In the spotlight ... Ryan Howard

Position: First base

Height, weight: 6-4, 260

Age: 29. Birthdate: Nov. 19, 1979

Hometown: St. Louis

Years pro: 5

How acquired: Drafted by the Phillies in the fifth round of the 2001 amateur draft.

This year: Howard is again in the middle of the National League MVP race after he hit .279 with 45 home runs and 141 RBI in the regular season. Even when he struggles to hit for average - he's a career .279 hitter - Howard has the ability to carry a team with his production numbers.

Career: Howard developed slowly after he was drafted out of Southwest Missouri State University. Granted, he produced at every level but some scouts and team personnel always believed he had a hole in his swing that could not be overcome. He has proven them wrong reaching several plateaus - 222 home runs and 640 RBI for example - at a faster clip than anyone in history.

Hardware: Howard was the NL Rookie of the Year in 2005 and the NL MVP in 2006. Including this year - a deductive guess - he has been in the top 5 in the MVP vote in each of the last four seasons.

Service with a smile: Howard is known for his easy smile and sense of humor. This past weekend he just happened to have dinner where a bridal party had jokingly added his name to the guest placards outside of their reception. Howard got the joke and visited the unsuspecting couple.

What the Yankees are saying:

"He's a great hitter, so I'll just try to pound the strike zone. When he's hot, there's nothing you can do. You just go out, try to pound the strike zone and see what happens. Hit both sides of the plate, and see what happens." - Game 1 starter CC Sabathia

"His second half is where he usually takes off. He's had a magnificent August, September and October. He has been huge for them, similar to what Alex [Rodriguez] has been for us. He's dangerous, and he can hit the ball out to all fields." - Manager Joe Girardi