The word 'potential' used to hang over me like a cloud.

Any time I've taken the mound, it's always been the old Samson-and-Goliath story written about me.

Maybe I've lost a little, but I think everyone does over time. People have been writing that I'm getting old every year, and eventually they're going to be right. There's nobody in this game that's doing the same things they once did in the peak years of their career.

When I was younger and inexperienced, I was a very animated pitcher. I pitched with a lot of adrenaline. I was my own worst enemy when things weren't gong well.

Nolan Ryan helped me with baseball, and my dad passing away gave me a bigger heart.

I listened to all types of music, and obviously when I got to Seattle I was very much aware of the music scene there.

I threw a lot of balls and walked a lot of batters. Not something I'm proud of, but something I learned from.