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

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.

It takes a lot of pressure off you just to go out and play, and your talent sometimes shines even more when you don't worry about individual stuff.

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

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

Back then it was a different culture. It was very loose. I was young. I was stupid.