Living the Christian life is also challenging but for different reasons. The same desire to do well exists - to live a consistent life that honors and pleases the Lord. The big difference is that God isn't evaluating my actions and basing His love on how well I 'perform'. His love for me is unconditional. Even when I mess up He doesn't threaten to trade me off His team.

I go game to game, at-bat to at-bat. That's my way.

Obviously, the only reason I'm where I am is because God has gifted me and He has seen fit to put me where I am. I have to honor that by using my influence and my status on the team and in the game of baseball for good and to His purpose.

My father always told me that to be successful at anything, whether it was baseball or tiddlywinks, you have to be willing to pay the price. You have to be willing to do more than the kid down the street if you want to be better than he is.

I almost feel guilty. The physical toll is tremendous. Im exhausted and I only played nine innings.

It is, ... kind of a softball atmosphere out there.

I've always liked doubles. When you scald the ball on a line to the gap, I think that's about as close to a perfect swing as you can get.