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I'm always amazed when a pitcher becomes angry at a hitter for hitting a home run off him. When I strike out, I don't get angry at the pitcher, I get angry at myself. I would think that if a pitcher threw up a home run ball, he should be angry at himself.

I always told my young umpires, 'Don't get mad. Whatever you do, don't show it. But no matter how long it takes, get even.'

An angry player can't argue with the back of an umpire who is walking away.

Hitting is timing. Pitching is upsetting timing.

I had trouble with my temper all the way through the minor leagues.

I look at this as a second life. Every game feels like an event. Every pitch matters. I need that. It elevates your aggressiveness.

Baseball fans! Good lord! I feel like sports fans get mad at you easier than country music fans. It scares me. I'm glad that country fans don't get mad every time I mess up.

There are people who criticise me, and that's normal because of the way I am on the pitch. I get angry, I get tense.

Anger can be a problem, but it has tremendous potential, too. It's just figuring out what to do with it.

Nothing in baseball can bring me down to the level where I was growing up in Pine Bluff, crying and broke. This is fun for me. Whenever you see me slumping, nah, I don't get upset; I'm all right.