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Phillies: Ryan Howard was The Big Piece to 2008 World Series team

By Chris Valenti

Oct 2, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (6) tips his cap to the fans as he leaves the game during the ninth inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. The Philadelphia Phillies won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (6) tips his cap to the fans as he leaves the game during the ninth inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. The Philadelphia Phillies won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 2, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (6) is presented a Phillies great Mike Schmidt during a pregame ceremony before action against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

2008 Postseason

Once the postseason began, Howard did scuffle a bit in the first two rounds. Particularly in the NLDS, where he batted .182, with no home runs and only one RBI in four games against the Brewers.

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In the NLCS, Howard still did not produce the power numbers he was accustomed to. In five games he batted .300 with 0 home runs and only two RBI. Howard did manage to score runs once he was on base, which was pivotal to the Phillies success in that series, finishing with four runs scored which were tied for the team lead in the series.

Once the team reached the World Series, this is when Howard turned it on, giving the Phillies the offensive spark they needed. The offense struggled as a whole going 2-for-33 with runners in scoring position in Games One through Three.

The team desperately needed someone to help produce runs to support the great pitching they were getting from their starters as well as the bullpen.

The Phillies broke out of the slump with runners in scoring position in Game Four with a 10-2 victory. Howard was at the center of the ten run outburst with three hits, 2 of which being home runs, and producing 5 RBIs. This would help propel the Phillies to a commanding 3-1 series lead.

Howard’s final World Series stats would be a .286 batting average, while leading the team in home runs with three, in RBI with six, and finishing third on the team in runs with three.

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