garagiola/the-wind-always-seems-to-blow-against-catchers-when-they-are-running/) [Joe Garagiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-garagiola/) [Browse all 7,461 Baseball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You've got to try to close every inning out, take it one inning at a time, one batter at a time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gerrit Cole" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/you-ve-got-to-try-to-close-every-inning-out-take-it-one-inning-at-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Baseball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/you-ve-got-to-try-to-close-every-inning-out-take-it-one-inning-at-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/gerrit-cole-7763_close_you-ve-got-to-try-to-close-every-inning_1372197.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/gerrit-cole-7763_close_you-ve-got-to-try-to-close-every-inning_1372197.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff1/gerrit-cole-7763_close_you-ve-got-to-try-to-close-every-inning_1372197.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You've got to try to close every inning out, take it one inning at a time, one batter at a time.” — Gerrit Cole", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gerrit Cole", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You've got to try to close...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/you-ve-got-to-try-to-close-every-inning-out-take-it-one-inning-at-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/you-ve-got-to-try-to-close-every-inning-out-take-it-one-inning-at-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```