“I’ve gone through adversity most guys don't have to face.”

“I’ve never really considered myself a home run hitter. Mostly I'm a guy who hits into the gaps for a lot of doubles.”

“If you're good, you fail seventy percent of the time. You have to be mentally capable of blocking that out and keep going.”

"I felt both parents at my side no matter what I did.”

“As a 20th round pick nothing was handed to me in the minor leagues.”

“I had six good years and one bad one, and everyone was wondering whether I'd have a good one again.”

"Baseball is important, but it's about fifth place behind my kids, my wife and the health of my family."

"The fans have been great with me. I think they appreciate that I don't take an at-bat off."

"In 2003 no one expected us to do anything, so we were kind of beating the odds each time. It’s a little different when, from the onset, a lot of people are expecting you to win a world championship."

"I’m on Cloud Nine!"

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