“I view my pitching on how confident I was out there, period. And if I lose that confidence, I can become a prisoner of my own mind.”

It would be great to just be able to ignore everything and pitch to a spot, to suppress the intellect and let the intuition take over.

We speak for the entire Giants organization when we say that there is no place in society for hatred and bullying against anyone.

I think I’m aware of what goes on in my mind more than some guys, and for that reason I fight more battles.

Everyone focuses on the earthly state, but how cool might death be? I believe in spiritual rebirth, and I can’t wait to experience that.

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 looked up to my father when I was 7 and 8. I believed it was my calling to be in the big leagues. I’d been raised by a family that always told me I could do anything I wanted.

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.

I need to set an example, which is great, and I look forward to doing just that.

I hadn’t focused on mechanics since I signed professionally.

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 OK being the veteran, but I’m still just a kid.

I can count my friends on one hand.

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

The outfield is solid, so is the catching and the infield.

I was this 5-7 pudgy kid in high school… I wasn’t a popular kid. I was an outcast.

Some people pray to a totem pole, some people pray to a sun, some people pray to a god. It all works for them. It all comes back to what you think.

Sympathy is something that shouldn’t be bestowed on the Yankees. Apparently it angers them.

I want to stay around longer than the pitchers who were at the top when I came into the big leagues. I don’t want to be gone and have all the old guys – Seaver, Carlton, Ryan and Sutton – still pitching. I got rid of Palmer, now I want to outlast the rest of them.

When I gave up a grand slam to Pete LaCock, I knew it was time to quit.

My pitching philosophy is simpe. I believe in getting the ball over the plate and not walking a lot of men.

The 16 years have gone so fast. I came to Minnesota as a 19-year-old kid. Marv Grissom was the pitching coach, an old-timer who taught me quite a bit.