What's unfortunate about buying a pitcher for $12 million is that he carries no warranty.

Every great batter works on the theory that the pitcher is more afraid of him than he is of the pitcher.

I haven't seen a player in this game as long as I've been in it that can't be pitched to... Barry is an outstanding ballplayer. I respect him an awful lot. I also have confidence in my pitchers that they can pitch to Barry Bonds and get him out.

It's easy to see why pitchers respect McGwire. If you hit behind him they're saying that they don't respect you. You have to change their thinking.

As soon as I got out there I felt a strange relationship with the pitcher's mound. It was as if I'd been born out there. Pitching just felt like the most natural thing in the world. Striking out batters was easy.

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.

After I hit a home run I had a habit of running the bases with my head down. I figured the pitcher already felt bad enough without me showing him up rounding the bases.