“You have to have a lot of motivation, a lot of heart and be able to work hard. You can never be down on yourself because baseball is a sport that will bring you down [at times].”

Barack Obama likes to point to General Motors as the poster child for the job creation success of his economic policies.

My dad and my mom had to sacrifice so much, and had to teach us and show us the way of going about things, how to be humble, all those things. They helped us stay on track for what we wanted to do.

When I got to the stadium, one of my biggest things was watching video of hitters.

I liked playing with David Eckstein (former Angels shortstop). I’m not talking about players with top skills, I’m sure there were players with way more skill than him, but there were very few people in the league that had the heart like him.

I think my mom and dad did a great job with that, because we [with brother] never had any competition in baseball. We always tried to help each other.

If you’re a pitcher and strike me out and show me respect and you don’t show me up, when I get a homer or a hit, I’m not going to show you up. That’s what I believe.

I was very nervous, excited, and happy to be given the opportunity to even be in the major leagues.

There’s a lot of disrespect in the major leagues. I believe that the disrespect in the major leagues is at a high rate and is really bad for the gam

Records and achievements are made to be broken.

I think Little League is wonderful. It keeps the kids out of the house.

How can a you hit and think at the same time?

I always got nervous the nights we played in the World Series. First pitch, I was nervous. Then after that, forget it; I’d start playing.

If people don’t want to come out to the ball park, nobody’s gonna stop ’em.

You have to give 100 percent in the first half of the game. If that isn’t enough, in the second half, you have to give what’s left.

Ok you guys, pair up in threes!

Make a game plan and stick to it. Unless it’s not working.