10 Questions for David Ortiz

By Sean Gregory

You are known for being a clutch hitter. What are your thoughts when you step up to the plate in a key situation? Carlos Colon, SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

Actually, I get more calm. In those situations, I don't want to get too excited. When you get too excited, you kind of overtry to do too much. I go through the play like I am going to have a hot tea in the morning. I quiet everything down. I try to be as quiet as I can at the plate, but still aggressive.

Do you need a certain personality to be able to deal with the pressure of playing in Boston, where people expect so much of the players and team? Kylynn Fontaine, BETHLEHEM, CONN.

Not really. I am just the way I am. I don't pay attention to any of that. I just come do what I've got to do, play my game. And I don't worry if anybody likes it.

Do you think fans take the games more seriously than players do? Gary Dunaier, FLUSHING, N.Y.

It might not be more serious, but in a different way it might be. If you have a fan whose team hasn't been in the play-offs in years, that is some serious stuff for them. But as players, we take our job very seriously. You can't say that being a fan is more serious, because players are trying to do better in order to get paid better.

What do you think of the huge salaries in professional sports these days? Steve Ricchiuti, CONCORD, N.C.

There is so little we control, but I'm aware of the issue--especially when it comes to ticket prices, because I come from a country with a lot of poor people. Of course, I wish everybody had the opportunity to go see games, especially with their children. But some teams' high payroll makes it a little bit tougher for them to have low ticket prices or to make it easier for people to take their family to the baseball field.

When you were a kid, did you see yourself as a baseball legend, or did you have another aspiration? Rebecca Medvecky, NEW ORLEANS

When I was really little I started feeling like I could make the big leagues at one point, but I never thought I was going to be real famous. I knew I was going to be a baseball player. I actually wanted to be a basketball player at one point, but to play basketball in my country was just superhard.

What is it like to play with Daisuke Matsuzaka? Anthony Nahill, COHASSET, MASS.

He is a really good kid. He has a really good personality. He speaks a totally different language than what we speak. But when you figure it out, he is funny as hell.

Are you ever jealous that your teammate Manny Ramirez can get away with almost anything by claiming it's just a case of "Manny being Manny"? Josh Bachrach, NEW YORK CITY

Manny is Manny. He's always going to be Manny. Manny's an open-minded person. Manny's cool. He has no problem with anyone here. He does what he's gotta do, and that's it.

Have you ever used performance-enhancing drugs? Calvin Duke, LOS ANGELES

No, I never have ... I know people pick on Barry [Bonds] because of the steroid thing. [But] this is a sport that no matter what you use, you still have to have natural ability to play it, and what Barry does is unbelievable. I don't know if he did it. I can't tell you about that. I just see him as one of the greatest in the game.

How much do you hate the New York Yankees? Emilio H. Rodriguez, TAMPA, FLA.

I don't hate them. Why should I? I love playing against them. I remember when we were getting our [World Series] rings, all of them lined up in the dugout clapping. That is respect right there. When people respect you, you've got to respect them.

For the right price, would you ever leave and play for the Yankees? Please say no to this question! :) Nicole Smith, HOLLYWOOD, FLA.

I would never say no, because you never know what can happen with your career. You can never fall in love with a team.

To read more answers from Ortiz and to submit questions for upcoming interview subjects, go to time.com/10questions