So what I did on the field was the essence of what I am. Remember me like that.

To pick up the paper and read about yourself getting slammed, that doesn't start your day off right.

It (the slider) just rolls off of your index finger and begins it's spin which will take it down and across the plate (hopefully). Just remember not to twist your elbow or wrist. It should be thrown, with the wrist and grip set, just like your fastball, slightly off center - with the same velocity and intensity.

I threw all my pitches over the top which was important for me because my slider was hard to tell from my fastball at release.

I took it personal. I got slammed quite a bit.

To get the feel of how the slider should roll off of your index finger, use this grip and practice at half speed and roughly half the distance to the mound.

Pete Rose came over to the Phillies in '79 and he became the catalyst that helped us to put it all together.