Gentleman, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's first bionic man. Ryan Howard will be that man. Better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster.

As soon as it was revealed that a significant portion of Ryan Howard’s leg had exploded during the final game of last year’s baseball season, I have assumed that he would be back for opening day.  There are some that would call me an optimist, there are others that would call me completely ignorant to the manner in which medical procedures heal and there are still others that call me a jerk.  Even with all the people rationally telling me to dial back my expectations for the big guy, I held fast to my exceedingly irrational notion that Howard would be back without any ill effects from an area of his body rupturing.

Everyone keeps saying how well Howard is progressing as he jogs, does interviews and takes ground balls.  He even took batting practice and hit a few homers!  Remember the Ryan Howard that hit lots of home runs!  This is the same guy, only with a body part that was replaced with what can only be assumed to be a type of cybernetic replica designed to improve his operation.  My delusions were substantiated.

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