If this validates anything, it's that learning how to bunt and hit-and-run and turning two is more important than knowing where to find the little red light on the dugout camera.

I was a baseball player at North Central High School in Spokane, Washington even though I was all-city in basketball, even when I signed a letter of intent to play quarterback at Washington State.

In my day, if a guy came to spring training 20 pounds heavier than what he left, he was considered out of shape and was probably in trouble.

I had to prepare physically every day, and I didn't leave many scraps for the writers

If this validates anything, it's that learning how to bunt and hit-and-run and turning two is more important than knowing where to find the little red light on the dugout camera.

I struggled many times when maybe it didn't look like I was struggling, and I had to work hard every day.

The reason I am here, they tell me, is that I played the game a certain way, that I played the game the way it was supposed to be played.