Activating Ryan Howard Friday makes sense
The latest Phillies and baseball news from Philly.com.
Activating Ryan Howard Friday makes sense
David Murphy
After four full seasons covering this team, I consider myself to be pretty adept at interpreting Phillies, and the sense I get today is that there is a very real chance that Ryan Howard is in the lineup on Friday against Tim Hudson and the Braves. Howard thinks he is ready, according to Charlie Manuel and Ruben Amaro Jr.
The plan calls for him to play nine innings at first base today and nine innings tomorrow. So why not just let him play nine innings for the Phillies? It sounds like the big question is whether Howard can field his position well enough. If the Phillies decide that he can, and the doctor gives the green light, I'd bet you see him hitting cleanup tomorrow.
That Hudson is scheduled to be on the mound should help Howard's cause. In 63 career plate appearances against Hudson, he has a .327/.429/.712 batting line with six home runs, two doubles and 10 walks against eight strikeouts. The only pitcher who has surrendered more homers to Howard? Chris Volstad, who has allowed eight.
Do it Big Piece. I have tickets for Sunday!!!!!!— shawnmac- Howard can't possibly be any worse fielding at 1st base than Wigginton has been.— SteveS11
- Is that what you want something worst?Howard and the phils are just plain stupid.The man is out of shape,not fully healed .This team is cooked Howard,Utley,LOUSY Halladay won't change this.— tobyjoe
- The Phils will win the division.— bigguy34
- keep chooch batting clean up. stick howard in the 7 hole and let him work back up to it.— randomm82
- Bad news for Ty Wigginton jersey owners. Tha fat ones that sit in the lower bowl waving hankies at playoff time.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- Maybe the 7 hole is a little too low, but having howard batting 5th behind Chooch would be a great idea. Utley, Chooch, Howard, Pence will break up the L-L or R-R and Howard will give Chooch a lot of protection. Chooch will return the favor by being on base for Howard for RBI opportunities. Now, who will stop the other team from scoring runs???— hoyaray
- Lousy Halladay...ha classic idiot comment! Classic!— Phillyphan26
- But...85% Ryan Howard is Ty Wigginton— baeboo
- baeboo - correction 10% Ryan Howard is Wigginton. Wigginton is a horror show at 1B. This blown game by Papelbon tonight was deflating - the Phillies need to activate Howard tomorrow just to energize this club and the fans!— bingbangbong
- The Phillies acquiring David Wright would make more sense. The guy kills us!— dogman5
- Yeah, and signing a declining closer for $50 mil made sense......— HonetsAbe
- once howard comes back they should make the lineup like this
pierre, utley, chooch, howard, pence, polanco, victorino, rollins, pitcher— jkleinot - What has Halladay won?That's why this team is holding up the rest of thedivision.Putting all thier hope on some who was givin two CY YOUNGS.Since he's been here what has he lead this team to?WAKE UP SMELL THE LOUSEYNESS.— tobyjoe
- I would agree keep Ruiz in cleanup to breakup the 2 lefties Chase and Ryan. Samuel sending runner on Utley's hit was awful. The more pathetic aspect is Phills mgt. does not change coaches. Makes you wonder if they have any backbone. They have to know Samuel is a terrible 3rd base coach. God I've turned into the idiot who nastily posts 4-6 times a day. Dogman5 Mets do not want to trade Wright it takes two.— Don w
