Part two of News 25 Sports Director Lee Hall's one-on-one interview with White Sox D-H Jim Thome.

News 25: We saw you stretching out here before the game. How tough is it now? How much preparation do you have to go through just to play every day?

Thome: "Well, a lot, you know. A lot different from when I was 25, you know. I know that. It's part of my routine now. I know what I have to do to get ready and I try to stay true and consistent to my program and not get lax with that. Again, it's something that I've had to adjust since I've gotten older but it's kept me on the field, so that's the main thing."

(Note: at the time of this interview, Thome had 512 career home runs. He now has 513.)

News 25: 512 home runs. You're tied with Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews. What does it mean to you when you hear that?

Thome: "It's humbling, you know. It's humbling because those guys...I can't say I grew up watching Ernie, but growing up in Illinois, you know Ernie Banks. Obviously growing up a Cub fan, Ernie was a huge part of every household in Peoria and in Chicago, so when that name gets thrown around, again, it's very humbling because when you break into the big leagues you never know how long you're going to play. To do that you have to play a long time and I've been very blessed."