Q. Who do you think is the best closer in baseball other than yourself?
A. There are a lot of good closers. We have Wickman, Hoffman, Ryan and Rodriguez from Anaheim. There are a lot of good closers out there.
Q. Who do you think is the best player ever?
A. I would say so far Barry Bonds.
Q. What is your favorite sport other than baseball?
A. Soccer.
Q. Do you collect sports memorabilia?
A. A little bit. Yes, especially of the old guys: Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Phil Rizzuto. All those guys.
Q. Do you consider yourself a religious person, and if so, why?
A. Yes, I do consider myself a religious person. And why? Because I try to build a relationship with God. Things that I always believe in I really trust and that is the meaning of my life. God is everything for me. I trust God and I consider myself a religious man, a Christian.
Q. What is your favorite movie?
A. My favorite movie, I would say, is The Rock.
Q. What is your favorite TV show?
A. I really don't have one. I don't watch much TV.
Q. What is your favorite restaurant?
A.I love to go to Mulino's, here close to me. I don't go to many restaurants.
Q. What do you like to do in the off season?
A. Relax with my family. Spend time with the boys, spend time with my wife, kids and have a good time with them.
Q. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
A. Vanilla ice cream is my favorite.
Q. What keeps you up at night?
A. I don't think it's one thing that really keeps me from falling asleep besides if I have a bad night, a real bad night, I try to rest, but sometimes I can't.
Q. How do you keep yourself so healthy?
A. That is a blessing from God, I guess, because I eat everything. But, most of the time during the season I work hard so I get compensated. I try to eat the right things and make sure when it's time to work I work hard. I try to do my best. The rest is, I think, genetics.
Q. There are a lot of guys who throw in the 90's. It is obviously clear what you are throwing. Why are you so unhittable? What is the difference between you and everybody else?
A. I think what separates good players from real good players is the mind concept. How you control yourself, how you prepare yourself are the most important things. How you have control of your mind. When you have a strong mind you accomplish a lot of things. I think that has been helping me a lot. I know who I am, I know what I can do. I am strong in my mind, so I really believe that I can do anything I want with the help of the Lord. That is what separates good players from the greatest, everything in the mind.
Q. What is your favorite moment as a ball player?
A. My favorite moment as a ball player, I would say, was my first World Series. Seeing Charlie Hayes making that catch for the last out. Oh, that was a great feeling. The other ones were good, but that one, being the first one, I always remember that one. So, that was the best for me.
Q. What was your least favorite moment? Was there one that sticks in your mind?
A. Not really. Even losing the World Series in 2001 and in 2003, losing against Boston. We did our best, I did my best, so I don't regret any minute of it. All these challenges that I have are a learning process. I really don't think of it as a negative thing. I always try to use it in a positive way.
Q. How does it make you feel that so many people show up and want your autograph?
A. It makes me feel good. I think that I've done a good job, I guess. I try to do my job on the field, but not only on the field because you can be a good player on the field, but you can be a bad person. I always try to do my best on the field and off the field, meaning the way I treat people is the most important thing. Treat people with respect and when you treat people with respect they will give you back their respect.
Q. Do you have any advice for younger ball players?
A. My advice is that whatever they have in mind to do just trust themselves and do it. Don't let anybody tell you that you are not capable to do it. Whatever you have in mind, you always go for it. Trust yourself, trust God first of all. Trust yourself and go for it. Don't even hesitate. Some people try to tell you you're not good, you are not ready for this and you have to prove them wrong. I love those challenges. Every time that I see a boy playing baseball, especially when people tell him that he is not working out, I like to encourage those guys to look up to whatever they are dreaming and go for it.
Q. If you had another career, what would it be?
A. It would be a mechanic. I love cars. I always liked cars. I didn't study for it, but yes, definitely, it would be a mechanic.
Q. What is your favorite car?
A.I don't care. I really don't have a favorite car. I like Mercedes, but I am happy with what I have. I have a BMW.
Q. Did you ever think that you were not going to make it? Did you ever go through a period when you wondered whether you could do this?
A. Never. I never think like that. I always think positive. Even when I had the surgery in '92. I was a young boy at the time. I never doubted myself - always was positive, thinking that I was going to make it. After that I got to Double A, Triple A, I was already watching my dream come true. I even put more work into it. And I made it. So, I always thank God for that.
Q. What is it like playing in the minor leagues?
A. You don't want me to say that. It's tough, tough. I guess they make it tough so you hurry up and make it to the big leagues where there are better hotels, food. My only food was hamburgers and Burger King and Shoneys. It was tough. Minor league is tough.
Q. Are you flying or taking buses?
A. Triple A you are flying. But from rookie ball to Double A you are taking buses - twelve hour, ten hour drives, eight hour drives on a bus.
