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In my own case I have frequently faced the pitcher when I had no desire whatever to hit. I wanted to get a base on balls.

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.

If a pitcher sees you fiddling with the bat, he'll stall until your arms are tired before you even get a chance to hit.

I don't like to sound egotistical, but every time I stepped up to the plate with a bat in my hands, I couldn't help but feel sorry for the pitcher.

You can't go out to the mound hobbling and take a pitcher out with a cane.

You fool around with different pitches playing catch, but it's not the same when you've got to face some guy with a bat in his hand.

You're just trying to throw the best pitch you can and make sure you hit your spots. I don't have to force nobody.

You got the ball in your hands and you're in command, and if you get your good pitch where you want it, nobody's gonna hit you.

Everybody in the league knew I had trouble with the inside pitch. I got away with it only because the great majority of pitchers were afraid of making a mistake in that spot. The threat of power is one of the best weapons you have in the batter's box.

Pitchers are going to break. You can limit their pitches and limit their innings, and they're still going to blow out. Pitching is hard on the arm.