"I can relate to anyone. I can hang out with stoners, skaters, surfers, stockbrokers, lawyers, athletes, rappers. I feel I can hang out with any group of people and find common ground to talk with them."

"I'm big into having routines. I'm almost a little anal about it, but you have to be—especially at this level."

"I'm not trying to be cocky, but I set such a high standard for myself. I'm not happy when I pitch seven innings and give up two runs and get a win."

"I'm so secure in myself I couldn't care less what people think of me."

"I refuse to be molded into some stereotypical ballplayer that has no interests, really, no life, no depth, no intelligence."

"There's a part of me that wants to go streak and run outside and jump around and go swim in the ocean and do everything. The other part of me wants to bear down and repeat this kind of performance next year and in the years to come."

"When I'm doing well, it's like I'm in a nice little ballet. Everything is going slow all around me. It's very peaceful."