Knowing the opportunity to win a championship here in Chicago, right now, that's the main motivation for me.

I'm just trying to create a working knowledge of my body. So it knows what to expect.

There are times when your mind isn't ready to go but your body is, and times when your body is ready to go but your mind isn't. You try to get the two in sync as much as possible.

There have been nights I've stayed up late thinking about, 'What's wrong with my swing? What do I need to fix?'

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.

Hitting is not an exact science.

When you're hot, you try to ride it as long as you can.

We've got to do better at taking care of players and making sure the fans get the best of the players when they're showcasing their abilities.

We've made a lot of strides over the years in making the game better for players to be able to stay healthy and showcase talent.

When the ball was hit, my first reaction as a shortstop was always go in the direction of the ball. You can't do that at first base. You go too far in that direction, and it's hard to scurry back and be ready to pick the throw.

If we just focus on stats, we're gonna eventually not have them.

You have to catch the breaks.

You used to be taught to let the ball go as far as possible and then drop it on the runner, whereas now it might be even more advantageous to direct the ball in front of the bag and get the guy on the leg.

I didn't think I'd be getting a contract at 34. That wasn't in my mind.

A lot of times, if you stay in the present and focus on getting the most out of yourself today, then things work out the way they're supposed to.

Outfield to infield is the most jarring because in the outfield, you have much more time to throw.

You want to be comfortable, but it's also good to stay on your toes, especially in the midst of a long season.

When I move to second after playing right field, I feel like my action has gotten too deliberate, and I have to switch back into that quicker, boom-boom infield mode.

When you get moved around, it can be jarring, but it helps to fine-tune your focus in the middle of the season, when other guys are getting a little lackadaisical.

Wiffle ball was my first experience hitting left-handed.

My dad used to do it when we were little, and I tried it when we played around in the back yard. Eventually, I got a bat and a real ball and played around to see if I could hit left-handed.

I'm not the most powerful. I'm not the fastest. I don't have the best arm. I don't have any of that, but put it all together and do the little details well, and you're going to be a very productive player.

I'm not the best athlete.

I was never the star of my team, not even in my small town.

There were always kids better than me. Because of that, I had to learn to be a role player and do my part.

I love second base.

I've always loved the infield, because I came up as an infielder.

What I need as a player is just to get at-bats, I think.

Out in the field, I feel like I'm flexible enough to where I'm comfortable at different positions, wherever they want to put me.

I might have a great game hitting, but if I'm not having a great game fielding, if I feel like I let a guy get an extra base that I could have stopped, that's something I've got to do better, got to get better at.

I did the utility thing at first out of necessity to find a place on the team.

In the minor leagues, previous to 2008, I took a lot of pitches. I prided myself on on-base percentage. I made sure that I made the pitcher work.

I was kind of a slap hitter, trying to get base hits, hit line drives, stay below a certain trajectory with my ball.

I have family and friends who are strong Cardinal fans, and they are having a tough time since I signed. They want to root for me, but rooting for the Cubs is next to a sin.

One of my best friends, James Miller, managed to find the only Cubs hat that is all red.

Anytime you put your mind on the results, you lose something in the moment.

I've been back to the Kansas City area a lot in the past. My sisters went to college in the area. My brother went to college in the area. I've got friends there, so there's some ties to the area.

I played a lot of right field with Tampa.

For me, it's not so much about picking the right position; it's about the team.

We've got to win a championship and bring a World Series trophy back to Chicago.

I know what I need to do to prepare myself, and I try to do the best I can to take care of my body and prolong my peak years as a baseball player.

As I get older, I just need to continue to make sure I'm staying in peak shape and taking care of my body the best I can.

I just try to focus on one step at a time, what I have to do or what the team has to do to get here.

I just try to be the player I am.

You don't get a chance to go to the playoffs and World Series very often, but to be able to experience it with the people you love most in the world is really fun.

I'm a manager's player, in a way, because he can use me in a lot of different ways, and I'm willing to do that.

I spent so many years shuffled around. I'm used to it and can deal with it.

Each new day has a different shape to it. You just roll with it.

My favorite day is relaxing at home with family and friends.

When I'm at the plate, I'm not thinking about what I'm trying to do with the bat - I'm thinking about what the pitcher is trying to do with the ball.