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There has always been a saying in baseball that you can't make a hitter, but I think you can improve a hitter. More than you can improve a fielder. More mistakes are made hitting than in any other part of the game.

I've learned that getting what you want gives you a pretty high batting average, and leaves you plenty to struggle for.

When you have these big, strong power hitters who can hit the ball a country mile, and they're strong for a reason and able to do that, as a pitcher you have to keep up.

The reason I think I'm a good pitcher is I locate my fastball and I change speeds. Period. That's what you do to pitch. That's what pitchers have to do to win games.

If you can do that - if you run, hit, run the bases, hit with power, field, throw and do all other things that are part of the game - then you're a good ballplayer.

My pitching philosophy is simple - keep the ball way from the bat.

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.

A lot of hitters stay away from the plate, some are close up, some are forward, some are back. The thing about hitting is this: You have to know the strike zone. That's the most important thing. Hit strikes and put the bat on the ball.

There are different angles you have to work with as a hitter. Figuring out with my body what helps me get into those angles... is a constant discovery.