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

I truly believe my job starts the minute I leave the baseball field. Going out and catching ground balls and hitting, that's a job, and that's what I've wanted to do ever since I was a kid. But when you think about leaving that field, that's when the job and the demands really start. In New York, Seattle, every city. The community, the media, business stuff. You have to stay on a narrow path.

No player should have to go through what I have been dealing with, and I am exhausting all options to ensure not only that I get justice, but that players' contracts and rights are protected through the next round of bargaining.

I believe a champion wins in his mind first, then plays the game, not the other way around.

Playing the game was the easy part. The real work was in the preparation.

Be respectful. Treat people the way you want to be treated. Respect the lowest rank and the highest rank and you'll never get in trouble.

I hate the word 'potential'-potential means you haven't gotten it done.