Phillies Fans and the Under-Appreciation of Ryan Howard

Declining Numbers

I realize I will not be able to defend what he has done in recent seasons. Although when healthy, the power numbers are still there, he has not produced at a significant enough level to warrant playing every day. Most times I hear from his haters that Howard strikes out too much or (even worse) that he won’t bunt to beat the shift.

People, let me clue you in here. Howard has struck out a ton his entire career.  In his 2006 MVP campaign, he whiffed a resounding 181 times in 159 games. In 2007 and 2008, he struck out in 199 of his plate appearances. Yes, they are excessive, but they came with some other impeccable numbers that haters choose to ignore.

For the Phillies run, Piece was putting up Ruthian type numbers. He reached over 130 RBI in ’06, ’07, ’08, and ’09.  In 2010 and 2011, he was able to eclipse 100 RBI both times. During his prime, Howard hit homeruns at an insane rate. He was the fasted player in MLB history to reach 100 homers (only 325 games). He belted over 30 homers each season of their run, including 58 to let us know the fun was coming in 2006.

While the numbers have not gotten better, Howard has always had prolific power. So while haters are always going to point to his decline, they can quickly be redirected with some simple stat checking.  Every player regresses. We saw it happen to all of our favorite Phillies, but for some reason, Howard continues to take the most heat.

2009 and 2011 Postseasons

Every once in awhile, a fan will tell me that if it weren’t for Howard’s performances in 2009 and 2011, the Phillies would have won another title. I will clarify this one right away. Howard was awful in the 2009 World Series, and his 2011 final at bat was symbolic of the end of the run. I am not blind to that.

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“Mike, he struck out 13 times in the 2009 World Series,” they tell me. I know that, but outside of Carlos Ruiz, Raul Ibanez, and Chase Utley, no one really hit in that Yankees series. I get that Howard gets paid to hit. I don’t need people reminding me of that, but the guy carried this team many times before. Just that postseason, he cashed in the important hit in Colorado to tie the game.

We all remember the infamous “Get me to the plate, boys” moment. He also won the NLCS MVP that season.

Do I need to remind everyone about the countless September months he put the entire team on his back to carry them into the playoffs? In 2007, he carried a 1.043 OPS with 11 homers, 26, RBI, and 18 runs scored through the month of September.

Then, there was the 2008 season when he powered his way to 11 bombs, 32 RBI, 18 runs, and a ridiculous .352/.422/.852 throughout the month of September. Those two seasons were arguably the most exciting seasons with the comeback division championships over the Mets, and they probably do not happen without Piece, so keep that in mind.

Injuries

It is not much of a secret that Howard has been derailed by leg injuries in the later parts of his career. It dates back to his ankle sprain in early August of 2010. He had trouble regaining power from that moment. Without that injury, one could argue that he would have reached 40 dingers that season. After that, he struggled to get to 30 in 2011 and ended the season with the torn achilles injury.

From that point, everything has changed for Howard. He only played 71 games in 2012 and 80 games in 2013 as a result of a torn meniscus in his left knee. The numbers have never recovered, but that could have been predicted. Anyone familiar with effectively hitting a baseball knows that much of the power is generated in a hitter’s lower half. After a severe ankle injury, a tear to his Achilles tendon, and one to his knee, the lack of power was not in doubt.

What most people lose sight of is the amount of games Howard was present during the run. He played 150 or more games, including 162 in 2008, in four of the six seasons during their success (including 2006). In the two seasons in which he did not play that amount, he was still on the field over 140 times. He still played 143 games in 2010 despite banging up his ankle.

Ryan Howard is Still Here

While most of his counterparts left, Howard remains. I feel like this plays a key role in fans not appreciating him the same way as the others. My mother likes to use the old saying, “Out of sight, out of mind” and it plays a role here. We missed Chase and Jimmy so much that their returns prompted every at bat to turn into a show.

Thankfully, we are seeing that with Ryan right now. He is getting his one standing ovation each game and got his curtain call yesterday afternoon when he hit his 25th homerun in his 111 games this season. If the Phils had traded Howard, maybe his return would have looked like the others, but he is the only lasting piece from a once tremendous run. Fans are ready to move on and start completely fresh, but he is the guy they can’t get rid of at the end of an otherwise great party.

I just caution everyone who has that mentality to appreciate him while he is here. I understand it has not been a great end with him, but what we had in the early stages was beyond special. He should not be simply cast off into the abyss because he has overstayed his welcome in the eyes of many. I hope today is as special as what his career has been here in Philly. In my humble opinion, Howard deserves that more than anyone.

Howard’s Contract

And my absolute favorite argument against Howard finally gets its credit: his contract. The five year/$125 million contract he signed in late April of 2010 was universally seen as an albatross. What he has done during the length of the contract is absolutely not worth the money. I will not disagree with anyone on that end of the spectrum. The contract sort of embodies all of the hate for the once beloved first baseman.

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“He gets paid too much to strikeout.”

“$25 million on the disabled list again.”

“I can’t wait to have his money off the books.”

No matter what conversation is being had about Howard, it always comes back to his contract.

However, right or wrong, Howard is being paid for what happened in 2006-2009. Again, I am not saying it is the smart business decision, but it is what they offered him. And as a wise man said, all he did was sign his name. Every one of us would have done the same thing.

Look at it this way, if Howard would have hit the market when he was supposed to, the Phillies may have had to pay him even more than what they did. He would have been out there with names like Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols who received contracts well beyond those of Howard’s deal. It would have driven up the price on Howard. The front office could not have foreseen the injuries and did what they believed was best for the franchise in order to contend as it moved forward.

Appreciating What Howard Has Done

In summary, Howard’s more recent accolades amount to almost nothing.  It feels as if his career’s descent was in direct parallel to the decline of the team as a whole.  And that tells me that Howard was the most important piece to that run.  I love Rollins, Utley, Cole Hamels, Ruiz, and the rest of that core, but Howard was the steam engine.

Take the blinders off for a moment.  Try to ignore the need to hate him.  Put aside the future for one more day.  And please, appreciate how great this man was.  For six seasons, we watched a player stride to the plate and every opposing coach, player, and fan knew the game could change with one swing.  The knee bend, back stretch, bat point, and relaxed stare struck fear into the hearts of every opposing pitcher for over half a decade.  Not many franchises have someone like that.

We did.  And all it took for us to turn on him was his signature on a piece of paper.

Thanks for everything, Ryan.

Next: Ryan Howard Belongs in the Hall of Very Good, But Not HOF