"When Ryan Howard first arrived at spring training last month, he joked that he was "still negotiating" with manager Charlie Manuel about what his approach at the plate should be this season.

Manuel wants Howard to stand closer to the plate to improve his balance on balls outside. Howard feels more comfortable away from the plate.

Manuel wants Howard to pull the ball more. Howard likes hitting homers to the opposite field.

But after the Phillies' slugging first baseman hit his first homer of the spring -- yes, an opposite-field shot in the sixth inning of a 7-4 win Friday over Pittsburgh -- he said his approach is less about negotiating and more about progressing.

"I've been looking at this spring as more of a progression," Howard said. "In years past, I've always been kind of searching, searching, searching, but now I feel like I know what I'm looking for. It's that progression of each day, trying to get to that feeling to take me into the season.""