Posted: Thursday, April 24, 2008, 1:21 PM | 26 comments |
 

Manuel hopes two days off cures Howard's "over-trying"
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Ask Ryan Howard's mom.

Seriously.

Ask her.

"She'll tell you that I've never hit good in April," Howard said. "She'll take it all the way back to high school, I'm sure."

Last night after Howard went 0-for-4 and struck out in his last two at-bats against the Brewers, manager Charlie Manuel called him into his office and informed him that he'd be getting a break for a couple of days. Don't look at it as a benching. Look at it more as a mental health leave of absence.

"I didn't want to sit him down, but I think it's time," Manuel said. "I think it will be good for him to sit there and watch the game, and get things off his mind."

Howard will likely sit for the next two games, though Manuel won't hesitate to use him as a pinch-hitter. In his place, the hot-hitting Greg Dobbs will play first and bat in the top half of the order. Howard is hitting .181 with 4 home runs, 32 strikeouts and just 15 walks. He struggled last April, but never this mightily.

Howard is obviously frustrated, as anybody who has watched his body language the past week can tell. Still, he's trying to remain upbeat.

"You never want to get out to a slow start, but right now it's April, there's still five, six months left," Howard said. "I'll just try and take some positives out of the day and try to start seeing the ball better."

Manuel hopes the time off will allow Howard to clear his head.

"Let me tell you somthing. . .Albert Belle used to have trouble hitting his first home run, and jesus christ all mighty, he'd carry you for a month and finally hit one and start breaking bats and fighting and throwing things like the world is coming to an end," said Manuel, who coached the fiery Belle in Cleveland. "Pretty soon you've dug a big hole for yourlsef. He he used to tell me he would get off to slow starts beacuse he was trying to do too much, and right now Ryan is trying to do too much. He sees other guys hitting the ball good and things like that and he wants to contribute too. All of a sudden he's overtrying."
Posted by David Murphy @ 1:21 PM  Permalink | 26 comments
26
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:46 PM, 04/24/2008
    I'm so sick of the standard "he's overtrying" or "trying to do too much" BS line that managers have to constantly puke out in order to satisfy the crystalike fragility of most of these prima donnas' egos! Howard greedily wanted his $10 million and now he's got it, so shut up and hit! You'd think a guy who won Rookie of the Year, followed up by an MVP would then two years later, be IMPROVING on his plate discipline and ability to lay off bad pitches and crush good ones. Howard gets cookies down the middle and fouls them off, then chases in the dirt. Charlie should call it what it is...a BENCHING that Howard deserves! Howard should take just one page of notes out of Chase Utley's book of how to be an effective baseball player and maybe he'll start to learn how to be a constantly improving hitter and fielder.
    — Alan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:55 PM, 04/24/2008
    Alan you mean you want Charlie to manage like a manager. You are asking too much big fella.
    — wildebill
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:02 PM, 04/24/2008
    Jesus Alan, pop a xanax or something and relax. Everything is going to be okay dude. That being said, Howard isn't playing like a guy that wants a long term deal, but then again, let's check back in a month when he's hitting like he can....
    — Reggie Noble
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:58 PM, 04/24/2008
    The Phils can never get both Howard & Burrell hitting good at the same time.
    — BobbyD
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:26 PM, 04/24/2008
    guy is young. guy is talented. guy is a proven, very good hitter and great power hitter. guy is in an early season slump. no biggie. two days off. no biggie. ten million dollars? they're paying that to fourth starters and 25-home run guys these days. howard is a steal at his price this year. good luck, ryan.
    — malachy_mahoney
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:55 PM, 04/24/2008
    He has between 2nd and 3rd wide open at every bat. He can't learn to push the ball that way ? If he did they would pitch him different and maybe get better pitches to hit.
    — jsindaco
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:38 PM, 04/24/2008
    Hey like Reggie said, everything is going to be ok dude!!! Its been "ok" for 27 years dude.
    — Flyers2001
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:50 PM, 04/24/2008
    Howard will come around. Sure as the sun comes up, he'll start pounding the ball again. The only question is when. Take it to the bank.
    — sammers
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:00 PM, 04/24/2008
    Maybe you should relax a bit Alan. Trying too hard is legitimate. it is important to relax and be confident in order to produce. I do agree with you that he fought to make that $10 million and NO EXCUSES (He has been Benched) are acceptable. But when Howard finds his groove and starts letting the game come to him, he will once again be an awesome force.
    — imafanregardless


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About David Murphy
David Murphy joined the Daily News as its Phillies beat writer in February of 2008. Born in Upper Merion and raised in the Poconos, he attended college at La Salle University before taking jobs with the Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun-News and the St. Petersburg ( Fla. ) Times. E-mail Dave at dmurphy@phillynews.com.

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