Howard comes up for air
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Howard comes up for air
Ryan Lawrence, Daily News Staff Writer
Ryan Howard is usually the guy carrying the Phillies down the stretch this time of year.
The Phillies have won five straight NL East titles and Howard has been a big part of that, but also being a finisher, the guy who has had enough left in his tank to help the Phils clinch.
Howard has had more success in September than in any other month in his career.
But Howard, 10 months removed from left Achilles' surgery, has hardly been himself this September. He entered Thursday with a .292 slugging percentage in 17 games this month, which ranks 252nd of the 312 players with at least 25 plate appearances this month.
You don't have to point out those numbers to Howard, who briefly emerged from his September slumber to lead the Phillies to a 3-2 win on Wednesday. Howard hit a two-run home run with two outs in the ninth inning.
Howard is well aware that his first two months since returning from a lengthy rehab haven’t been anywhere near what he had hoped.
The normally genial Howard twice declined to talk to reporters this week. The frustration was apparent in the way he carried himself through the clubhouse.
Following his game-winning home run on Wednesday, Howard talked about the mental toll that his rehab has taken on him.
“I know I’m better than what shows,” Howard said. “It’s been a learning process for me. I’m just trying to go out and grind it out the best that I can, just trying to come up in any situation that I can to try to help the team win. And that’s it.”
“I’m a competitor. I know I’m better than what shows, and it gets frustrating at times and sometimes you try to do more than what you’re capable of doing. I’ll be the first to tell you, yeah, I’ve probably gone out there and done that a few times. I tried to tone it back a little bit today. I knew it really didn’t show early in the game, but coming up in that situation, my goal was to try to get Chooch up to the plate.
“I know how the whole month of September goes, and obviously it’s been the opposite of that. But right now we’re in a pennant chase and my focus has just been on trying to continually go out there, try to get into the swing of things and just try to help the team win the best I can.”
For one day on one swing, Howard was able to do that. Thirteen games remain in the most trying season of his career.
It was great seeing him hit one out in that situation. That said, until he proves otherwise, RH = blind squirrel.— ghost of callison- Can't we leave this topic Murph? Hasn't Scott Palmer come up with anything new? There are so many issues with this team, the Big Man hit one last night, and we should be happy with the increment that added up to a win.
This ia all paralysis by analysis - I am all for data and analysis but the speculation, and the 'insight' and the chatter and the clutter, OMG. The 'horror' as someone wrote a couple of days ago.
Let him be. Let it go. Move on.
Next topic to grind into the earth: Can Greg Gross, Juan Samuel salvage their jobs over the next 17 games? Talk amongst yourselves...— 24sDad - At his salary, we should not have any mercy for him.— BobSG
- Ugh, the haters. 10 months after a torn achiles. It takes at least a year to recover from that type of an injury. Frankly he shouldn't even be out there playing. — bobf876
- Personally, having just had a total achilles reconstruction and having regular achilles repair 8 months before I would not cast any judgement on an athlete playing with one leg that is a toothpick. He is still making the same mistakes as before on low and away pitches & that has nothing to do with the leg unless its a matter of basic form. But no one is physically right from that type of surgery that quickly. Look at the LB the Eagles got from the Texans, he is now several years post achilles problem and doing well. We shall see with Jason Peters and Andre Mezaros recovery, though we wont see Peters until the 13-14 season and Mezaros in the playoffs if there is not a complete season lost. Its too early to judge— Steelmanpa
- watching Cardinals-Astros, it's clear that Cardinal bullpen isn't necessarily better than Phils --major difference is that their manager utilizes minimum intelligence and strategy to get out the awful Astros hitters while imbecile Chollie just brought in and left in the worst possible relievers in the worst possible spots to turn the worst team in basebll into some kinda of come-back juggernaut --the roster put together by Clueless Rube wasn't going to go far, but the inability to even make the post-season is 100% the fault of the dumbest managing I have ever witnessed in decades ---so who's dumber? the manager or the Clueless Rube who continues to employ him— warbiscuit
- Is that why so many articles were written about Ryan Howard in the last few days, as a response to his refusal to speak to reporters twice this week? As others have said, the Phillies were in position to win 3 out of 4 games in Houston, despite the lack of contribution of Ryan Howard. The Phillies lost those key games not because of Ryan Howard, but because of the inept use of certain relievers by the manager.— Freedom Fries
- Howard is what he is. He came back maybe too soon from a serious injury. If anyone thoght he would carry the team, they need a reality check. The scrubs who have no heart and not much talent that Amaro brought in were supposed to fill and and then help Howard this season.— Phillies2008WSChamps
- He's doing well with RISP, 1.085 OPS. But by all accounts, he's way over paid this year. His production in other phases (i.e. fielding, base running, and all other batting scenarios than RISP) is dragging his value way down.— 46 and 2
- Cardinals go 3-0 against Astros while imbecile Chollie goes 1-3 against same team, deciding to put fate of season in hands of 2 mediocre minor leaguers, Aumont and Diekmann --amazing that this guy wasn't fired the next day...— warbiscuit
- while howard certainly has his flaws, when i found out his injury was an achilles, my reaction was that the 2011 and 2012 seasons essentially ended on the same night...
a big man with that injury- just couldnt expect much this year.
and saying he's overpaid this year is the captain obvious comment of the year.
as for charlie, are there studs out in the bullpen that im not seeing that he's forgetting to put in.— jim715 - For once I agree with redundant Biscuit. Cards used 5 relievers for 3 inn today, and won. Charle is so lazy and stubborn, refuses to make switches and go after l/ l, r/r matchups. If Rube, who I do like if for nothing else for his boldness, does keep Manuel he better bring in Mike Adams since Charlie is fixated on a pitcher for the 8th and only that one person. Meantime use Defratus— WFChamps
- Had been a Howard fan but those days are gone. When do players like Howard finally become embarrassed by their pathetic performance ? Lot of folks excuse this away by last year's serious injury. Fine. Did he have this injury when I believe he set a record for strikeouts against the Yankees in WS ? Has he improved on that aspect of his game ? Here is a great question. Why after his serious injury did he not once again, as in once again, not watch his weight ? Anyone think Howard is in shape ? Hmmm. Maybe for WWF competition but not for a sport like baseball. Has not been on shape or cared that he has not been in great shape for years and it sure as heck shows in his performance. Pence and Howard swinging at pitches they could not hit with a "boat oar" was/is priceless.— atthev
