Quotes from Sean Doolittle

I mean, in A ball, there were five of us in a two-bedroom apartment. In Double-A, I think there were like eight of us in a four-bedroom house. There's a lot of that going on so that guys can... and the whole time, you're sleeping on air mattresses and you're using Rubbermaid bins as furniture.

When you're in the backyard as a kid playing and falling in love with the game and you crush the ball? You do a celebration. You stand and watch it like Ken Griffey Jr. You put your hands in the air like Manny Ramirez. You don't hit the ball and put your head down and run as fast you can. That's not fun. It's okay to embrace that part of a game.

I think my patriotism is strong enough to not be offended when somebody takes a knee during the anthem. That's not something I take personally.

The pay in the minor leagues, I think it's terrible, it's disgusting, it's exploitative.

The National Mall is a special place for my wife and I. We got married on Signers Island in Constitution Gardens. It's a little spot tucked away on the National Mall. There are lots of places like that where you can find a quiet place to get away from it all.

If you're gonna do museums, some of the best in the world are in D.C.

You know, I spent parts of six seasons in the minor leagues and I dealt with some injuries there, I saw a lot of things. I had the safety net of being a first-round pick, so I didn't maybe necessarily experience some of that hardship firsthand, but I watched it break a lot of guys. The strain that it puts on you and your family, it's really tough.

In an All-Star game the players are having more fun than usual and showing their personalities more than usual. And there are guys in this game - I'm not one of them - who are historically good. First-ballot Hall of Famers.

I love my job, but it can be a little stressful at times. And reading has become a really healthy escape.

There are some guys that can roll out of bed and they can throw 96 from the very first outing. I've just never been one of those guys.

I came from a military family, so there are a lot of things I think about when the anthem is playing.

I try to stay involved with veterans' issues. I work with some veterans charities.

One thing that bothers me is the way that people use veterans and troops almost as a shield. They say that's the reason they stand and that veterans deserve to be honored and respected during the anthem. But where is that outrage in taking better care of veterans?

Our union helps ensure that we earn fair pay and benefits.