Skip to content
Phillies
Link copied to clipboard

Ryan Howard headed for a lesser role at first base

CHICAGO - Ryan Howard's frustrating season took another bad turn Sunday when the struggling first baseman was left off the lineup card. Phillies manager Pete Mackanin instead started Tommy Joseph in the team's 7-2 loss to the Cubs and pledged to give the rookie more chances in the starting lineup, which would point to Howard assuming a lesser role.

"I haven't heard anything about sitting more against righties. I haven't been called into the office," Howard said. "You guys [in the media] apparently have breaking news before I do."

Howard said earlier this week that the month has been brutal. He has six hits in 62 at-bats in May. His future in Philadelphia has never been in so much jeopardy. The Phillies still owe Howard more than $26.5 million. They need to pay him more than half of his $25 million contract for this season and a $10 million buyout this offseason when they decline to exercise their option for next year. But there's a chance that the end could come sooner.

It is a sensitive situation. Howard produced some of the finest years in franchise history. He was the most feared hitter of the team's most recent glory years. And the Phillies are treading carefully.

"The manager makes the lineup," Howard said. "I just show up. If I'm in there, I'm in there. If I'm not, I'm not."

Sunday was just the second time that Joseph started over Howard when the Phillies faced a righthanded pitcher. Joseph, who homered in the ninth inning, had regularly started against lefthanders since being called up from triple A three weeks ago. Howard went 2 for 18 on the six-game road trip. He is batting .154 this season, the lowest mark in baseball among batters with at least 150 plate appearances.

"I don't know how he feels," Mackanin said. "I'm sure we'll talk to him and see where we go from there. The important thing is that we brought Joseph up here to get a look at him. If he sits on the bench for a week or 10 days and we don't get a look at him, then what's the point of bringing him up?"

Sweep at Wrigley

The Phillies were swept at Wrigley Field for the first time since July 28-30, 1995. The Phils' leadoff hitter, third-base coach, and starting pitcher from that final game were in the ballpark on Sunday. Leadoff hitter Mickey Morandini coached first base for the Phillies, third-base coach Larry Bowa is now the team's bench coach, and pitcher Jim Deshaies is now a Cubs broadcaster.

Extra bases

The Phillies bullpen tossed 31/3 scoreless innings to bring its combined ERA to a season-low 3.58. The bullpen did not allow a run in 91/3 innings this series and has allowed three earned runs in the last 221/3 innings. . . . The Phillies open a three-game series at home on Monday against Washington. They will face three righthanders: Tanner Roark, Joe Ross, and Max Scherzer. Jeremy Hellickson will start Monday for the Phillies, followed by Aaron Nola and Adam Morgan.