We were starting to talk about where are we going to live in Detroit, how we need to pack this stuff up -- almost as if we were both going to do this. That part definitely adds to the disappointment.

I think coming up where I was drafted, I kind of automatically had a spot secured no matter how good or bad I did. Right or wrong, it's kind of the way the game works. But now to come in and compete first to make the team and then from there to try to get a starting spot, that's probably the most [competition] I've ever had at any level.

No matter what you do, people are gonna try to emulate you. Whether it's a dunk by Michael Jordan or a swing by Ken Griffey Jr., kids are doing the same things.

Every year we discuss Jackie Robinson Day, which is April 15. We talk about it throughout baseball, promote it throughout baseball.

Left-handed pitchers get paid a lot of money to get left-handed guys out or else they wouldn't be in there. They feel confident going up against lefties. If you look at most lefties' numbers, typically they happen to be better against lefties than against righties. That's all it is.

It was a good thing that I always had to go somewhere today. You were pulled here, pulled there. It was either an interview with someone, or TV, or it was time to stretch, or get to the batting cage.