Jim Thome Quotations

Yeah, I think it will be good. Baseball, especially hitting, it's about repetition. It's about getting a lot of at-bats. That's what we'll do.

We're getting there. I don't want to say I'm there. It's not where I want it to be, but we're getting close.

When I leave the game of baseball someday, I want people to recognize that I always put my teams first,

Philadelphia treated me great from the day I got there and I will always cherish that. It's a passionate city. They get after it, they are rowdy and they made it easy because they rooted for me.

If we keep doing what we're doing, we'll be OK.

I got to see more pitches. I got over 30 at-bats in three days. When I got back to playing in the regular games, it just seemed to click.

I don't know what will happen. I know it's special to be here. I'm glad to be back. There are a ton of memories here. Either way, it's nice because it's great to be back here.

I look forward to it. It's like brushing your teeth.

I don't think you can come in here and relax.

He has got such good stuff, I don't think you really want to get in a hole on him. One of the first two pitches, he's probably going to throw for a strike, so the main thing with him is to make sure you get out ahead and look to hit early.

He had good command of all his pitches. I've faced him over the years and he had really good stuff. Credit him a lot.

We swung the bats really well today. This was a huge series for us - we knew we had to step it up against them, because they have been playing really well.

He's been great. This guy is trying to make me a good player. And I respect that.

He was one of my idols growing up. Those guys every moment and every minute that they talk to you, you just sit back and take it all in.

There are so many. We could sit here all night.

Jose pitched a great ball game and it carried over.

I think it's a very well constructed lineup. There's a thought process. I'm just happy to be in it.

I think what really helped was going down to the minor leagues. I had that little hamstring deal, and then I had sat out a couple games. I think I came back and struck out like three times. I felt I needed to go down and get some at-bats, and it worked out good.

Jermaine is a very professional hitter and he has very good at-bats. He kinda kick started it and helped us against (Brad) Radke. It's like, 'Who is going to do it today?' I think we are rocking and rolling here.

J.D. is a very professional hitter. He has very good at-bats. He kick-started us, and it helped us against Brad Radke (2-2), who is a very good pitcher.

I think everyone knows my history in Cleveland -- very fond memories. I have a ton of respect for everyone over there that I've played with. It brought back a lot memories of old.

Starting with spring training, from Day 1, they really talk about winning here, and preaching winning. It's been very fun. It's been great. I can see now why this team wins. They're very focused, they're very upbeat about playing every day, and it's great.

It felt good. It was a big situation for us. Playing the Indians brought back a lot of fond memories for me. I have a lot of respect for all those guys over there.

That was probably one of the toughest decisions I ever had to make. But you make the decisions you make and you move on.

With the emergence of Ryan Howard, who had a tremendous year, to be honest, I didn't really know what would happen,

You look at our club, you look at the guys we have, everyone in the room knows how to play. We knew the way Detroit was playing coming into this series. That makes it even bigger to come in here and win the first two, with the momentum they had. It's good to get back on track.

To be honest, I don't comment on things like that. I try not to go there.

I've been out half the year, so today was a big day for me, getting out there, just seeing the pitching. The two balls I hit were good passes. For me, that's where I look. What kind of passes, how I feel in the box. Being out half the year, I was really happy with the first day, for sure.

The bottom line was it was neat. It brought back a lot of memories. It was a big difference, sitting in the other dugout.

That was a big reason why I came here ? because of the success they had, winning it a year ago. Going to spring training and seeing the guys, how they prepare and how they go about their business, you can tell why they won it.

They've accomplished something I haven't. I've been close a couple of times, but I haven't reached that ultimate goal. At this stage of my career, it's about winning. It really is. It's all about winning that final game of the year, and they've done that.

It was really special against the team you played for. The crowd the way they showed up was great. ... I think everyone knows my history in Cleveland, very fond memories. ... It was neat. It brought back a lot of memories.

It was really special against the team you played for.

It puts a little closure on everything. You play to win the game. You don't play to hear boos.

It's kind of hard to explain, but I hope they keep coming. You always try to get your swing locked in about a week, 10 days before the season starts. I've been able to do that. It seems like I've been able to square up a lot of pitches lately.

It's going to be tough for him, too, because of Mom. Mom spent a lot of time here.

It's a very close-knit group. I would say very, very similar (to the Indians), for sure.

It's been a good spring. To be honest it's hard to explain. I just try to be consistent. Have good at-bats and good things happen. Fortunately, that was the case this week.

It's been a good spring. To be honest it's hard to explain.

It's been nice here the last week to 10 days. It's worked out pretty well. The bottom line is you've got to work hard.

It's nice and it's always great to start off well. But let's keep it going. It seems there's someone who steps up each day. It's fun. It's like, 'Who's going to do it today?' We're really rockin' and rollin' here.

Everyone knows my history in Cleveland. Very fond memories. I have a ton of respect for everyone over there that I played with. The bottom line is, it was neat. It brought a lot of memories of old. I was telling the guys in the dugout it seemed different being on that side than the other side.

It's coming along great. And my back has been great. We're coming along pretty good there.

It just was weird walking in here, nothing bad. Looking out in this angle (from the visiting dugout) is big-time different.

It was probably one of the toughest decisions I ever had to make in my life. Looking back, you make a decision and you move. You live with it and you face things like a man.

It will all even itself out. It's good to do that, but it's even better to win games.

It was just a night of booing. That's all it was.

The last thing you think about against that guy is hitting a home run. That guy can pitch.

The last thing you are ever thinking about against that guy is hitting a home run. As a left-handed hitter against him, you are trying to put the ball in play and make something happen.

I just want to get this thing healed up so we can get back going in the second half.

I had the back and elbow injury that put me on the shelf for a long time. I haven't had a bat in my hand in a competitive situation for almost half a season. It was just nice for me to get back out again and get a feel for the game.

I'll be honest, my back is really just a maintenance issue. I had a few problems last year, but it's never been anything I have to worry about. I've had periods where I've had a sore back, but I think every player gets that.

I really don't care where I hit, as long as I'm in the lineup. ...That's Ozzie's decision. Whatever role I'm in, whatever position I'm in, I'll try to do the best I can and try to produce.

I haven't had any setbacks at all. I'm excited. I called a couple of my buddies the other day and said, 'Man, I'm a baseball player again. Forget this rehab.' Everything's been good.

I really enjoyed my time in Philadelphia, and I want to thank my teammates and the fans for a heck of a ride.

Being hurt last year and having those injuries, I think it has kind of put it all in perspective for me as to how much I really appreciate the game.

I do take a lot of pride in when I get on base, to be able to give it that best effort.

I'd rather not get into it. For me to comment is out of line. Frank has been a tremendous player. Just leave it at that.

I don't see any significant difference (with the baseballs).

He's got a real good arm. His angle is really good.

The main thing is the health. When you have a big hit to get your team going, it feels good any time.

You don't have to be really fast to be a good base-runner. When you get out there, it's important to concentrate and understand the game situations.

The Indians are going in a way they want to go and I respect that, ... I've loved that organization and I still will.

It's tough to strike out. Believe me. I hate striking out. It's no fun. It's embarrassing. But there really isn't anything I can do. It's just a part of my game.

You always want to get at-bats. You always want to contribute.

I've always enjoyed interleague play. It gives you a chance to see different clubs, to go to different places. It gives you a good chance to see where you are, where you stand with other teams.

I don't really like filling my brain with a lot of stuff.

Charisma's good every night. Something special is always about to happen. You've got to believe it.

My favorite thing to do is still to go back to Peoria, go to my cabin and hunt with the boys. This is a great lifestyle, don't get me wrong. But fun for me is going back with my buddies I grew up with.

I sign every autograph I can for kids because I remember myself at that age. I think it's ridiculous that some guys won't sign for a kid.

Every player that plays for any organization, having great fans on your side every night is a great thing.

My family has loved Minnesota and that was one of the big reasons we decided to come back. For me, family decisions were a big part to coming back to the Twins.

You can't play forever.

We all make mistakes and sometimes you say things and you really don't realize what you're saying at that moment.

When do you know it's time to say, 'OK, that's it?' That is the most difficult part of any decision like that because you don't want to throw the 'R' word out there. I've mentioned it a couple times, but not in the sense that I'm doing it. That word is very fragile. We'll see.

This is a tremendous honor (winning the 2002 Roberto Clemente Award), to be considered in the same class as Roberto Clemente. He is a hero and role model for all of us who play the game and strive to be as good a player and person as he was.

I really do try hard to be a good teammate. I can't run very fast, but I try to always run hard. I may strike out a lot, but I try to walk to set up the guys who are hitting after me.

There's an inner feeling you get when you get in a situation to do well in a game. It's hard to explain.

My dad told me when I went into high school, 'It's not what you do when you walk in the door that matters. It's what you do when you walk out.' That's when you've made a lasting impression.

Not playing every day, I kind of healed up a little bit from the little injuries that I had the year before. Then, when I got home this winter and my body wasn't beat up, I said, 'Wait a minute, this may work out.'

The passion is my favorite part of the city [Philadelphia]. You go from 'we love you' to 'we hate you' back to 'you walk on water.' You're driving, and somebody might wave or somebody might flip you off.

If I had to give advice about parents, it would be this: Value your relationships with them. Those relationships are what you stand for. Not only are we blessed to wear a uniform that says PHILLIES on the front, but we have our names on the back. That name means you're playing for your family.

The strongest thing I put into my body is steak and eggs. I just eat. I'm not a supplement guy. Steroids are not even a thought.

Is my ability what it was at, say, 25 or 30 years old? Probably not, but I like to compete. I like to go out and play the game hard.