I see myself as an average to above-average catcher in the big leagues.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I didn't think much about batting average when I was playing.
I'm probably an average hitter, at least, and if you talk to my peers, they will tell you that I hit the ball plenty far enough.
The great thing about catchers is that they do a lot of different things, and they're basically overlooked.
When I was 16 years old, my brother Frank said, 'You'd better become a catcher, because you're too big and fat to do anything else.' Well, I took his advice. It was a quick way to get to the big leagues, and I've never regretted it.
Catchers just aren't glamorous.
If you believe your catcher is intelligent and you know that he has considerable experience, it is a good thing to leave the game almost entirely in his hands.
Hitters never showed me up, as hard as I threw. And I was pretty mean out on the mound.
I never keep a scorecard or the batting averages. I hate statistics. What I got to know, I keep in my head.
Everybody has always put this on me, this label, that I'm not a very good defensive catcher. To me, I don't see it that way.
I thought I was a pretty good shortstop, but I also wanted to play in the major leagues.