“A lot of people said I could be a good player. I just wanted the opportunity to show it. I just let it happen.”

“I’m a really smart player. If you tell me something, I get it quickly. If there is something wrong with my hitting, tell me what’s wrong and I’ll pick it up right away. That’s the best thing I have going for me, my ability to listen to a coach and fix what I’m doing wrong.”

“There is no pressure. I just concentrate and do the best I can. I try to do my best every day and help the team win any way I can.”

“I try to spend as much time as possible with God and my family. That’s more important than anything I’m doing in baseball.”

“I don’t think there’s anything out there I can be afraid of.”

“I don’t know why people say I’m not supposed to be doing what I’m doing. I’m just trying to do my job. I’m blessed, and I’m glad that I’m blessed.”

“I want to be in the lineup every day. Playing anywhere is better than playing the bench.”

“It’s pretty crazy, really, everything happening so quick. You just don’t think about it while it’s happening. It’s just God blessing me with the gift of staying healthy.”

“What motivates me more than money are God and my family.”

“You know your talent. You know if you work hard, your hard work is going to pay off one day.”

“It’s not what you did last year. It’s what you’re going to do this year. That’s more important.”

“We’ve got the best fans in St. Louis. A lot of people want to come and play in St. Louis because of the way the fans treat us.”

“In my heart and mind, I know I can hit anybody. I’m always relaxed. It’s hard to explain. It’s like playing with my kids. It feels natural.”

”I don’t care if I hit .270. If we win the World Series, I’m great, because that’s what I want."

"I don’t want t be compared with Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth, any of those guys—talk to me about this year and what I can do this year to help my team out, and go to the World Series or make it to the playoffs."

"I don’t want to be too stiff, because then my hands won’t be as quick."

"I trust that I can hit a fastball, that I can hit any pitch they throw to me."

"I never take things for granted. I always look to help out me teammates, to win and be better."

"I don’t play for records."

"What I lose today I can’t make up tomorrow. I have to do it today."

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