Joe Torre would tell you to make sure you can hit the ball on the outside part of the plate.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
You have to step up to the plate, and then hit one out of the park.
When I hit, I felt I was in control of the home-plate area, and it was important that I felt that way. If I let the pitcher control it, it would give him an advantage.
Hitting is business. With two strikes you really protect that plate.
When I went to home plate in a game-tied situation or with a chance to do something and help the ballclub win one, I'd try to make eye contact with the pitcher.
A lot of these catchers don't understand that they are blocking the plate and they don't have the ball. You're not allowed to block the plate without the ball.
See the ball; hit the ball.
Just take the ball and throw it where you want to. Throw strikes. Home plate don't move.
You get to the plate and nothing is going through your mind. You see the ball, you see the seams.
When I was up there at the plate, my purpose was to get on base anyway I could, whether by hitting or by getting hit.
When I'm at the plate, I'm not thinking about what I'm trying to do with the bat - I'm thinking about what the pitcher is trying to do with the ball.