Ryan Howard now says he accepts platoon

CINCINNATI - Seven weeks ago, Ryan Howard was defiant about a debate that was never a debate. Check the numbers, he said. Remember the track record. A platoon, he said, was not fair.

When reality materialized Wednesday, in the season's second game, Howard spoke in a changed tone. The Reds started a lefthander; Darin Ruf played first base and batted fifth. And Howard, a $25 million platoon player, sounded at peace with it all.

"I just don't let things bother me anymore," said Howard, in the last season of his five-year deal. "Last year, I let a lot of things kind of surprise me. And now, it's like, it is what it is. You just continue to stay positive. The situation is what the situation is. You can get down about it, you can get upset about it or whatnot. Or you can try to make the best of the situation, when the opportunity comes."

Those words were a quick victory for Pete Mackanin. The Phillies manager appears to have navigated, for now, an awkward situation. Mackanin met with Howard on Saturday to tell him the plan.

"It's in your best interest because you're not going to have to worry about that breaking stuff from lefthanded pitchers," Mackanin said, recounting his talk with Howard. "And your numbers are probably going to be just the same as they were. Plus you're going to get the brunt of at-bats because there are more righthanded pitchers than left."

Howard told Mackanin he did not like it, but he understood. When spring training started, Howard, 36, clung to the past - even though he was a platoon player last season. He started just 10 of 38 times when the Phillies faced a lefty. Only four were with Mackanin as manager.

Ruf posted a 1.107 OPS in 114 plate appearances last season against lefties. That tied Seattle's Nelson Cruz for the best mark in baseball, and it was a statistic that Mackanin has often cited.

Ever since the uncomfortable news conference at the start of spring training, Howard has acted with professionalism in the clubhouse. He knows this is his final season with the Phillies.

"There's always that realization," Howard said. "There is no hiding that. But you just try to enjoy it. Just enjoy it . . . for however long it is you get to play, take time to be able to reflect at times what I've been able to do, what I've been able to accomplish. Right now, I'm just staying in the here and now."

That means more time on the bench, and more at-bats for Ruf.

"He deserves an opportunity to see if he can make a little bit of money, too," Mackanin said. "It's only fair for him, I think. If [Howard] keeps his head on straight, and settles into it, I think he's going to hit righties better. I'm looking for a big year from him because of it."

mgelb@philly.com

@MattGelb