I've always prided myself in not reveling in past accomplishments and focusing on future achievement, instead. That's been my career motto.

When I look at the records and see where my place in the history of the game (in Japan with Orix) might be, I guess you could say it was a good decision to come here. It's not just me. Maybe I'll have an effect on others in the international part of the game.

I wanted the challenge of competing against the best players in the world.

I'm anxious to face them (major league pitchers) all, but in reality I'm looking forward most to (Boston's) Pedro Martinez. He was with the major league team that came to Japan in 1996, just before he became a superstar. I'm anxious to see how much he's improved. And I'm anxious to see how much I've improved against him.

August in Kansas City is hotter than two rats f**king in a sock.

The more that Japanese players go to the big leagues to play and succeed, the more that will serve to inspire young kids in Japan to want to become baseball players when they grow up.

I'm told I either look bigger than I do on television or that I look smaller than I look on television. No one seems to think I look the same size.