Rich: It's a great feeling, especially two years in a row, to go out and know that I'm the starting shortstop on Opening Day. It's something you dream about as a kid, and hopefully, this can continue for a long time until the end of my career playing in San Francisco.

From Mike: What do you feel was the biggest change that you had to make to adapt to the starting role?

Rich: One of the biggest changes I had to go through was to realize that one bad day isn't going to really hurt me. You have to go home that night, forget about that day and realize that you have the next day and the next day after that to come back and produce. I think that's one of the biggest adjustments: to just realize this is a day-in, day-out sport where you're obviously not going to produce every day.

From David Deguchi: Over the past few years, the Giants have paired you with veteran shortstops Shawon Dunston, Jose Vizcaino and Rey Sanchez. What did you absorb from these three as you have developed into the Giants everyday shortstop?

Rich: You try to take a little bit from each player. When I was the youngest up here, it was with Shawon (Dunston) and I took a lot from him, both the physical and the mental aspects of the game. I can honestly say that he's one of my favorite players in baseball, after getting to know him, and he really helped me out more than anybody in learning this game.

From Darren Wong: Do you think you are more polished at this point than you would have been if you had been put in the starting lineup earlier in your career? In other words, can it actually be harder to learn the game if you have to do it in the starting lineup at the Major League level?

Rich: Obviously, the best way to learn is on the job, but that opportunity didn't arise for me. So I had to learn while I was watching, and I think that was a very valuable thing for me to do. I try to put those things to work right now when I'm in there playing every day. I think I'm more polished now than I was two or three years ago.

From Alex Cremidis: Now that you have reached your goal of becoming an everyday shortstop, what is the next personal goal you wish to attain?

Rich: My next personal goal is to establish myself as one of the top shortstops in the National League. I really don't set individual goals for myself as far as numbers. I always want to have a better year than the previous year. I think the next step for me is to just play every day and get to that next level of shortstops in the National League.

From Lawrence Lemus: You and Jeff Kent work exceptionally well together. How hard was it for you last year, when Kent was placed on the D.L.?

Rich: It's hard to work with a bunch of different people because you get used to working with somebody for so long. You know how much range they have, you how strong their arm is, you know where they're going to be in certain situations.

When Jeff got hurt, it wasn't just a blow to me as far as playing with him up the middle, it was a blow to the team. Our record indicated that he's a big part of this team and to lose him for that amount of time was a big thing for us. Jeff and I have worked together now for about three years and I think we've been working pretty well together. I'm certain there's room for improvement but that will come with time.

From Mike Gooch: You have been swinging the bat with more confidence this season. What do you attribute it to?

Rich: I attribute that to just being relaxed and confident at the plate. I came into spring this year knowing I was going to be the shortstop, so I didn't really have to go out and press to hit right away or do something special right away. I could take my time and work hard on my offense in Spring Training. It's just a matter of not having anything on my mind other than just playing the game and being relaxed.

From David Leisk: You started the season hitting eighth in the order. Then you got a chance to hit in the No. 2 spot. What are the differences in the two places, and what's your personal favorite spot to hit?

Rich: Hitting eighth is a little more difficult. You're not going to get as many good pitches to hit hitting eighth because the pitcher's hitting behind you and I get pitched around a little more. Hitting second, most of the time you're going to be hitting in front of Barry (Bonds), and they'd rather pitch to me than pitch to him. So I'm going to get some pretty good pitches to hit in that two hole.

I was happy hitting eighth this year because I kept getting up with a whole bunch of guys on base. I'm actually, I think, well-suited for two, but however this team needs me, that's where I'm going to be in the lineup.

From Miguel Sanchez: The newspaper said that Tony Gwynn complemented your hitting. Considering he's one of the greatest hitters of all time, how does that make you feel?

Rich: Really? That's something I didn't know about. It makes you feel great! To know that a future Hall of Famer, one of the greatest hitters of all time, recognized my hitting ability is a pretty special thing. You get kind of awestruck that somebody like that notices your ability. If I could have half the career that that guy has, it would be great for me.

From Paul Buslon: When you hit the first interleague grand slam two years ago in Anaheim, how did you feel, and did you go to Cooperstown, N.Y., to see your bat there?

Rich: At the time, I didn't know it was the first interleague grand slam, so it didn't really hit me until afterward. I was just happy I hit a home run. It was a special thrill for me, especially when they asked for my bat, and they sent me a letter of recognition that I was a donor there. It was a very nice thing to receive.

I have not been up there yet to see it, but the next time I have a chance to go back east for an extended period of time, I plan to go up there.

From Kevin Young: Who do YOU think are the best hitting and fielding shortstops?

Rich: In the National League, the first name that always comes to mind is Barry Larkin. He's been a perennial All-Star; he's been a solid defensive player and a solid offensive player through the years. He's been doing it for over 10 years now.

As far as the new wave of shortstops, you see guys like Rey Ordo�ez out there just making spectacular, unbelievable plays. And Edgar Renteria with the Cardinals. Those are three guys that come to mind right off. Two of them are young and flashy and have a great future ahead of them. The other one is a proven veteran who you try to emulate out there. You want to have the same type of career that he's had.

From GJVICINI: How old were you when you first started playing baseball, and were you always a shortstop?

Rich: I can't even remember. First thing I remember about growing up was having a glove and a ball in my hand and throwing it off the front steps of my house.

I started predominantly playing shortstop when I was in high school. In Little League, like probably everybody else, I played everywhere. I pitched, I caught, I played first base. But come high school, I started playing shortstop on an everyday basis.

From Michelle: Growing up in New York, were you a Yankees fan or a Mets fan?

Rich: I was a Mets fan growing up, and my whole life they never did anything until the mid-80s. I was just getting into high school at that time, so it was a pretty big thrill for me when they won a World Series that year (1986).

I still love going back (to Shea Stadium) to play. That's the park I went to when I was growing up to watch games. It holds a special place in my heart, going back there to play.

From Hazel Rael: What baseball legend did you like to emulate?

Rich: Once I got a little bit older, I liked to emulate Ozzie Smith and Cal Ripken and those guys � very high-profile players, great players, who played the same position I did. Those were probably my two greatest moments in professional baseball � when I met each one of them. That's something I'll remember for the rest of my career, meeting those guys. They've had Hall of Fame careers, and it was great just getting to meet them.

From Cecilia Mendoza: How do you like living on the West Coast compared to the East Coast?

Rich: My offseason home is in Arizona, and since that's my time off, I want it to be a little warm, so I can get out and do some things I like to do, like play golf. So I enjoy it out west here. I still like to go back east to visit. During the season, the city of San Francisco is a great place to live. The weather's a little cool, but it's a great city with some great restaurants. I enjoy living here.

From Don Newenhouse: The Giants public address always plays "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" by the Beastie Boys every time you step to the plate. Did you choose this music?

Rich: A few years ago � I think it was in '96 � the Giants' media relations came around with a questionnaire. They asked what song you wanted played when you come up to hit. I just made a joke out of it and wrote that down. I was in high school when that song came out and living in Brooklyn and growing up there, I thought it would be kind of funny.

They didn't play it for two years. And then last year, I came up early in the year, and all of a sudden they played it, so it kind of surprised me too. So I had a little part to do with it, but I think the Giants had more to do with it than I did.

If I had to do it again, I'd pick that one. I like it, and I get comments from people all the time about it.

From Adam Sturgeon: What do you think it will take for the Giants to win the West?

Rich: The two main things it's going to take are: solid starting pitching from our five starters and staying healthy. Last year, we lost Jeff for an extended period of time and we lost out by one game. Who knows? If we had him for that month, we might have won one � probably more than one � game. That could always make the difference. I think staying healthy's a big part of winning.

From Kevin Conroy: What game stands out as the most exciting of your career?

Rich: The most exciting game was that second game in September against the Dodgers here in '97, when Brian Johnson hit that home run. I really wasn't playing too much that year � I was a utility guy � but I was on deck when Brian hit that home run. I was going to pinch hit for the pitcher.

To be on the field at that time, and just hear the crowd explode when he hit that home run, it was a feeling that I'll never, ever forget in my life. To this day when I see it, it still brings chills to me. That's one of the biggest games in San Francisco history, and it was just great to be a part of it.

From Kitty Marsh: What advice would you give to young kids who dream of possibly reaching the Major Leagues?

Rich: Never listen to anybody if they tell you that you can't do it. I never thought I'd make it (to the big leagues) growing up. The chances are so slim � there's only so many slots � but with hard work and persistence, anything's possible. When I talk to little kids, I tell them, "don't let anybody tell you you can't do something or let anybody tell you that you're not going to make it" because I was told the same things when I was growing up, and I made it.

From Stacy Sanders: Of everything you ever learned about baseball, what was the most important information you got and who gave it to you?

Rich: I forget who told me, but the thing I try to remember is not to take this game for granted. You never know what can happen. You never know how long you're going to play, so enjoy every day of it like it's the last day. Never look back. I don't remember who told me that, but it stuck in my mind.

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