Ryan Howard's progressions
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Ryan Howard's progressions
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Ryan Howard has deliberately followed the plan, one that has called for careful and slow progressions. He has yet to play more than five innings in a rehab game at first base, a barrier he could pass Tuesday night in Allentown.
He will play in his sixth official rehab game. Howard told reporters Monday night at triple-A Lehigh Valley he thinks he'll play seven innings in the field Tuesday.
"I think what's going to happen is just see how it feels on a day-to-day basis and just keep going out there and we’ll see what happens," Howard said. "Once you get to the five, seven innings and you get good paces of games — knock on wood — keep the games going kind of the way they’ve been going, and just see how it feels and see if it stands up."
Here is Howard's game log:
LAKEWOOD
6-28: DH for full game
6-29: 1B for 5 innings
6-30: DH for 8 innings, removed for pinch-runner
LEHIGH VALLEY
7-1: 1B for 5 innings
7-2: DH for 8 innings, removed for pinch-runner
He's played every day since starting the rehab assignment, but has yet to appear in the field on consecutive days. That will be a major step, as will completing an entire game in the field.
Howard was asked if he could return before the All-Star break.
"I think anything is possible," Howard said. "You never know. Just take it day-by-day and go from there."
Judging by his progressions, it's looking more like he'll spend close to the maximum 20 days in the minors.
All quotes are courtesy of Matt Provence, Lehigh Valley's Head Hog.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
speaking of progressions, is he laying off the outside pitch? that would be the biggest progression of all.— coloradoeagle- I am not a Howard hater. I recognize that his production has been very good over his career and that his presence in the lineup would be better than every other piece of trash Uncle Cholly has tried at FB. That said he would be even MORE productive if he figured out how to lay off the outside pitch. It is a fair critique. — coloradoeagle
- @coloradoeagle...It's a shame Ryan isn't a more productive player...perhaps you've seen the Phils' record without him...— Buck Dharma
- Still can't lay off the Sliders...on or off the field....— 25years/100seasonsandcounting
- I think colorado prefers Pence's approach of swinging at everything including pitches above his head. He doesn't strike out as much andI really want a guy hitting .200 with RISP. RBIs are meaningless unless you're not getting them consistently.— palmyra21
- I just love the ignorant comments. Perhaps the best 1st baseman in team history, one of the greatest power hitters of this generation, a guy who helped bring a World Series to this city, and the most important player in the lineup (see last place this year) and this is the best people can do? It just proves my point that the average Philly sports fans is a miserable SOB. Every high priced athlete who's ever played in this town, was treated like trash.— beegal99
- Amen to that. It's become embarrassing.
Why do we boo EVERY SINGLE pickoff throw to first base? Why do we boo every time Kevin Garnett touches the ball?
Do you know what morons it makes us look like?
And yes, we have to constantly put down guys who 30 other teams would love to have.
Just plain embarrassing. Everyone just jump off a roof and end your miserable lives.— smfree31 - They boo the pickoff throw in every city. Try watching some games. And Kevin Garnett called out the fans so he deserved it. It happens all over the country, not unique to Philly. — hey buddy
- I can honestly say for 1 fan, that his injury has changed my view of him. I always thought he could be Fielder, Albert, etc category if he just cut down on his Strikeouts, but thats just not the type of player he is. Yes, Ruben could have got him for less but look at the Hamels situation... I wouldnt have mind signing him to a long term deal two years ago for more than hes worth. Regardless, Howard makes everyone better around him and 35 HRs and 120 RBI is very hard to take out of a lineup and expect similar results. Welcome Back Nose!!!!— FABER
- Buck, Palmyra, and Beegal, be real with yourselves. The Big Piece looks foolish when thrown a slider. That's not to say he's not productive, he's very productive. But he'd have a .400 OBP ala Joey Votto and hit 55 bombs ala the Ryan of the past if he learned to recognize that pitch.— MOJR
- Check out his stats with RISP for all you haters out there.— flyers2thecup
- Ryan Howard has been the greatest run producer in the major leagues from 2006-2011. That is a fact and yet you have some morons who are hating on the guy. He has clearly been our MVP over the last six years and this season without him clearly shows that. Some people will never be happy. It will be at least two decades or two before we ever see his production at first base in a Phillies uniform.— matty177
- ^that — JayOfDaJungle
- Do I want to strike out less? Sure. Do I want him to check his swing when the outside breaking pitch comes to the plate? Yep. Do I want him to hit to left side once in a while when the shift is on to keep teams from deploying the shift? Absolutely. But like some said above, he's the best run producer EVER that this team has had, and while people don't like the big contract he signed, it's only for 5 years, unlike 8 (Fielder) or 10 (Pujols). As long as he avoids another catastrophic injury, he should continue to be very productive for the remainder of his time with the Phils. And anyone who doesn't see the effect he has on the lineup isn't watching this team. With Chooch having the year he's having, this team would be scoring 10 runs a game with RH in the lineup at his usual cleanup position.— mjc1
- i am with you on most but the single biggest moronic idea is for a power hitter to dribble singles to stymie the shift. every team in the league would love it if Howard dribbled singles with no one on base. Not a single baseball player has ever done this for a reason, it scores less runs in the long run. Many mistakenly believe that Howard does not hit to all fields which is completely wrong. The fact is that he hits the vast majority of his HR's to the center/left of the field. He goes opposite field all of the time, they just happen to end up in the stands instead of rolling to the LF for a single with 2 outs. As usual, the truth is that it is Utley who has been a one dimensional pull hitter since he entered the league. It is the reason he never reached his potential as a hitter for average but he knows the money is in HR's and he can only hit them by pulling the ball so he pulls everything and hits .278. — UncleStosh
