It's not like I'm an introvert. You get to know me, I can have a conversation with you. But in front of the media, I'm probably more of a quiet guy.

You just get better with age. You learn yourself and the league. I'm starting to understand more about hitting every year.

Sometimes it's more fun to compete with your friends, because you can talk a little trash with them.

As a first baseman, hitting home runs is what's expected of me. But I don't really try to hit home runs.

The chance to go to the postseason, it's hard to pass up.

If you write in the paper 'Lee stinks,' that's not going to affect me. I'll just laugh. And if you write 'Derrek Lee is the best player in the league,' that won't affect me either. I'll laugh.

If they watch me play, people will say I'm not into it or whatever. That's okay. I kind of like it. People don't know how much work I'm putting into it. They don't need to know.