I get a lot of questions (e-mail me at playerx@espnthemag.com) asking me whether I'm able to be friends with teammates who are vying for my roster spot. My answer: If you're the projected starter on the team, you just assume everybody else at your position thinks he should have your spot. If you've made it to this point, you're an athlete and you know what to do on the field. It's about being smart and believing in your abilities. You know to stay inside the baseball; you know what it feels like to hit the ball right. You know to have an approach every time you go up to the plate. We all have the tools. Mental toughness is what separates the 4-A guys from guys who have successful careers. When I was battling to be the starter a few years ago, I was confident because I was naive. I wasn't going to show anyone up or say it out loud; I'm not that stupid. But I had faith in what I could do in the field and at the plate. I've learned how hard it is to sustain success in this league, but at the time I had no clue. These guys will learn.

Don't get me wrong -- spring training isn't an outwardly competitive or contentious environment. We all have a blast together. We help each other out and give the young guys advice if they ask. But deep down, everyone knows the deal. The guy on the bench behind me definitely thinks he should be the starter. He did all last year. He's wrong, obviously, but still. It's funny, actually, because we're buddies. But he'd kill me in my sleep for that spot. I can't really worry about what he thinks, though. I mean, good for him. I respect that confidence. If he didn't feel that way, I'd think he was too soft.

My backup is set to make the team, though. For a lot of these players, that's not the case. Everyone dreads when the coaches start making cuts. Usually it happens in the morning. A player gets called into the office like he's going to see the principal, and then you pretty much know what's coming. He'll come out looking shell shocked and start packing up. I always think it's harsh that they have to pack up in front of the rest of us. If he's getting sent down, you just wish him luck during the season, say you're sorry, that kind of impersonal thing. It's not that you don't feel bad; you do. It's just that nothing you say is going to help. Sometimes if it's a really young guy, he's just excited to have had the opportunity. But as it gets later in camp, players take it really hard. I've seen guys cry. I had a good friend who was fighting to make the team last year, and he was holding his breath for the last two weeks. Those were the longest two weeks of his life. You could just see it on his face every single day. At the very end, he got cut. Man, this game can be brutal.