It's going to be fun. It's my first time to have a chance to represent my country and playing against guys I've worked with. I'm really excited to be there and I'm proud to represent my country.

On the first or second pitch of the inning, I landed on my (left) heel instead of my toes in the delivery and my knee locked.

If I make the team, I believe there will be a lot of chances for me to pitch.

I'm ready... as much as I can be. I just missed too many days. You need to face batters, and I didn't for over two weeks. I'm behind, but I can make it up.

I've been leaving every pitch high. I know what I can do against these type of hitters and, right now, I'm not doing it, so I agreed to go back down to get it back. It's tough because the last 41/2 years in the big leagues, I did a very good job. Now I have to go down and leave this team. It's difficult.

It's going to stay here in Venezuela. Everyone knows Venezuela is a baseball powerhouse as the Caribbean Series proved. Now, we have to prove it in the Classic.