I've been very fortunate. I feel very thankful. I've been able to come home and do some fun things and make it exciting for people here at home

It was an exciting time for me personally because the number of times I've been to the playoffs, that was the opportunity to obtain the first ring. That was special, that's for sure.

If I get two strikes, I'll go to a pitch maybe that will help induce that a little bit.

It's pretty simple, the way I look at it. I became a Hall of Famer here (in New York), with my numbers here and what I've done here, and hopefully three-hundred will be another big part of that. When (former Red Sox general manager Dan) Duquette said that I was done, if I'd have taken his advice and went home, I wouldn't have been a Hall of Famer. So it's a no-brainer. It's definitely pretty easy. Reggie (Jackson) spent five years here, and this will be five for me.

Some of my finest memories are from my time at the University of Texas. College baseball, I love it.

If I put my mind to it, and I put the work in, I have no doubt I could do it (pitch 4-5 additional years), but I made a promise to the people who've supported me for so many years. It's time to give back to my family.

Every time I toe the rubber, it's no different for me than it was in the World Series.