For me, I found working with Rick fascinating. I want as much data as I can get -- then break it down and decide what I want to use.

It's a very big mental game, all day leading up to warm-ups. You're not sure if your curveball will break, or will you be able to throw it over the plate? It's all negative thoughts going into the game.

I was a little nothing. My brother Kurt was a lot older. Mark had three years on me. They were all better. But maybe I learned a lot in those games. We had leagues where we'd imitate big-leaguers.

He'd get frustrated. I'd say, 'O.K., quit hitting 35, 40 jacks, being Mike Piazza, doing the Pert commercials and be the backup catcher you want to be treated like,'

It's different. But I was definitely ready, and I was charged about it. How could you not be?

I look at this as a second life. Every game feels like an event. Every pitch matters. I need that. It elevates your aggressiveness.