Rich Harden Quotations

I feel pretty good today, ... It all depends how everything feels tomorrow. That would be something I'd like to do, but I just don't know.

I don't think any pitcher really likes those situations, but I wouldn't want everything to be easy during spring. I still need to get my endurance. I was real tired that last inning.

He's kind of been carrying us so far. He's such a great hitter, you knew he'd bust out with a big start sooner or later.

I think that was big. I'd been struggling getting through the last inning. Usually I get tired and get wild.

I think everyone is pretty excited about the way the rotation looks. It's pretty amazing, 1 through 5. It's going to be great to see what we can do together.

I was throwing up all day Tuesday and Wednesday. I've been eating normally the past three days. Now I can finally get into my regular routine of long toss, side work and lifting.

I was getting pretty frustrated, ... I'd go out and have to shut it down. Hopefully my next outing goes well and then I can think about where I will pitch when I come back.

I was falling off the mound a little bit. I was inconsistent. One hitter, I'd hit my spots. Then, suddenly, I'd walk a guy. As a staff, we've got to work on shutting down the other team after the offense puts up some runs.

It felt really good actually, ... It was definitely a positive.

It felt good to get back out there finally, ... Overall I was a little stronger than I expected. I did a lot of strengthening work on my shoulder with the trainers.

That was interesting. I didn't like losing that at-bat, but I had to keep going and keep making my pitches. ... It's a pretty good feeling, coming out and playing like that against one of the best teams in baseball.

You did see a little of everything. That's why I need more games. I still have to iron out some mechanics. That's the big thing.

You did see a little bit of everything. That's why I just need to get in more games, because simulated games are completely different.

Every time I gave up a run, we came back and got a run. That was huge. I didn't have my best stuff. I was making pitches with my fastball. I was having a little trouble with my off speed pitches. Either they weren't good enough to swing at or they were too good, and I left them up.

Everything that could possibly go wrong did. Things are going well for us, so something like that was bound to happen. Everything I was trying to do, they were right on it.

There's no possible way I'd be ready to pitch (in the World Baseball Classic). Trust me, I'd love to have the chance to represent my country, that's everyone's dream to hold the flag. But I would have had to start throwing by mid-December to be in game shape by then and I've just started to throw lightly now.

There's nothing you can do. He's already made up his mind. I felt confident with Kiko coming in.

The thought never crossed my mind about not starting the season until a few reporters started asking me about it. In my mind, I'll be there. I'll be ready.

That's why it was so frustrating. I felt good through the first two outs (of the sixth) and then, bam. That happened a few times in the game where all of a sudden things went bad.

That's not what I wanted to do in my first start and my first inning. I was a little excited and just needed to get through that. I threw too many pitches and that killed me later in the game. I had nothing left at the end of the game.

It's a step. We'll see how it goes.

It's a time to establish a good feeling. I'm pretty happy with the way it's gone. I didn't know how it would feel after the surgery and whether I'd be behind or not, and I was kind of worried about that. I'm ready.

I treated it like a regular game. I expect a lot out of myself. I was getting frustrated when I would miss a pitch and then I'd get angry at myself. ... I feel good, it's just a matter of getting my endurance back.

It's tough to know that you could be pitching somewhere else. Even with the depth we have in the bullpen and among the starters, those guys still have to work hard because eventually the opportunities present themselves. Those guys can help us if we need it.

It's always a different intensity. I try to make it as close as possible. ... Overall it went pretty well. It's a matter of getting my pitches in, just getting comfortable on the mound again.

It's going to be great. A lot of guys are looking forward to seeing him in action. We're all excited.

It's something to talk about. Any way that I can come back and help out the team. If it's the 'pen, I'd be happy doing that. I'd love to start, but ...

It's something I would love to do, but I don't know if they'll let it happen.

It's not good. As soon as I started trying to throw changeups and really extend the arm, I could feel it. Hopefully, it doesn't put me back too far.

Once I get out there, it will be a huge step for me. It will be great to get that first one out of the way.

The last three or four days I've been feeling a lot better. I was a little unsure, at the start of the spring, how I'd feel, but overall I feel great. ... One more start and I'm ready to go.

I'm down to 191 pounds. I'd like to get to 196-198 by the time the season starts. I was 197 before I got sick. It sure stayed with me awhile. To me, getting back to around 197 pounds is a big deal.

I'm going to drive myself crazy if I do that, ... You never know how you're going to feel.

I left it right over the plate. Other than that, I felt pretty good about my night.

In a way, all the starters are kind of competing against each other.

I'm just not ready to come back and pitch yet.

I had a good feeling about that. I think everyone did. It started raining harder, we had to finish it, and he's really good at getting the job done.

He's so much fun to watch. He's so dominant. Everybody is in a little bit of awe watching him.

I don't know. I don't really want to think about that.

I didn't know about the shoes, but I believe it. When you pitch, you're always looking for things like that. It's a game of inches, and every little bit helps.

I felt really good, actually. It was definitely positive.

I don't like going that short. It's funny. A couple years ago, I would have been happy to go that far. It was always five innings, no more. Now, I don't feel like I did my job unless I go six, seven innings.

The first game every year, I'm a little excited. It has been awhile since I pitched. It feels like a long time. It was pretty much what I expected after being sick. In the second inning, I was tired, and the third inning I felt it.

The last hitter, I gave it everything I had and was really struggling to get it up to the plate.