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.

I've made far too many mistakes. That's the way I feel.

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.

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

When people get placed upon a pedestal - when they start chasing after that person on the pedestal - they become mannequin-like.

When you mail Ichiro something from the States, you only have to use that name on the address and he gets it (in Japan). He's that big.