Ryan Howard breaks toe; season over
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Ryan Howard breaks toe; season over
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
MIAMI — No one moment can better characterize this cursed Phillies season than Ryan Howard breaking his right big toe while standing in the on-deck circle. He did it Thursday by dropping a lead pipe he uses for practice swings.
The $125 million slugger's season, the most trying of his career, is over. "It was a learning process," Howard said.
What was the No. 1 lesson?
"Don't get hurt."
The broken toe, believed to be a hairline fracture after Friday X-rays, will not affect his winter training program. He can walk down the aisle at his December wedding without a boot.
It will rob him five final games in 2012, a year made difficult on the final swing of 2011. His ruptured Achilles cost him the first 84 games and sapped him of strength at the plate.
Howard finished with career lows in batting average (.219), on-base percentage (.295) and slugging percentage (.423).
"I know I'm a better hitter than that," Howard said.
"His best years are ahead of him," Charlie Manuel said.
The Phillies sure hope so. They will pay Howard $105 million in the next four seasons.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
- Hate the contract and the clueless GM that gave it to him, not the player. If Nose was making 6-8M per season with his output no one would give it a second glance. He is being paid 25M for .240 and 40% strikeout ratio. He deserves the heat whether you Howard apologists think so or not.
— coloradoeagle - Hate the contract? Well let me fill you in on some things...
When you compare Howard's contract to Pujos (10 years), Votto (10 years), Feilder (9 years), the Phils have committed approximately $100 million - $125 million LESS than those 3 teams for their 1B {thanks dr. hoffman for that info}. Now obviously Pujos is the best of those 4, but the Angels have sunk at least $125 million more than the Phils did for their 1B...and that doesn’t include all the “perks” Pujols has gotten with his contract. My word, if interested, look it up. It reads like a rock star contract.
As for Votto and Fielder, them and Howard are in the same production wise, check the numbers. BUT again, the Phils have far less invested in Howard than the Reds and Tigers have in their 1B. But ultimately, when it comes to the contract talk, it’s the numbers he puts up that will tell the tale. I think if he is in the top 4 or 5 in all the power categories, is able to keep his BA. up in the .265 to .270 range, and plays a decent first base, then the dollars per year will be justified.
With that being said, it’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that he is gonna work hard this offseason and come back in great shape by Spring Training.
So where does the justification of all the Howard-hating come in? Seems to me there is more than just contract envy going on here... - I'm glad to hear his best years are ahead of him.— Phillies2008WSChamps
- thank god. too bad it can't be career ending though.— nazblueeagles11
- After all he signed a legal contract and he's "ENTITLED" to the money whether he plays or not. Just the new American way.— sonnybuoy01
- Mrs Howard, Jeff Carter is looking better and better by the day, huh?— Campatent
- We don't need Howard's "best" years ahead....we only need him to be what he once was. I'd settle for the 2006 version.— SteveS11
- He made contact !— Pap
- You guys are clueless.production is all that matters #s don't lie.
— eglftbl1 - missed the playoffs, lost NLDS, won WS, lost WS, lost NLCS, lost NLDS, failed to make playoffs.
those numbers are telling the truth, alright.
this guy could get hurt in a wet dream.
— ekw555 - RUF at first, CHASE at 3rd ... Try it out !!— mortt1956
- When Charlie says Howard's best year are ahead of him, he was talking about his love life.
Seriously, has anyone ever computed how many QUALITY rbi this guy gets.
He refuses to get close to the plate which leads me to think he's uncoachable (sounds like his good buddy Barry Bonds)— eyesell - Well at least we don't have to watch him strike out anymore this year. Ugh. What a waste of 125 million dollars. Thanks for the memories but I wish we could find a sucker team to unload this guy on.— Fly Guy
- Where are the Howard supporters? The man is coming back from a difficult injury. If he hits 30 Hrs and drives in triple digits he is earning his pay. If he strikes out 200 times and hits .240 who cares? Get off his back.
- "His best years are ahead of him," Charlie Manuel said.
I can't believe I just read this.— dmn
