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Phillies Notes: Howard batting well with runners on base

Ryan Howard's numbers are fascinating, and they are worth a longer look from any American League team that might be interested in adding the Phillies' first baseman as a designated hitter during the offseason.

Philadelphia Phillies' Ryan Howard reacts to striking out swinging
during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins,
Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, in Philadelphia. The Phillies won 2-1. (Chris Szagola/AP)
Philadelphia Phillies' Ryan Howard reacts to striking out swinging during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, in Philadelphia. The Phillies won 2-1. (Chris Szagola/AP)Read more

Ryan Howard's numbers are fascinating, and they are worth a longer look from any American League team that might be interested in adding the Phillies' first baseman as a designated hitter during the offseason.

Obviously, the Phillies would have to eat a lot of the $60 million remaining on Howard's contract over the next two seasons, but if they swallow enough, it could be a nice move for an American League team based on Howard's ability to produce with men on base.

The Howard statistic that has received the most attention this season is his number of at-bats with men on base and with runners in scoring position. His detractors point to those numbers and say anyone would have as many RBIs as Howard given the same opportunities.

Howard, who was not in the starting lineup Saturday against Miami, had 92 RBIs going into the game, which ranked fourth in the National League and 15th in the majors. His 273 at-bats with men on base were tied for second in the majors. Only the Angels' Albert Pujols had more. His 157 at-bats with runners in scoring position were tied for sixth in the majors.

Left unsaid is that Howard has produced in those situations. He was hitting .260 with a .357 on-base percentage and .811 OPS with men on base and .248 with a .369 on-base percentage and .828 OPS with runners in scoring position.

His OPS with men on base ranked 37 out of 85 players with at least 200 at-bats, and his OPS with runners in scoring position ranked 42d out of 133 players with at least 100 at-bats.

Howard needs eight RBIs to reach 100 for the seventh time in his career.

"I'm trying to knock in runs, and runs equal wins," Howard said. "I think for anybody who plays this game, if you can get to 100 RBIs, it's a strong feat, and it's tough to do. It's really tough to do."

What Howard has not been able to do this season is hit with the bases empty. After striking out in a pinch-hit appearance Saturday, he is hitting .182 with a .255 on-base percentage and a .547 OPS in those situations.

Howard said he does not think much about the disparity in numbers.

"You just don't think about that stuff as far as the situations," he said. "I'm trying to keep it simple."

Manager Ryne Sandberg theorized that the shift has a lot to do with Howard's issues with nobody on base.

"Men on base, that takes the luxury of [the opponent] shifting, and it opens up some holes," Sandberg said. "He has taken advantage of some of that as opposed to with nobody on, they practically have the whole team over there on the one side of the field. I also think he has a knack of having a will to get RBIs. I think he looks at that as one of his responsibilities and jobs, and he takes a lot of pride in that."

Sandberg was asked if Howard should focus on beating the shift by trying to hit the ball on the ground to left field.

"Maybe going forward that is something that can be worked on," he said. "It all depends on how he is being pitched to. Often times with [the shift] he gets pounded inside and breaking balls down and in, and they have him hit into the defense."