Many people have this image of me. For a long time, I cared about that.
We have to connect to our fans through the media, and when you talk about that, it's got to come from your heart. And when it comes from your heart, it has to be absolutely consistent. There's a big risk you take without an interpreter because, as professional baseball players, we are here to perform baseball, not to learn a language.
For me, I pride myself on every aspect of the game.
It's very tough for a ballplayer to get proud and keep his dignity.
There is nothing I will miss about Japanese baseball. Off the field, I will miss my dog.
For me, if I stay on the couch all day - or even one day - I'll be more tired doing that than going out and giving my body a workout.
I think, mentally, you sometimes need a break. But for me, my body is built so that if I don't work out, that's when I put more stress on my body and get more tired.
I was kind of influenced by the hip-hop culture.
When you retire from baseball, you have until the day you die to rest.
I want to keep playing until I am at least 50.
My father was just an amateur; my mother is not even an athlete herself.
I like to read the news, but when I pull up a Japanese site, and an article comes up with my face, I never read it.
I collect autographed major-league baseballs.
Chicks who dig home runs aren't the ones who appeal to me.
I think there's sexiness in infield hits because they require technique.
As long as the ball is thrown by a human being, I have the confidence to hit any pitch, no matter how fast it comes.
