Howard looking to break slump
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Howard looking to break slump
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
It was a frustrating 3-2 loss for the Phillies, who once again failed to trim their 2.5-game deficit behind the Braves in the NL East. And it has been a frustrating 48 hours for Ryan Howard, who was ejected in the 14th inning Tuesday night, setting off his epic explosion at third base umpire Scott Barry.
Howard did not start last night as Charlie Manuel chose to rest the struggling slugger against former Phillies lefty J.A. Happ. He did pinch-hit in the ninth inning, knocking a single through the weak side of the shift to momentarily put the tying run at first base (Domonic Brown struck out to end the game).
Since returning from the disabled list, Howard is 3-for-20 with 10 strikeouts. He said he spent much of Wednesday evening in the batting cage.
"Kind of cleared the head a little bit, just went down in the cage, did a little work in the cage, and just tried to kind of find it," Howard said. "Try to get my rhythm back, my timing back. Just seeing the ball. I wasn’t really seeing the ball very well and just wanted to go up there and try and do that.
Howard missed close to three weeks with a sprained ankle before returning on Saturday. But he said the ankle is not an issue.
"There’s still a little bit of swelling, a little bit of pain or whatever," Howard said. "But when I’m out there, I don’t really think about it."
So what's the key?
“For me, it’s just trying to find that timing and rhythm, trying to find that comfort zone again," Howard said. "Seeing pitches, your adrenaline kind of gets going. Sometimes you want to do a little bit too much. Your mind and your eyes are so far ahead from the rest of your body, and you are trying to catch up. I think for me, it’s just getting back into that comfort zone. It’s kind of like spring training all over again.”
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This isn't a slump. It's something more than that. But don't worry, he's signed through 2017. LOL- Comment removed.
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- The Phils need a 1st baseman like a Joey VOtto or Adrien Gonzalez, Hopefully, SIngleton or Rizzotti will pan out because I am so sick of how HOward plays the game. When was his last meaningful RBI? Rockies might make a push for the Wildcard and the Phils should be looking to extend their lead in the NL east today but instead they are just trying to score more than 2 runs with the regulars in the lineup. GUys making the kind of money that Utley,Howard and Werth are making should be so useless at the plate! The only time this year when the Phillies had any heart was when Howard,VIctorino,and Ultely were on DL. IF they cant win this afternoon, then some drastic measures should be taken, sent Utley,Victorino and Howard to minors or DL so they can get some work fixing the holes in their swings. Podsednik is on waivers and I would love for the Phils to add a legit leadoff man to lineup,maybe the could move Werth to center or maybe Podsednick could play CF but Victorino is looking way to comfortable and he needs to be pushed. The Phils need to go back to small ball until they can refind their power stroke but Utley looks as lost as I have ever seen him. Everyone also said that since Chase has such a small compact swing that he would never have a prolonged slump but he has been slumping all year and it appears is power is lost and never coming back! SPlit up Utley,Howard and Werth in lineup, maybe move Ruiz and Ibanez up and look to replace VIctorino, so they can get a guy to leadoff. Jimmy's OBP is a joke and VIctorino's is worse and he has such a stupid swing, line drives and balls on the ground you idiot Victorino! I really hope they make a move for Podsednick,they invested so much in Oswalt,Rube has got to see the holes in this lineup,he has to upgrade if he can
- are you talking about mark reynolds or adam dunn because im pretty sure ryan howard tied with #10 in the NL in strikeouts and jayson werth is even ahead of him in strikeouts even though howard has missed 3 weeks while werth did not.— rcaplan
- hope he's looking to start breaking out of that slump today....— boris
- over-exposed, are u drunk? The Braves are in 1st with no meaningful 1B. Howard is in a slump and the Phils are only 2.5 back. He will heat up soon as always. They play with no heart? Seriously? The reigning 2-time NL champs are playing with no heart? Get real and lay off the hard liquor.— palmyra21
- Howard's not the problem. It's Chase. It's been that way all year. Howard probably should have had more than 1 Rehab assignment, granted, but he's had slumps like this before, and you almost expect it being away for 2 weeks. He was in a funk for a week prior to getting hurt. Utley has been flat out awful for huge chunks of the season, and has just lost his approach to hitting entirely. I think the NL figured him out this year.— kswhit4
- honestly.. nicetobehere and over_exposed are some of the least intelligent short-sighted "fans" i've seen on here lol.. you'd honestly think the phils were in last place just going through the motions until the end of the season if you only read their comments...— JMick1215
- Where is the Money ups!I mean the Investment up's AnyWay to much Pay on some one how about "Lee" why so little of criticism on some players,but Lee ask for a Dime n they refuse to Keep him funny he still paying healthy and you know why because is a mature in to areas in baseball and is personal care as individual— Gazu
- Again - unbelievable. Since Howard has arrived in the majors, 3 Division titles, 2 League championships & 1 world series. 2.5 games out of the division lead & leading the wild card with more than a month to go. You'd think we were the Mets & he was Beltran.— Ed3
- right on, Ed, you tell this spoiled fans!— TheSage
- One dope two dope three dope four— ILUVPHILLYCITYOFLOSERS
- Lets hope Utley and Howard get their groove back in CA...how about Charlie benching his lapdog Werth-less and give Brown some much needed at bats??? Dude is an everyday player and is wasting his time riding the bench while Werth is well, worthless.— tralala
- Watching Howard swing and miss at this ridiculous rate is depressing. Watching Jayson Werth swing and miss while looking like an idiot makes me mad. Werth is what, last in MLB in batting with RISP? He's also a poor two strike hitter and two out hitter. So, why is he batting fifth? Logic says you want a guy there who can hit with men on base, but the Manuel thinks it best to put the worst hitter in that category out there for the Phillies.— MrPhillie
- Jayson Werth,the Phillies number hitter, one reason the PHils cant consistenly score runs.Werth's .300 average is absolute fools gold. Even before looking at the RISP numbers, anyone who's followed every Phillies game has a gut feeling that he's been truly useless at the plate. The dude is having an AWFUL year, and really hasn't done anything important at the plate all season. I'm glad there's a stat that really reflects why, so he can't hide behind that .300 average. I'd also be curious about his strikeout rate with RISP and with RISP and 2 outs. So, I found even more stats on Werth that backup my arguments.Strikeout rate with runners in scoring position: 37 strikeouts in 108 at-batsaverage with RISP and two outs: .105 (6 for 57, 24 strikeouts, 20 walks.When the going gets tough, Werth gets out. When the gong gets tougher, Werth gets out more. I will do a profile of Ryan Howard failings tomorrow and VIctorino after that, these players are playing lazy,uninspired baseball and it is affecting the team very negatively. Changes need to be made,Podsednik is on waiver wire,put him atop the lineup and you would have a real leadoff guy!
- WErth is on pace to have worst batting average with RISP in baseball's almost 150yr history.As of Wednesday night's game, the Philadelphia Phillies' Jayson Werth is batting .300 with a .913 OPS. With the bases empty, he is hitting .333 (including last night's solo home run). With men on base, his batting average drops down to .255. And with runners in scoring position, his batting average is an appalling .157. Thats the guys that backing up Howard and the BIg RH powerbat,with Utley and Howard slumping terribly, the PHils dont have a prayer unless their pitchers can give them complete game shut outs two out of three games against the Padres.
- UNACCEPTABLE HOMESTAND!!!!!!!!!!!— Philly4fanDoc
- @Gazu, let me guess...you write professionally.— dasher
- I cannot believe that the Fightings have blown 4 straight to Houston. There were virtually no clutch hits except Ibanez's double and JRoll's 9th inning homer. I cannot see how the all lose focus with men on base. Too many swings on the first pitch. They should take a strike. None of the pitchers they faced were overpowering. Werth overswings, Utley is late on the ball, Howard can't hit a curve from a lefty. Victorino slashes at the ball. Only Polanco and Ibanez and to some extent Ruiz look carefully at pitches and have a nice even stroke. Where are the hitting coaches? Charlie and GG what are you doing about it?— Al Lefer
- What I'm wondering is if Werth is going to start on the bench tonight.— Philly4fanDoc
