You know it as soon as you walk in Yankee Stadium. The electricity is there every time, every day.

People ask me if my shoes were too small when I was a kid and I say it wouldnt matter how fight my shoes were, I just liked that feeling of them being in there. Thats how I started tapping my toes.

That's basically what I'm doing when I'm tapping them - getting my toes to the end of my shoes.

Back then, my idol was Bugs Bunny, because I saw a cartoon of him playing ball - you know, the one where he plays every position himself with nobody else on the field but him? Now that I think of it, Bugs is still my idol. You have to love a ballplayer like that.

I feel good, and the way I determine it is through my workout. I work so hard in the offseason that if I'm able to do everything I have to, I figure I must be healthy.

If it was in my control, Id still be wearing a Red Sox uniform, because its the place I know, I love. All of those fans, Ill always remember. But Im also going to another great place. Im going to a phenomenal city with great tradition as well, phenomenal fans, great organization.

All players are their own worst critics. We are harder on ourselves than anyone else is.