I need to have perspective. That's one of the big things former players told me, to not try to live up to anything, just live up to yourself.

Everyone focuses on the earthly state, but how cool might death be? I believe in spiritual rebirth, and I can't wait to experience that.

I just write mechanical things.

I view my pitching on how confident I was out there, period. And if I lose that confidence, I can become a prisoner of my own mind.

Some people pray to a totem pole, some people pray to a sun, some people pray to a god. It all works for them. It all comes back to what you think.

I refuse to be molded into some stereotypical ballplayer that has no interests, really, no life, no depth, no intelligence.

I hadn't focused on mechanics since I signed professionally.