Michael Jordan told me the way he kept the crown was by always outworking everyone else because he knew everyone was always coming after him. You can sneak up on people when you are 18, 19, 20. It's tougher when you're established. Before, I'd see 13, 14, 15 pitches that I could drive in a game. Now, I see one, two or three, so I have to be better.

I had a great year and left my guts out on the field.

I'm not impulsive at all - except about buying clothes. That's my biggest weakness.

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

I have incredible motivation to go out and improve every day.

I want to be the best, and the best work. You have to earn what you get, and you have to work to keep it.

I've never experienced- besides the birth of my two daughters-the feeling of winning a world championship in New York in the new stadium. It's something I'll never forget.