I think it was good. Came up, obviously a young guy, didn't really know what to expect. Obviously struggled at the start. Being in a new clubhouse, being around guys who had show time, kind of everything, playing against better competition. I think just getting up here, getting my feet wet, it made the transition coming into this year super easy, just because I'm pretty comfortable.
"I'm pretty insulated from a lot of stuff that's out there. The stuff that I do see or hear, I don't really care anyway because it doesn't have anything to do with the play. I'm just thinking about getting back to execution and executing my pitches."
In 1901, the American League declared itself a competitor to the NL, jumping up from its minor league status (where it had been called the Western League). The two leagues agreed to play a World Series in 1903, and for the next 90-odd years the leagues served as heated rivals. The NL's dominance in the All-Star Game from 1963 to 1982 -- it won 19 of the 20 contests -- was offered as proof of its superiority, certainly by its players and fans.
