--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you start a game, you don't think to…" description: "\"When you start a game, you don't think to yourself, \"well, OK, I'm going throw a one-hitter today.\" It just becomes an organism, your outing becomes an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/r-a-dickey-24700_baseball_when-you-start-a-game-you-don-t-think-to_2233418.png" --- # When you start a game, you don't think to yourself, "well… ![“When you start a game, you don't think to yourself, "well, OK, I'm going throw a one-hitter today." It just becomes an organism, your outing becomes an organism and it grows.” quote by R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/r-a-dickey-24700_baseball_when-you-start-a-game-you-don-t-think-to_2233418.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/r-a-dickey-24700_baseball_when-you-start-a-game-you-don-t-think-to_2233418.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/r-a-dickey-24700_baseball_when-you-start-a-game-you-don-t-think-to_2233418.png) > “When you start a game, you don't think to yourself, "well, OK, I'm going throw a one-hitter today." It just becomes an organism, your outing becomes an organism and it grows.” [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A game evolves organically, becoming a living experience beyond initial expectations. **In simple terms:** Games grow into something larger. Key Takeaway Embrace the unfolding nature of play. Themes games creativity flow Mood inspired thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - board games - sports - video games - improvisational theater Key Concepts systems theory emergent behavior Questions to Reflect On - How does unexpected growth change strategy? - When does structure hinder organic flow? A Different Perspective Plans may limit spontaneous development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Organisms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organisms/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [I always had the attitude that I wanted to throw a no-hitter every game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-eckersley/i-always-had-the-attitude-that-i-wanted-to-throw-a-no-hitter-every/) [Dennis Eckersley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-eckersley/) > [The logic of the poet - that is, the logic of language or the experience itself - develops the way a living organism grows:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-the-poet-that-is-the-logic-of-language-or-the-experience/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [You never know when you're going to throw a no-hitter or if you're ever going to get the chance to do it. It's one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lester/you-never-know-when-you-re-going-to-throw-a-no-hitter-or-if-you-re/) [Jon Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lester/) > [Human being's believe money is an organism that grows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/human-being-s-believe-money-is-an-organism-that-grows/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [I used to be a hitter when I was in high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jameis-winston/i-used-to-be-a-hitter-when-i-was-in-high-school/) [Jameis Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jameis-winston/) > [I've always said, even batting leadoff, that I want to be a dangerous hitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trea-turner/i-ve-always-said-even-batting-leadoff-that-i-want-to-be-a-dangerous/) [Trea Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trea-turner/) > [I was able to play alongside, in my opinion, the best hitter with Miguel Cabrera and kind of watch the way he goes about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-martinez/i-was-able-to-play-alongside-in-my-opinion-the-best-hitter-with/) [J. D. Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-martinez/) > [Traditionally, baseball punishes preening. In a society increasingly tolerant of exhibitionism, it is splendid when a hitter is knocked down because in his last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/traditionally-baseball-punishes-preening-in-a-society-increasingly/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [Drew McFedries was the hardest hitter I've ever been around. A big, strong, athletic guy with power. He didn't have to hit you with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-lawler/drew-mcfedries-was-the-hardest-hitter-i-ve-ever-been-around-a-big/) [Robbie Lawler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-lawler/) > [When you hit a player in the head, you're more apt to get some fisticuffs or, you know, bring both teams out on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-jackson/when-you-hit-a-player-in-the-head-you-re-more-apt-to-get-some/) [Reggie Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-jackson/) > [I'd probably be the most unintimidating three-hole hitter in the league at 150 pounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trea-turner/i-d-probably-be-the-most-unintimidating-three-hole-hitter-in-the/) [Trea Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trea-turner/) > [I'm just a singles hitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-ramirez/i-m-just-a-singles-hitter/) [Manny Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-ramirez/) > [Some coaches believed they could judge a player's performance simply by watching it. In this they were deeply mistaken. The naked eye was an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/some-coaches-believed-they-could-judge-a-player-s-performance-simply/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [You never want to lose a strength, but I've also got to try and be a complete hitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/you-never-want-to-lose-a-strength-but-i-ve-also-got-to-try-and-be-a/) [Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/) > [Playing shortstop is 75 to 80 percent anticipation, knowing the hitter and the pitch being thrown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-boudreau/playing-shortstop-is-75-to-80-percent-anticipation-knowing-the-hitter/) [Lou Boudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-boudreau/) ## More by R.A. Dickey > [I had a lot of fear that would motivate me to try to work hard, because I didn't know what I would do if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/i-had-a-lot-of-fear-that-would-motivate-me-to-try-to-work-hard/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [Ultimately, our lives hinge on the ability to make right choices and decisions. By God's grace, I made the most important decision a person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/ultimately-our-lives-hinge-on-the-ability-to-make-right-choices-and/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [“One of the supreme paradoxes of baseball, and all sports, is that the harder you try to throw a pitch or hit a ball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/one-of-the-supreme-paradoxes-of-baseball-and-all-sports-is-that-the/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [The more I grew as a human being, the better I became at my craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/the-more-i-grew-as-a-human-being-the-better-i-became-at-my-craft/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [I could never get a real good clear picture of what I could become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/i-could-never-get-a-real-good-clear-picture-of-what-i-could-become/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [I think what motivated me was just hope. Something inside of me, deep down in my guts, always felt like there was something in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/i-think-what-motivated-me-was-just-hope-something-inside-of-me-deep/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [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/) > [The # knuckleball can be a metaphor of what it's like to let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/the-knuckleball-can-be-a-metaphor-of-what-it-s-like-to-let-go/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [I don't really feel much more confident than I did the last couple years. I've always felt like I have a pretty good knuckleball.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/i-don-t-really-feel-much-more-confident-than-i-did-the-last-couple/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [Who doesn’t want a Cy Young Award? What kid didn’t grow up wanting to be the best? I’m no different. I want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/who-doesn-t-want-a-cy-young-award-what-kid-didn-t-grow-up-wanting-to/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [Realistically, I shouldn't be able to turn a doorknob without having some discomfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/realistically-i-shouldn-t-be-able-to-turn-a-doorknob-without-having/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [It's a pitch you can extend your career with because it's less taxing on your body. It's like dog years, but in reverse. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/it-s-a-pitch-you-can-extend-your-career-with-because-it-s-less-taxing/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [If you aren't willing to face your demons-if you can't find the courage to take on your fear and hurt and anger-you might as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/if-you-aren-t-willing-to-face-your-demons-if-you-can-t-find-the/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [I had a wife that did not want me to have a singular regret about chasing my dream, which helped me tremendously. I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/i-had-a-wife-that-did-not-want-me-to-have-a-singular-regret-about/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [There's been this steady metamorphosis from just surviving to being a craftsman and, ultimately, the hope is to be an artist in what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/there-s-been-this-steady-metamorphosis-from-just-surviving-to-being-a/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) [Explore all 24 R.A. Dickey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) ## 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. 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