Alfonso Soriano Quotations

When I was a kid, I believed in Santa Claus. But it was very tough because in the Dominican... there are not a lot of rich people there.

When you start hanging out with Jennifer Lopez and Bill Clinton, you can't expect to remain an everyday person.

In the Dominican, there are a lot of kids who need help. I just do that for my mom because my mom liked to help a lot of kids in the Dominican. Whoever I am right now is because of her. She gave me the education; she always took care of me like a mommy.

My first year in Japan was very tough, just like my first year in the minors. But at least there I had a lot of Dominican people and Latin people I can talk to. If you don't have anybody to talk to, you can get depressed. But if you find someone who talks your language, it's easier.

Sammy Sosa? Everybody knew who Sammy was, paid attention to Sammy. I had already signed in pro ball when he had the great homer year with Mark McGwire in '98. But I followed it, and I was proud of him because he was my countryman. There are a lot of great ballplayers from the Dominican, and he's one of the best.

When I look at myself on tape I can see that, but I just didn't make the adjustments at the time.

My agent told me there were a couple of teams interested. I said I don't want to worry about it. I said if it happens, call me. But don't tell me who the teams are. Don't say anything about it until it happens.

I have 24 hours or 48 hours to think about it.

Today, I'm not comfortable. I don't know what's happening tomorrow or a couple of days from now.

I was working in the cage today with my mechanics, so I had very good pitches and timing with the ball. I feel great tonight.

I saw the bat, so I slide with my hand. If the bat is not there, I slide with my feet first.

Stats don't mean a lot to me. What means a lot is being available to play every day. I like to play the game and that's what I think about. I love the game and I don't want to lose that.

Look, I know that there are people who are racist, but what surprised me was that he was so open about it. I know there is racism out there, but many people don't express it like that.

You can have the talent, but mentally is the main thing. I think I can do it. I will work at it and see how it goes.

Finally learning his baseball history, on the topic of Hank Aaron and his home run record

I don't want to change. I haven't done it before, I won't do it now.

The only problem is getting comfortable with myself. It's different for me, a different team. I have to try to do the best I can, working, trying to get comfortable in the left field and with my teammates, too.

I never think Im going to make a double play in the outfield. But I did it.

We have a day off tomorrow and will think about the baseball we've played the last two weeks. After that, we'll get back to baseball.

I've only played four, five games out there. It's going to take me time to feel comfortable out there.

The most important thing is I'm having fun like I used to and still feel the same way about the game. I'm enjoying every game and giving one-hundred percent in the field.

Ballplayers are soldiers, and we have to play where we're told to. At the beginning I didn't want to, but I don't have control of the situation -- and after all, I thought it's just for a year.

This is the first day that I didn't feel good, but it's good to get everybody together today. That's the most important thing. Tomorrow, I hope to feel better and better.

It's two different parts of the game. I was doing the same thing when I was playing second base. When I play defense, I play defense. When I hit, I don't think about defense.

That's over. I'll do what I can do now. I'm ready to have a good year.

I try to catch the ball, but it was a line drive going up because of the wind. I see the contact, but after that when the ball passed the infield I lost it a little bit, and I think that's why I have a little problem.

They are not professionals, but they play like pros.

They wanted me to feel at home. That's good. Those people love me here and that makes me feel good.

I'm going to play second base here, that's all I know. I am getting ready to play second base like I always have. I don't know what is going to happen when I get back. I really don't know.

I'm not comfortable. Today was easy because I only had one fly ball. Tomorrow might be different.

I have no choice. I love the game. I hope I stay healthy and I hope they play me there every day because I love the game.

I'm happy with my new team. That's the most important thing to me.

I had a meeting with the GM and Robinson and I said, 'If you put me in left field I'm not sure I'm ready to go there. So I don't know why they put me there.

I just told him I'm confident. I had a couple bad games, but I'm comfortable at the plate. He's like my father. I like when he talks to me.

I didn't see the ball come out. I stuck my hand in there. It was a bang-bang play. I haven't seen the replay.

I feel better than the first day. I'm working hard every day, I know that. I'm trying to feel comfortable. It's very hard. People think it's very easy to catch some fly balls. ... They're not easy.

I don't want to change. If I haven't done it before, I won't do it now.

I cannot wait. I worked hard in spring training for Opening Day.

The first thing I see was the contact, and I go to my left side and the ball went on the right. That ball hit my glove. I have to run a little bit more and try to catch it.