My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass." "We're not raising grass," Dad would reply. "We're raising boys."
Joe Mauer's the real deal. He is absolutely wonderful. Not only is he a great player, but he's a great human being. He's the kind of guy you'd like to see... be your son.
I'm not a quitter. All my career, I went through a lot of physical adversity, injuries. It's in my nature to be a battler.
Pitchers are smart. They know they are much better off if they mix things up and keep you off-balance.
I was set to go to Oregon to play college baseball and football.
No matter what, I've always been an optimistic person.