Ryan Howard Achilles Issues Prove Contagious

Dom Brown has been called a lot of things this year.

A hero.  A legend.  A recipient of some overzealous labeling.

Aug 3, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Domonic Brown (9) watches from the dugout against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. The Braves defeated the Phillies, 5-4 in 12 innings. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Dom Brown is now being called “day-to-day,” which in the baseball world is the same thing “just….. just end it,” as you slowly load an old shotgun.

“Exiting a game with soreness” is pretty much how the 2013 Phillies say “hello.”  With that being the case, Dom gave the world a resounding greeting the other night.

It’s his Achilles. He “felt some discomfort” and popped some pills, but there’s no denying it: Ryan Howard’s achilles issues are more than just solitary injuries to himself; they’re a spreading disease, merrily festering in the Phillies’ clubhouse. And now Dom’s got them.

Thanks a lot, Ryan.

Ryan, on the other hand, is on his way to not coming back again this year.  Everyone has agreed that the slugging first baseman, who is on the “60-day Shadow of his Former Self” disabled list, would not be a good fit to come back this year.  Just stay away, they told Ryan, so you can get 100%.  Meanwhile, Darin Ruf is impregnating the month of August with home runs, and Michael Young can make some starts at first, opening up third for Cody Asche.

But Ryan’s presence will be felt, in the form of Dom’s new found discomfort and inability to paly at 100%, despite being an important part of the offense.  I mean, yeah, Dom said he could probably be in the lineup tonight against the Mets.  But Ryan’s not around anymore; we can blame him for stuff without him knowing about it.