Howard Has Earned Right to Ride Out Year
The on-going saga for the Phillies of what to do with Ryan Howard has reached its breaking point. Howard has hit 9 home runs this year, but his batting average, on base percentage, and OPS aren’t just bad, they’re atrocious. Fans have even started throwing things at Howard, giving people yet another reason to hate Philly fans (but that’s another argument for another time) and yet he’s still a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. Many fans and media members have suggested the Phillies simply let Howard go, as he is in the final year of his contract and the team would like to get a look at young players like Tommy Joseph to see if they are the future of this franchise. I am not going to tell you that Ryan Howard deserves to be the everyday first basemen for this team, but I am going to tell you that releasing him isn’t easy, nor is it the best option.
Ryan Howard is unlike the other members of the core group of stars that helped the Phillies win the 2008 World Series. For one, he’s the only member of that team (besides Carlos Ruiz) that is still here. But he’s also not as beloved as players like Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Cole Hamels, and Shane Victorino. That likely stems from his lack of production during his lucrative five year, $125 million contract extension that began in 2011 and concludes at the end of this season. Due to injuries and other things, Howard has been a completely different player since his extension. Philly fans are very passionate and passionate fans tend to have short term memories, so many people may forget just how dominant Howard was from the time he got here to the year before his Achilles injury in 2011. Howard was a 3-time All-Star (’06,’09,’10) and many people forget how historic his 2006 campaign was. Howard hit a career best .313 with 58 home runs and 159 RBIs while winning the National League MVP Award in only his second full season. Howard also won the Hank Aaron Award and a Silver Slugger award that season, not to mention winning the NL Rookie of the Year award in the previous year. Howard was arguably the most feared left-handed hitter, and the second most feared overall hitter in the game at that time behind Albert Pujols. Howard was undoubtedly a huge reason the Phillies took home a World Series title in 2008, hitting 3 home runs and driving in 6 runs during the five game series.
Howard’s impressive stats from his first six years with the Phillies seem god-like compared to his stats from the past 2-3 seasons. Most players would not have handled such a drop off in production like Howard has. This situation would be so much different if Howard was bitter towards the organization and wasn’t willing to give up his role as the everyday starter. Howard has been a class act throughout the entire process, accepting that his time has come and gone and has been nothing but a mentor for new first baseman Tommy Joseph. Even with the recent bottle throwing incident, Howard didn’t attack Philly fans in general or get overly hostile. Of course he was angry (you would be too if someone threw a beer bottle at you), but Howard did the professional thing by seeking legal action and not making heinous threats like some frustrated players might. Howard has handled the entire process like a true professional, like he has throughout his entire time in Philadelphia.
Howard has also had a positive influence on the city of Philadelphia. The Ryan Howard Big Piece Foundation was set up by Howard and his wife to improve the lives of childhood literacy. Howard’s foundation has held several “Stand Up for Literacy” charity events in the Philadelphia area. Howard and his wife have also started a children’s book series called “The Little Rhino”.
Ryan Howard has been the very definition of a true professional during his time as a Phillie, and he does not get nearly the amount of credit he deserves for that. He has been humble through his successes, and is now understanding that it’s Tommy Joseph’s turn to be the first basemen for the Philadelphia Phillies. Howard’s willingness to mentor not just Joseph, but also the other young players on the team on how to play in this league has made him a very positive influence in the locker room and that alone earns him the right to play out the year with the team, even if it is only a limited role. What Howard has done for this organization is another reason. There would be no debate on whether or not the player should remain with the team if it were Rollins, Utley, or even Victorino. For some reason, it’s different with Howard and it shouldn’t be. Howard was the big slugger in the middle of a dominant lineup that won a championship in ’08. When the ’08 team returns in two years to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the championship, Howard deserves to be remembered as a player that was a true professional and ended his career here with dignity and respect. He’s earned that respect, and if the Phillies decide to release him, they will be denying him the respect he deserves.
Photo: [Keith Allison]
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Categorized:Phillies