I think in a lot of ways, I've responded to a lot of things this year kind of like a rookie ¿ as far as appreciating things. I've been around a lot, but you can appreciate things a little bit differently when you've been away. It's a different Opening Day than I've experienced in the past, just because of where I've had to come from.

I think it's a better outfield than we had last year. Garret did an admirable job in center, but I think his natural position is left. And offensively, [Finley] gives us one more good solid bat.

It's official. I don't want to come off as cocky, but I kind of halfway expected it. When I actually heard it for the first time, it was just relief.

You run out of adjectives to describe him because he does things you've never seen before. He is one of those guys in the game you just don't miss his at-bats. You stop whatever you are doing and just watch because he's bound to do something you've never seen.

You kept telling yourself to not look over your shoulder, but the Mariners were making so much noise. That's how Cleveland is right now. Everybody is talking about them. You've got to find a way to stop it -- whether that means taking the televisions out of the clubhouse, stopping newspaper delivery, whatever. You've got to do it.

[Tim Salmon hasn't played since last August, but he seemed to be enjoying himself plenty during Tuesday's celebration.] My mantra all night was to make it last, ... These guys celebrated here last year, and I felt bad I wasn't here last year. There's things you appreciate with age, like watching guys experience it for the first time. I told them to make it last because I had to wait 10 years. The bottom line is to enjoy it whenever you can.