In dismal funk, Ryan Howard sits
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
In dismal funk, Ryan Howard sits
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
WASHINGTON — The manager's door was closed for a good 15 minutes before Thursday's game. Inside Charlie Manuel's office, there was no chance Ryan Howard would talk his way into the lineup.
"He didn't get to say too much after last night," Manuel said.
That was another hitless, three-strikeout performance, and the latest in failures that led Manuel to bench his slugger. Through 19 games, Howard is hitting .206 and has struck out in 36 percent of his plate appearances. That would lead all major-league hitters if Howard qualified for the batting title.
Judging by the way Howard spoke Thursday, there was no need to challenge the manager's decision.
"Right now, it's just, I'm in a funk," Howard said. "And there ain't no point in trying to hide it. Right now I'm not seeing the ball. I'm not comfortable. I'm not going to lie, I'm a little frustrated, a little flustered. So I guess it would be a good day for a day off."
He did not even take batting practice before Thursday's game.
Entering the day, Howard was 3 for his last 22 with 14 strikeouts. The Nationals started lefty Ross Detwiler, so Manuel saw a natural chance to rest Howard.
Howard refused to blame his slump on a shortened spring training to compensate for missing the season's first 84 games. Manuel disagreed.
"When you go to spring training and you get some at-bats — I don't know, 40, 50, 60 — sometimes all of a sudden you start getting tired. You start losing your swing but you'll come back around. That's kind of what it's all about."
Manuel sensed Howard's frustration during their meeting.
"He's kind of upset because he's striking out," Manuel said. "Probably has a reason to be, you know."
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Wish Darin Ruf was the starting first baseman tonight. He is hitting .360 with a 1.125 OPS against lefties in 111 plate appearances against them at Reading this season. But he just turned 26, way too young to give him a shot with the big boys I guess.— Dull- Either way it may be a Ruf night— NewMick314
- We're kind of upset about him striking out, too....— jibberjabber
- First, well done. I'm impressed uncle buck had the guts to bench him hopefully we'll see a lot more of it. On the other hand your "anchor" okay with being benched. I think I prefer Victorino's reaction to getting moved down in the lineup. Kward is rich, fat and happy and apparently in need of lasic eye surgery. Good for him, now it's about time someone looked at Bobo for extending this guy well before he had to.— lazyboy
- Dope — DogBiscuitthedope
- So if they hadn't signed Hamels and lost him you would be the first tool complaining that they should have signed him earlier. Basic losers like you complain about whatever side doesn't work out. If Hamels get hurt I'm sure you'll be the first dopey loser to complain about his contact. — DogBiscuitthedope
- Has his huge contract extension even started yet?— ronin32
- has been in dismal funk since signing his $125 million extension in 2010; unfortunately will probably remain dismal until his contract expires at end of 2016...as one commentator says, he's Adam Dunn without the power and at a hundred million dollars more so Rube can't afford anyone who can actually hit— warbiscuit
- Beat it tool — DogBiscuitthedope
- Thanks for your many insightfull contributions to this board.
Yes DogBiscuit, you ARE a dope!— jman - For this we pay $25 million?— 4thand10
- Ronin it started this year. In other words had bobo waited to sign him he would have been signing him coming off two years of around 32/110, and with a serious injury. Not that 32/110 isnt good, but with his mediocre batting average hard to see that worth more than 15 a year, factor in the injury and it would have been much less. So now we're going to be treated to 4 more years of him flailing away like a fat turtle. I hope I'm wrong, but for sure his days of 45/145 are long behind him, and we'll be lucky to if he can even do 30/100. Nice 25 million dollar platoon player.— lazyboy
- Oh did I mention you're a moron? — DogBiscuitthedope
- And a tool — DogBiscuitthedope
- Ryan Howard should have been sent to the minor leaques along time ago.
Phils should start to think about rebuilding. Putting him in the clean-up position with all those strike-outs????? Bringing back Ryan and Chase when they are not healthy makes no sense. Phils need to make major trades, perhaps it is too late for that since most of their players have hardly no value now. What a shame!!!! Phils will now start losing at the gate where it will hurt.— f3408cooky
