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

With what has occurred in my life, the baseball field is where I feel most comfortable. That's what I feel I was born to do and it's what I do best.

It is hard to ignore that is reality. But, at the same time, it still comes down to sound baseball decisions, farm systems and then execution on the field by the players. There are a lot of components to that (other) than just saying it is the highest salary.

Always follow your dreams, don't let anyone tell you that you can't be something.

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.

Why do people sing Take Me Out to The Ballgame when they're already there?

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.