Posted: Wednesday, April 13, 2011, 11:23 PM | 22 comments |
 

X-Ray on Howard's wrist negative
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X-rays were negative on Ryan Howard's wrist. (Barbara Johnston/AP file photo)

WASHINGTON -- Ryan Howard had his right wrist wrapped following the Phillies' 3-2 victory over the Nationals. He also had an X-Ray performed that returned negative, according to a team official, after he was plunked on the wrist by Washington lefthander John Lannan.

His status for Thursday's series finale is unknown.

Howard was hit in the fifth and it forced in a run as the Phillies took a 3-0 lead. It turned out to be a huge run once Roy Halladay allowed two in the ninth.

Right after being plunked, Howard clapped his hands as he walked away from home plate, so it didn't appear anything was serious.

Lannan, of course, was the one who hit Chase Utley when making his major-league debut against the Phillies in 2007. The pitch broke Utley's hand and he was on the disabled list for 31 days.

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Posted by Matt Gelb @ 11:23 PM  Permalink | 22 comments
22
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  • 1 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:51 PM, 04/13/2011
    If doctors told me I had one day to live, I would spend it listening to audio tapes of Nats' announcers Rob Carpenter and F.P. Santangelo and it would seem like life is never ending. Those clowns were speculating that Lannon's pitch really hit Howard's bat and should have been called a foul ball. Carpenter is a snide mother with a weakness for underage boys while Santangelo got his Nats' gig after failing a D.C. Metro bus written driving test.
    — Claudio Vernight
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:43 AM, 04/14/2011
    The Nats' announcers think this is 1940 and people don't have access to a TV to view a replay.

    When you have a poor team, chances are you won't be able to get good announcers too. Or maybe it's just DC - The Redskins have, what is regarded around the NFL, the worst radio announcers ever also. It's almost like they go "Oh, I forget we had a game today. Who are we playing? Can I borrow $10 to get a program? How do you pronounce "Vick"?"
    — rounddollar
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:06 AM, 04/14/2011
    a bounty on lannan's head.
    — zdog
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:28 AM, 04/14/2011
    Wow! We can't afford to lose Howard. Thank God he is okay!!
    — FranMc73
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:41 AM, 04/14/2011
    He seems OK, but will this be the one thing that takes him out of the "zone" that he has been in? He has been a lot more patient at the plate, not swinging at bad pitches...
    — PhilliefaninAZ
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:57 AM, 04/14/2011
    I hope this doesn't turn into a problem. This is how it always starts. 3 weeks from now we will be reading how this was the reason for a 4 for 4( slump.
    — Jajohnsoniii
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:06 AM, 04/14/2011
    4 for 40 I meant.
    — Jajohnsoniii
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:38 AM, 04/14/2011
    Howard’s recent success at the plate is due to two factors

    1. The Phillies manager and hitting coach has asked the slugger to stand three inches closer to the plate,
    2. By standing over the plate Howard and Chase will be hit more frequently as pitchers’ demand that they both back off the plate.

    The question [becomes] can Howard withstand the physical and mental abuse all season long? Chase has shown how tough he is, and now it is Howard’s turn. Only time will tell if Howard can remain calm under extreme pressure of being hit twenty five time or more per season.

    If teams see that they can rattle him by hitting him or dusting him off with high and tight pitches would Howard violently react by charging the mound or calmly shake it off and walk down to first base?
    — nateminor
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:43 AM, 04/14/2011
    Lannan needs a few fast ones in the middle of his back.
    — orange rhino
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:52 AM, 04/14/2011
    Jason Werth can make all the predictions he wants. But the fact remains that the Nationals are a terrible, sloppy team. As they botch their way though 9 innings, playing the Nats is an injury trap. The Nationals role is to even the playing field by bungling the game to cause discomfort to better teams. Watch out for injuries every time with the Nationals. These are the types of series that can adversely affect a season, but not by playing a good game.
    — road515
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:55 AM, 04/14/2011
    Lannan must get hit the next time he pitches against the Phillies. MUST.
    — shawnmac
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:01 AM, 04/14/2011
    the nationals players need to be hit. werth would be my choice sine zimmerman is out. as far as the announcers go at least rob dibble is gone . he was worse than those two idiots put together. go phillies
    — phillysportsnut
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:25 AM, 04/14/2011
    Ryan recent success, what are you talking about? The big fella is rookie of the year and MVP winner and one of the best players of the game. Last year he only hit 30 homers, but he missed some time and when he returned he wasn't 100%. (BTW, power numbers were down league-wise, anyway.) If you remember, he started very hot or hotter last year. I don't see much change in his game by being closer to the plate. He's still hitting the ball with authority to LF/LCF like before.
    — EL Zorro
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:29 AM, 04/14/2011
    And yes, I agree. Phillies pitchers have to retaliate. Not only Howard was hit, but the other pitcher, the one that look like Oswalt, kept throwing at hitters. I believe he almost hit Polly twice in on AB.
    — EL Zorro
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:52 AM, 04/14/2011
    Looking at Howard's numbers through the first 11 games the last two seasons, they are almost identical: same BA, R & HR (.333, 9 & 3); one more RBI this year (14), and the OPS this year is slightly higher (1.031 to 1.006). But this year he has struckout more 9 to 5 last year. BB are about the same 4 this year 3 last year. So there you have. Not much difference.
    — EL Zorro


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About Matt Gelb and Bob Brookover












Bob Brookover and Matt Gelb team up for their third straight season covering the Phillies for the Inquirer and philly.com.

This is Brookover’s second stint writing about the Phillies, having joined the coverage team after seven years as an Eagles beat writer. Brookover was hired by The Inquirer in 2000 as the Phillies beat writer after spending 13 years writing about the team for two suburban newspapers. While on the Eagles beat, Brookover, who had covered just two winning Phillies teams in 15 seasons, saw the Phillies move into a cash-cow new ballpark and begin playing a brand of the game he found unrecognizable. Follow him on Twitter here.

Gelb is in his third season covering the Phillies. He was hired by The Inquirer in August 2009 after graduating from Syracuse University. He has also covered baseball at The Star-Ledger and Cape Cod Times. Born and raised in Bucks County, he attended Central Bucks High School West. Follow him on Twitter here.
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