On how he'd assess his 2006 season: "I'm happy with my performance, but I could have done better. One thing is that I had too many strikeouts. I only had about 20 in Lowell last year, and this season it's around 70. The quality of pitching is probably part of it, but I'm better than that."
On getting off to a slow start this year: "I had a good spring training, but then started off pretty bad once we got going. I had four or five home runs in 30 at-bats in spring training games, and was probably guilty of trying to do too much when the season started. I think I was swinging too hard. I was over-swinging rather than just taking the barrel to the ball."
On what he sees as the biggest improvement in his game: "That's a tough one. Maybe it's hitting versus lefties. I didn't have the same success against them in Lowell as I’ve had this year. Something else I've improved, but still need work on, is base running. Luis Alicea has really helped me with my overall awareness on the base paths."
On hitting over .300 against left-handed-pitching this year: "I think it's because I'm more patient against lefthanders. I have to be aware of outside sliders, so I let the ball travel more. That makes me be a little more selective. Against right-handers, because I see the ball earlier I probably tend to make my mind up too soon."
On where he feels he's best-suited to hit in the line-up: "I've been in the 3-hole all year, but I'll hit wherever they want me. Mostly I see myself as someone who'll hit near the top of the order. I tend to put the ball in play, and I have some speed, so somewhere in the top five. Definitely not fourth, though."
On which of his teammates puts on the best power display in batting practice: "There are actually two: Christopher Turner and Mitch Stachowsky. They can really hit it a long way. I don't hit many home runs in BP myself, I mostly focus on line drives, but those guys can really get into the ball."
On which of the Greenville pitchers he feels would be the toughest to hit against: "He's in Wilmington now, but probably Clay Buchholz because he has that nasty curveball. When he's on, you're not touching it. Phil Seibel was here early in the year too, and he was pretty good, too."
On how he'd assess his defensive game this season: "I think it's been very good. I've made five or six errors, but they've all been on throws -- usually one-hoppers that the infielders didn't handle. I haven't dropped any balls in the outfield. Of course, there's still room to get better. I'd like to improve my jumps and reads; my first-step quickness."
On his plans for the off-season and what he'd like for his birthday: "I'll be going to strength and conditioning camp, then working at a baseball academy in Miami Springs. It's for kids, so I'll mostly be working with seven and eight year olds. What do I want for my birthday? I'll take a 4-for-4 in today's game."
EDITOR'S NOTE: Yema settled for 1-for-4, with an RBI.