JUSTIN VERLANDER

I think video games are a huge part of our society now. Having kids play baseball video games helps them understand and love the game. It could actually push them to get out there and play the game for real. That's great for the sport.

Baseball's my life.

I'm more of a feel pitcher. If something's wrong, I don't watch a video. I go throw in the bull pen until it feels right.

I don't think anybody's goal is to be mediocre. I think everybody should want to be the best. I've always felt that way. I want to be at the best at everything I do.

When I came into baseball, I had one goal for my career - the Hall of Fame.

For me, seeing the progression of video games and consoles - whether it be PlayStation, Xbox, or whatever - I think just seeing how good they've gotten from the days when I first started playing is just amazing.

Actually, I'm a very good golfer.

I really like the iPad. I think that's pretty cool.

People in real life don't get ballplayers' humor, the way we talk in the clubhouse.

I had no other interests but baseball because I never thought I'd not make it. No. Never.

Growing up, I played 'Ken Griffey, Jr. Baseball' and just whatever I could get my hands on. When I was really young, I was a big fan of Mario and that type of stuff. I still play videogames now, so it was really cool for me to be able to play as myself on '2K6' or '2K7,' I believe it was, when I was a rookie.

I'm a power guy. Good fastball. A knuckle curve, which I can throw for strikes. A changeup which sinks down and away from lefties and I can also throw for strikes.

To hit 100 miles per hour, that's something. I couldn't believe it when I first saw it, but it's something I can do and think about.

I am always going to be working on location, even if I have a 20-year career. Talk to me in 15 years and I will still be working on location. It's something I can always do better. Right now, it's not nearly where it could be, so it gives me something to work on every day.

I think that a starting pitcher has to do something special to be as valuable or more so than a position player.

If you expect greatness, greatness shouldn't surprise you.

If you had told me at the beginning of the year that I was going to be a shoo-in for the Cy Young, I would have been absolutely ecstatic and amazed.

I want to show that I can pitch well and get along with the guys in the locker room.'

I kind of realized I couldn't blow the ball by everybody. In high school I could do that, but now it's not going to work. I need to pitch.'

I like to challenge hitters with a 'Here it is, hit it,' mentality. It's definitely a big part of my game, especially when I get in situations where I need it. I usually save a little bit so it's there for me.

I use high velocity to keep hitters off balance.

The only thing I can control is how well I pitch.

I'm hoping to learn something new every day. It sounds corny, but I really do come in here every day, listening and talking with the veteran guys and seeing what I can absorb.

I am an emotional pitcher, but I can control it. When I was in high school, I was a little immature and I let my emotions get the best of me.

When an artist wants to paint a painting, they have all those things in their head that they want to portray on a canvas. It's the same thing when I'm pitching. I have all these thoughts going through my head about how I want to pitch: which pitch I want to throw here, and why do I want to throw it?