Quotes from Joey Votto

In this league, if you're going to be tested, you have to answer quickly. I feel like if you show signs of weakness, people attack that pretty quickly.

Most elite players want to maximize the length of the contract, no matter the money.

When I was younger, I was like, 'I'm working now, and you go work.' That was all I knew, because I was trying to keep my head above water. Now I'm more willing to say, 'Let's do our work side by side and cooperate.' That's really difficult to do in this sport sometimes because it can be so individualized.

I know a lot of athletes, they want to play until their 45 or 50 or whatever, some athletes claim, but count me out on that.

I want to be excellent at my craft.

I think the smart teams are chasing those well-rounded players, making that well-rounded lineup, having that well-rounded team.

I want to be great at what I do. I take a lot of pride in it. And I try not to sell myself short in my work and preparation.

Cincinnati is a prettier city than people give it credit for, I like it here, like the people. They're so polite.

My teammates have been very supportive, and I feel lucky because of that.

I've got some teammates telling me I can play for a long time, ooh, boy, I don't want to play for a long time.

My teammates, my friends, the ones that I shared great times with, faced prejudices that I never did and when they shared their experiences... I did not hear them.

I come to work every day and fit in, and be respectful of my teammates.

I just want to be in the middle of the order, playing solid defense, playing every day, being competitive and earning that my manager, the coaching staff, the front office, my teammates have faith that I'm going to be a helpful teammate. I want to do that until the very end.

I don't think materialistic things are my priority.

I'm grateful for the things I've faced in my career because they make me better - every single one of them.

I love talking baseball. I think it's an interesting subject, I think it's something I'm familiar with. It's something I can constantly learn about, I do like talking with the fans and I do like talking with everyman. I really enjoy it.

I think that I've proven when healthy that I'm a healthy part of the team.

I think it's very difficult to have fewer opportunities to have success and still execute. My favorite player was Barry Bonds, and he got so few opportunities.

I feel like I've got a process swing. It takes a long time to get to where it needs to be and to stay there. The advantage - if I'm healthy - more often than not, it tends to stay there.

Personally, until Mike Trout came into the league I thought I would be in the conversation for best player in the game. Then he screwed that up for everybody - Babe Ruth and Ted Williams included. He has ruined it for everyone.

I'd rather quit and leave all the money on the table than play at a poor level.

Randy Johnson had a tell. If he thought you knew what was coming, he would hit you. So that was his tell. That's probably, that's a tell. That's a tell from Randy Johnson. He'd hit you, happily.

You won't give yourself an opportunity to do good things unless you are out on the field.

My goal is to stay on the field, stay healthy and be a part of some wins.