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

I guess anytime you are mentioned with Hank Aaron, it is the ultimate compliment, not only as a hitter, but obviously, the great ballplayer that he was.

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

This is how I define grace: youre on the main stage, and it looks like it has been rehearsed 100 times, everything goes so smoothly. Thats where I get my confidence and success, from knowing that I have an edge because I know Im prepared.

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.

Fear of failure is what fuels me, keeps me on edge and sharp. I'm not as good when I'm comfortable.

We (Derek Jeter and I) want to kill each other. I think we both drive each other and motivate each other. But, when we're off the field, we're like family. I think the nice thing about it is we became good friends before we even mad it to the big leagues. That makes it more of a healthy relationship.