Those kind of games are signature games. You're lucky if you have one of them in your career.

We couldn't buy a hit when we needed one. We went three games where we got the hit when we needed it and we haven't been able to get one the last three games.

It was kind of an oxymoron, me passing him in my Mitsubishi Montero. That used to tickle me.

That kind of stuff, the notoriety, the pomp and circumstance, I think he's aware of it, but he doesn't get taken aback by it, nor does he get a big head over it. He's a very even-tempered kid. I just think he probably expects more of himself than [the fans and media] ever will.

We stuck him in there when we ran out of other options last year. He settled into that role real well. He's not just a guy hitting behind (Todd) Helton anymore. He's a legitimate fourth-place hitter.

Somehow we have to find a way to get him involved.