Ryan Howard does not think the Phillies are old, and that you should ignore them at your own peril
An energetic Ryan Howard said he is back to normal after a year spent recovering from Achilles surgery. And he disagrees with the public perception about the Phillies.
Ryan Howard does not think the Phillies are old, and that you should ignore them at your own peril
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
The Big Piece sounded more like the Big Aristotle. Or, rather, the Big Tony Robbins.
An energetic and optimistic Ryan Howard labeled himself back to normal after a year spent battling the effects of Achilles surgery, and he labeled the Phillies a contender that is being unduly downgraded by the public.
"First, I want to address this 'old' thing, because that's all I keep hearing," Howard said late Thursday morning. "People keep talking about older, and older and older. There's a guy in this league in Jamie Moyer, who I'm sure people told him he was old and this and that, but Jamie Moyer would go out every year and show people that he can play and get it done. I don't buy into the whole old thing. It's about how young you feel inside. It's all about how well you take care of yourself.
"Everybody in this clubhouse goes out and works their butt off. Everybody goes in the offseason and we train and we do what we need to do. If people want to call us old, that's fine, but I think going out there this year we're going to show people that we're not old. As far as the Nationals and the other teams in the division, it's going to be a great division, it's going to be a fun division to watch. They had a great year last year, but once again, we had a lot of injuries.
"So call us old if you want to, that's fine if you want to sweep us under the rug, just don't be surprised. Don't be surprised."
Howard said that last season he was essentially playing on one leg because he had not redeveloped the muscles in the left leg that was operated on and immobilized after surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles in October of 2011. This year, he says those muscles are back, and the mental block that is often associated with traumatic injuries is gone.
"It's one of those things where you just weren't 100 percent confident in it," he said. "You can't do all the things that you would normally do. Sometimes you might try to make a cut or do something that you would normally do and you might feel something. Yeah, there's always going to be that little bit of fear in that back of your mind that you might rupture it again or what not, but now it's not even a second thought in my mind."
Howard missed the first three months of last season, then struggled when he returned.
"You don't realize how important spring training is until you don't have one," he said. "Being able to be here, create the chemistry with my teammates, just being healthy, just being ready to go."
Howard was particularly bad against lefties, hitting just .173 against them. He said he is focused on improving his performance in those situations, and believes he has the ability to hit lefties like he did in 2006, when his average was over .270 and his OPS over .900 against southpaws.
"I think (the problem is) a combination of listening to the noise, trying to please people, trying to go out there and people saying, oh, he can't hit lefties, I have to show them that I can hit lefties," Howard said. "Obviously, to get to the big leagues you have to hit lefties and righties. Like I said, putting all that aside and trusting in my ability. I know I can hit lefties, it's just a matter of going up there, being relaxed, having good ABs, getting good pitches and putting good swings on them."
Howard said his surgically-repaired leg is a non-issue.
"I want to go out and play 162 games and every game in the playoffs and the World Series," he said.
Is that realistic?
"Yeah, why not," he said. "That's what the offseason is for. That's why I train. That's why I do what I do, to go out there and try to play 162. I'm not the kind of guy who just wants to come out here and play 150 games and be cool with that."
howard if healthy will hit 38 or more hr's drive in 120 or more rbi's that is what he does and if d. young is in good shape he will drive in 100 runs or more.— only 9- Howard should be platooned with Ruf because he can't hit lefthanders!— farley
- Anyone on here stupid enough to be negative towards Howard needs a karate chop to the neck.— JD17
- Phillies aren't old? Just "injured", because the age didn't have anything to do with it. This team is just as mediocre as it was last year, and I guarantee you they'll end up having the same health issues because they don't have a roster that can stay healthy but they do have a manager who has no clue how to keep his guys fresh. It's time to face the facts Phillies' fans, this behemoth payroll is a .500 baseball team.— fightonphilly
- Go Howard, prove all the Chicken Littles wrong!— cloudkitt
- To bad, attitude won't help him lay off low and outside pitches. The league has found his weakness, as it has been on display for all to see especially in the play-off of 2010 & 2011.
His pitch recognition, and plate discipline are below average. Which is why he is near the top of all of baseball in strike outs the past 3 years. This combined with the ignorant refusal to take what the defense gives him, and hit to the opposite field.
The shift is embarrassing. It shows Ryan's lack of savvy, and displays arrogance. Managements inability to effect his approach, demonstrates their lack of leadership, which undermines the whole team. Everyone is focused on Doc. For me, if Choolie has the stones to bat Rollin's in the bottom half of the order, and Ryan would lay a few bunts down the 3rd baseline, I would like the Phillies chances a lot better than I do knowing neither of these things will happen.— meatman2 - injured the last two years and was leading the league in rbi's in 2011 when the leg started acting up. and had never been injured before that, but whatever.
- Sounds like the Big Guy is tired of the armchair GMs hanging crepe all day. I have been a fan since 1953 and Ryan Howard is the best player at that position i have ever seen in Phillies red. Plus, he graciously signed an autograph for my grandson last summer. We're lucky to have him— Ringsider
- Love the attitude. Now back it up!— MadChemist13
- Nice to hear from Ryan and hear he's healthy and ready to go. I'm afraid this team isn't going to be very good but if Ryan's healthy and fit, he can sure do some damage around those K's and grounders to 1B. No way do I count him out and Chase looks great, just seeing him this week.— PhillySubsMac
- What is old is watching you strike out so much . Will you change or just become a Dave Kingman clone ?— d1955h
- can't hit lefties or breaking balls.— FunCakes
- Howard is our Adam Sandler.— 4thand10
- Most overrated first baseman in history could quite possibly be the dumbest thing i've read on here yet. True idiocy.— spittooncj
- You're right! Calling Ryan Howard the most overrated first baseman in history, IS the dumbest thing I've read on here yet. — The Pack Leader
