Athlete

I view my pitching on how confident I was out there, period. And if I lose that confidence, I can become a prisoner of my own mind.

I'm OK being the veteran, but I'm still just a kid.

I was this 5-7 pudgy kid in high school... I wasn't a popular kid. I was an outcast.

It's not like I'm some kind of veteran and there is this huge age gap. I identify with them more off the field. I need to set an example, which is great, and I look forward to doing just that.

The outfield is solid, so is the catching and the infield.

When someone becomes successful or rich and famous, people perceive that person as being different. But I'm the same guy I've always been.

I just write mechanical things.

Some people pray to a totem pole, some people pray to a sun, some people pray to a god. It all works for them. It all comes back to what you think.

Regardless of what you want to call it, guys need some type of spirituality they can grab onto. If it's Christianity, which is a very structured approach, or if it's something that's a little more open-ended... like, Zen's something you can make yourself a part of. You can interpret it for yourself, like Taoism and stuff like that.

Meyer and I have a bit in common because we're both left-handed. I think it's great that he seeks out that advice because he's not too cool or too uncomfortable to ask for it.

I refuse to be molded into some stereotypical ballplayer that has no interests, really, no life, no depth, no intelligence.

Everyone focuses on the earthly state, but how cool might death be? I believe in spiritual rebirth, and I can't wait to experience that.

I feel I can hang out with any group of people and find common ground to talk with them.

I can count my friends on one hand.

Big league defense is going to get outs most times.

I think in the bullpen you can tell during your warmups, if you have a good feel for it. But anything can happen once you get into a game. Sometimes you just wind up throwing it better than ever before one day without knowing why.

I hadn't focused on mechanics since I signed professionally.

I do look forward to keeping in touch with the guys, because we'll always be connected in people's minds.

I looked up to my father when I was 7 and 8. I believed it was my calling to be in the big leagues. I'd been raised by a family that always told me I could do anything I wanted.