"If you can't smile and have fun, you're in trouble. So if somebody in the stands says hello, I'm going to say hello back. Why shouldn't I? I know what I'm doing in this game. I'm still going to be ready to hit when I step in the box."

"If you hit, they're going to like you. If you don't hit, they're not going to like you."

"I learned the hard way. When I started hitting home runs, I thought, I can hit these pitches. Then I started thinking, if I can do this, I can hit the pitch four inches outside or four inches up. I expanded the zone and got myself out. Pitchers are smart. If they find out they don't have to throw strikes, they won't."

"I love what I do, but I've got a life out of here. I like to spend time on the computer. I like technology. I like music. I like movies. I like to go out and party. I like my cigars, but I don't drink, and I do like to keep a low profile."

"I love what I do on the field and that takes a lot of my time. But I also make time to help other people because a lot are not as fortunate as I am."

"I'm a baseball player, I'm not a political activist."

"I'm a fastball hitter. It's no secret I'm looking for a fastball every pitch. I think it's one of the hardest things to do in sports-to hit a moving baseball."

"I'm a simple guy. There's nothing fancy about my life."

"I'm blessed with health and energy and passion for the game of baseball, and also to help children."

"I'm happy to be a Marlin. The number one thing is I have the opportunity to win. I definitely considered it (playing in the National League at Dolphin Stadium). Obviously there's going to be some sort of a learning curve. But, because I'm changing leagues doesn't mean I'm going to change my game. If you don't hit as many home runs and hit twice as many doubles, I'll take that every day. I can get singles, too."

"I think nobody can get me out. I've got a pretty good idea of what I want to hit. If I get my pitch, I'm going to get a hack in. And if I don't get you this time, I'll get you next time. I'm not saying I'm better than anybody, but I am saying that nobody is better than me."

"There's gonna be good times and bad times. When the good times come you got to ride it as long as you can. And when the bad times come you got to battle and try to get out of there as soon as you can."

"Work is not a drag for me. I like to get here early, hang out, catch up with the boys. I'll go in the cage and hit, do my exercises. I try to keep it fun and find ways to enjoy it."

"You've got to be smart to stay in this game. The quicker you learn, the quicker you succeed. You can't make the same mistakes over and over again."

"Carlos has the same stature as Roberto Clemente. Roberto always tried to help the Latin players and people, and wanted to leave something behind. He wanted to make people better. Carlos has all the same dignity and that same pride." - Cookie Rojas

"Carlos is a great leader-a leader by example and every other way." - David Wells

"Carlos is a professional's professional. He comes prepared every day. As he's grown as an individual, he's also grown as a leader." - Dave Stewart

"He doesn't hide his personality in the clubhouse or off the field. If you had a son, you'd like him to be like Carlos." - Cito Gaston

"He enjoys being with the New York Mets and enjoys being in the city and enjoys everything about this organization." - Omar Minaya

"He's a man of his word, he's a man of conviction and he's not afraid to speak his mind. I respect him for that." - Willie Randolph

"He's been one of the best hitters in the game for a long time, and part of the strength of what he does is he's a power hitter who will go the other way and take what the pitchers give him." - Willie Randolph

"He's got this aura. People, whether they're baseball fans or not, see him and think, 'That's somebody special. I gotta find out who that is.'" - Buck Martinez

"I'm not surprised anymore by what he can do. They could throw a pitch into the righthanded batter's box on an intentional walk, and he could hit it out the other way." - Billy Koch

"I remember him when he was 16-years-old and he was a catcher invited to our spring training camp. He always had a smile on his face. Whenever anybody wanted to do extra work and throw on the side, Carlos would jump up and say, 'I'll catch you.' He hasn't changed a bit." - John Cerutti

"People need to know this guy. Carlos is very sophisticated. He's mature. Wise beyond his years. Very, very intelligent. He loves the game. He's always in a good mood. He's also close to his family." - Jim Fregosi

"The ball explodes off his bat. It sounds louder off his bat than anybody else's." - Roger Clemens

"There's a certain crispness to the sound of the ball coming off his bat that only a few players have. It's because he's so strong." - Paul Molitor

"What separates him from other superstars is that he doesn't have the big ego. Baseball really isn't his life. If he had to quit tomorrow, I know he'd find something else as challenging, and he's be a big success at it." - Shawn Green