There's really no secret to this; that everybody's - they are going to have a game plan against me and I'm going to have a game plan against them. It just comes down to execution.
If I can execute pitches and keep the ball out of the middle of the plate, I know I can have success.
You always have to get better.
I've gotten to visit all the parks and put my name inside the Fenway wall.
When I was 18, graduating high school, I was going to the University of Missouri.
That's why you went to school, because you realize that, being a professional athlete, there's a good chance you're not going to make it. You need an education, that's why for me, it was such an important decision to go to college and further my education to provide me a safety net in case this didn't work out.
Push yourself every single day to continue to work at yourself. And I feel like that's the reason why I made it.
Turning 30, life has definitely changed - it's changed for the better.
The expectations and pressure doesn't mean you change. That's something that's always been instilled in me, and doesn't matter what the situation or what the game means, I'm always going to approach the game the same way.
Fenway Park is a fun place to pitch in. You've got 38,000 fans all cheering against you. It's an intense atmosphere.
Strikeouts are important. Anytime you can generate an out without the ball being put in play, there's nothing that can be done in those situations.
The game can come down to one pitch. But when you're actually out there on the mound and when you're pitching, you can't be worrying about the margin of error or whatnot. You have to go with your strengths and what you believe is the right pitch and keep executing pitches.
You have to have the ultimate faith and belief in what you do.
I know how to pitch.
Being in the clubhouse, talking to the veterans, talking to guys who have been here, getting to know everybody, getting the personalities, you can actually learn a lot from the other players in the league.
Put as much pressure on me as possible. I have no qualms handling that, because I expect that out of myself.
I relish pitching underneath pressure.
I expect to pitch well and pitch efficiently.
It's my goal every single year. That's the only goal I really set for myself is to make sure I'm better every single year.
I've had a better 2017 than I've had 2016, just like a better '16 than '15 and '14.
