A New York City resident, Al Leiter has taken full advantage of his time as a member of the team he rooted for as a kid. The ace of the staff, Leiter is also one of the Mets' top personalities, which made him the ideal subject for Batting Around.

MLB.com: Describe a game you invented and played while growing up.

Al Leiter: On my bed as a kid I used to take baseball cards, set up my team and play against my brother and his team. The cards were placed in their respective positions and we would have a game on the bed. We used a complicated dice game for hits and outs.

MLB.com: What's the best sporting event you have seen in person, excluding games involving your team?

Leiter: A New Jersey Devils Stanley Cup Finals game.

MLB.com: If you could, with whom would you switch places (doesn't have to be sports)?

Leiter: The Boss -- and I am not talking about the guy in the Bronx.

MLB.com: When/where/why was the best Springsteen show you saw?

Leiter: Last year during Spring Training at the National Car Rental Center in Fort Lauderdale. I brought several of my teammates and we hung out with Bruce for about an hour after the show. We talked about a lot of things and I think I helped make Mike Piazza a fan.

MLB.com: How do you like your pizza?

Leiter: With mushrooms and lotsa cheese.

MLB.com: What are you a sucker for?

Leiter: My kids can make me do just about anything.

MLB.com Which of your schoolteachers had the biggest impact on you?

Leiter: Mr. Minnitti.