Ryan Howard Trying Quotations

I was just sort of oblivious to what was going on. When Thome had surgery, I knew I'm the guy for the long haul and am trying to step it up. Knowing you're going to be in there every day is a big thing.

Jim Thome has been hitting home runs long before I got here. He's over there doing what he's done his entire career. I'm still just trying to make a name for myself.

People are trying to play, they're not out there trying to mess up. That's just how the game goes sometimes. Somebody has to win and somebody has to lose and unfortunately we were on the losing end today. We know we're better than that.

For me, it's just a part of the process in trying to get ready. There are still some things out there that I want to try to get better at.

Not really. You're trying to do the same thing (Pat Burrell) did. You're just trying to go up there and have a good (at-bat) and get your pitch.

I'm on vacation right now. I don't know. That stuff is always hard, what happens next year. Right now I'm just trying to relax.

I'm just going to go out and play the best I can and not put any extra pressure on myself. My mind-set is the same. I'm just coming in and trying to get ready.