My mother's the most special person in my life ... I consider her my MVP: Most Valuable Parent.

I'm focussing on what I haven't attained, not what I have. A lot has come to me early. I don't want to get consumed with that. Winners live in the present tense. People who come up short are consumed with future or past. I want to be living in the now. My goal is to play one full game in the now, but I haven't even gotten past the first inning yet. I start thinking about where my mom is or if my dogs have been fed. The average human has 2,000 thoughts a day. The really accomplished have 1,500 because you can focus longer. I need to learn how to focus longer.

Like I say, it's almost embarrassing to talk about. I don't know if Michael Jordan or Bill Gates or Alexander the Great or anyone is worth this type of money, but that's the market we're in today. That's what Mr. Hicks decided to pay me, and now it's time to pay him back and win a couple championships.

Baseball has a funny way to tap you on the shoulder when you least expect it and tells you it's the end.

I've learned in my career, it is much better to be recognized for all the great things you do on the field.

I want to be known as a good major-leaguer, and good major-leaguers work to become good.

Winners live in the present tense. People who come up short are consumed with future or past. I want to be living in the now.