--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You never go into a season thinking…" description: "\"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 in the big leagues..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/r-a-dickey-24700_baseball_you-never-go-into-a-season-thinking-you_747991.png" --- # You never go into a season thinking you're going to strike… ![“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 in the big leagues, or anything like that. You just try to win, and the outing becomes what the outing becomes.” quote by R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/r-a-dickey-24700_baseball_you-never-go-into-a-season-thinking-you_747991.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/r-a-dickey-24700_baseball_you-never-go-into-a-season-thinking-you_747991.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/r-a-dickey-24700_baseball_you-never-go-into-a-season-thinking-you_747991.png) > “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 in the big leagues, or anything like that. You just try to win, and the outing becomes what the outing becomes.” [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. Focus on the present task rather than setting unrealistic expectations; performance follows effort. **In simple terms:** Stay present, aim to win, let results follow. Key Takeaway Prioritize effort over imagined outcomes. Themes focus performance mindset Mood determined calm Type motivational practical When to use this quote - baseball game - career planning - daily work - training sessions - competitions Key Concepts goal setting expectation management Questions to Reflect On - How does focusing on the process change your results? - What expectations hold you back? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on outcomes can cause anxiety and reduce enjoyment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Big leagues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-leagues/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Seasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seasons/) [Strikeouts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikeouts/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [Eddie is like one of those great relief pitchers in baseball who gets the strikeout at the right time. Belfour comes up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-tocchet/eddie-is-like-one-of-those-great-relief-pitchers-in-baseball-who-gets/) Rick Tocchet > [It gave me no chance. He (Nolan Ryan) just blew it (strikeout #5,000) by me. But its an honor. I'll have another paragraph in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickey-henderson/it-gave-me-no-chance-he-nolan-ryan-just-blew-it-strikeout-5-000-by-me/) [Rickey Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickey-henderson/) > [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/) > [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/) > [The only time I really try for a strikeout is when I'm in a jam. If the bases are loaded with none out, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/the-only-time-i-really-try-for-a-strikeout-is-when-i-m-in-a-jam-if/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [Any strikeout record worth having is in a Texas pitcher's pocket. I might come join them one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-beckett/any-strikeout-record-worth-having-is-in-a-texas-pitcher-s-pocket-i/) [Josh Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-beckett/) > [Babe Ruth was the home-run king of his time, but also the strikeout king.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/babe-ruth-was-the-home-run-king-of-his-time-but-also-the-strikeout/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [A strikeout looking is probably the worst feeling ever for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/a-strikeout-looking-is-probably-the-worst-feeling-ever-for-me/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [“Joe Sewell is the toughest strikeout in baseball history. In 14 seasons he struck out only 114 times—he never struck out three times in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-elliot/joe-sewell-is-the-toughest-strikeout-in-baseball-history-in-14/) [Tucker Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-elliot/) > [I'm not a strikeout guy, I don't want to be a strikeout guy. For me to do that, I can't ride the rollercoaster of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/i-m-not-a-strikeout-guy-i-don-t-want-to-be-a-strikeout-guy-for-me-to/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [A line drive to the warning track on one pitch, I'll take that over a strikeout any day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/a-line-drive-to-the-warning-track-on-one-pitch-i-ll-take-that-over-a/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) > [I don't know that we'll ever see a 3,000-strikeout guy again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/i-don-t-know-that-we-ll-ever-see-a-3-000-strikeout-guy-again/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [But I got a guy on third, I was in a jam the other day in a game, all those situations, when you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-clemens/but-i-got-a-guy-on-third-i-was-in-a-jam-the-other-day-in-a-game-all/) [Roger Clemens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-clemens/) > [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 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/) > [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/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/when-you-start-a-game-you-don-t-think-to-yourself-well-ok-i-m-going/) [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. 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 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 in the big leagues, or anything like that. You just try to win, and the outing becomes what the outing becomes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "R.A. 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