Phillies' Ryan Howard Fastest Player In MLB History To 200 Home Runs; How Good Is He?

[Ladeda]

Howard in the best run producer in baseball bar none after the all star break every year he has been in the league. He is below average in production usually the first half of seasons. That is the reason he usually doesn't make the all star team and yet is usually in the top 5 for mvp voting.

That really is astounding when you think about it because many players are the opposite, where they can be all stars for many years and NEVER finish top 5 for MVP. I've seen it this year alone when going over certain pitchers HOF credentials and how they are 8 time all stars but never finished on the top 5 for Cy Young award.

That is why I was glad Charlie Manuel chose Howard this year for the all star game despite numbers that weren't overwhelming. Can't not have the top homerun and RBI guy every year the game because he has poor starts every year.

 

[billhill999]

i won't say he was one of them, but 75% of his college team was heavily on the juice.
i know how most of you on this board are experts on who and who wasn't on the juice. assume away!

Off topic.
MLBtv showed the 1999, 2000, 2001 Homerun Derby replays.
With an exception or two, a finer collection of cheats and 'roid abusers you'd be hard pressed to meet.

 

[Ladeda]

Howard in the best run producer in baseball bar none after the all star break every year he has been in the league. He is below average in production usually the first half of seasons. That is the reason he usually doesn't make the all star team and yet is usually in the top 5 for mvp voting.

That really is astounding when you think about it because many players are the opposite, where they can be all stars for many years and NEVER finish top 5 for MVP. I've seen it this year alone when going over certain pitchers HOF credentials and how they are 8 time all stars but never finished on the top 5 for Cy Young award.

That is why I was glad Charlie Manuel chose Howard this year for the all star game despite numbers that weren't overwhelming. Can't not have the top homerun and RBI guy every year the game because he has poor starts every year.

It's that time of year again!

 

[gynecologist]

I hope your kidding.

Barry Bonds, one of the best players that ever put on a MLB uniform.. Roids or not.

 

[TomGshotput]

If he was so good, why was he kept in the minors until age 25?

Answer is because the Phillies are idiots, but for homeruns between ages 25 and 29 I am sure he is not really all that close to first

 

[TomGshotput]

Not everyone can drive in 150 runs with a .270 batting average with 45-50 HR's...

You're right. But anyone with a .270 average, 50 homeruns and the Phillies lineup will be right at the top of the RBI list

 

[VIEJODINOSAUR]

He was kept in the Minors because Jim Thome was at first for the Phils...

Howard is still learning and trying to become more patient at the plate...

Ask Hanson of the Braves what he thinks of Howard...

 

[VIEJODINOSAUR]

WAY overrated. But he's a great guy, and very humble.

Could it be that Howard is from St. Louis?

Love to see your underrated list...@)

 

[soli]

Howard always seem to carry the team at the end of the year. I wish the Atlanta Braves had someone like that in our line-up

 

[Ladeda]

<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=colhead align=right><TD align=left>


Per 162 Games
</TD><TD width=35>G</TD><TD width=35>AB</TD><TD width=35>R</TD><TD width=35>H</TD><TD width=35>2B</TD><TD width=35>3B</TD><TD width=35>HR</TD><TD width=35>RBI</TD><TD width=35>BB</TD><TD width=35>SO</TD><TD width=35>SB</TD><TD width=35>CS</TD><TD width=35>AVG</TD><TD width=35>OBP</TD><TD width=35>SLG</TD><TD width=35>OPS</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left> </TD><TD>162</TD><TD>594</TD><TD>103</TD><TD>165</TD><TD>30</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>50</TD><TD>142</TD><TD>91</TD><TD>196</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>.278</TD><TD>.375</TD><TD>.587</TD><TD>.962</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablehead style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>
Projected
2009
</TD><TD>161</TD><TD>626</TD><TD>108</TD><TD>170</TD><TD>37</TD><TD> 4</TD><TD>48</TD><TD>143</TD><TD>76</TD><TD>197</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>.272</TD><TD>.352</TD><TD>.572</TD><TD>.924</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

It's pretty amazing how consistant he is year to year despite his streakiness. And while the Phils have a great lineup, Howard puts up those huge numbers regardless. Take last season when Rollins was not so great and Utley was banged up and struggling half the season, that is two out of three players hitting ahead of him having subpar seasons and he still had 146 rbi's. His 149 rbi season came before the Phils had a dominant lineup as well. Don't get me wrong, any cleanup hitter would love to be in the Phils lineup but you can't pinpoint Howards production to simply a great team.

It seems regardless of all other factors howard will hit around .265 46 HR and 140 RBI. And the most consistant stat of all strikeouts! Last two seasons 199, 199 this year projected to 197.

 

[VIEJODINOSAUR]

With those numbers, us Phillie fans will take those K's anytime....

 

[Boxer22]

He was kept in the Minors because Jim Thome was at first for the Phils...

Howard is still learning and trying to become more patient at the plate...

Ask Hanson of the Braves what he thinks of Howard...

That's one of the worst moves that Ed Wade ever made. Howard was ready to come up, but they needed to sell tickets for the new stadium so they signed Thome.

 

[Boxer22]

If he was so good, why was he kept in the minors until age 25?

Answer is because the Phillies are idiots, but for homeruns between ages 25 and 29 I am sure he is not really all that close to first

It was Ed Wade who made the move. They were opening a new stadium and signed Thome to sell tickets. Your acting like 25 is 35. 25 is still young.

 

[MarksMoneymakers]

I am a phillies fan and I don't think he is over rated at all. Even in years where it appears he is having a bad year, he still hits 40 hrs and 100 rbi's. That says something. It feels like it is all or nothing with him though.

 

[Birdman]

Typical reposnes in USA trying to find fault with athletes. Howard is a great "slugger" that puts fear in opposing pitching staffs that affects the pitching of an entire game. Howard carries the Phils for 10 day stretches 3-4 times a season. Only great run producers do that.

Yes, he benefits from a superior line up just like all other historical run producers..big deal. Striking out has become overrated today in degrading any hitter. Only 5 or so players shorten their swings with two strikes in today's game as opposed to 95% pre 1975...chicks dig the long ball!

Fielding is not top notch particularly on hit balls. However, his size and great stretching contributes to DPs being made that some other 1Bs can't make becaus of their size. That extra 18 inches closer to ball is worth 20 outs in the season (one per week) on bang bang plays. That trumps his errors.

For his size he is a solid baserunner who consitently hustles and makes good aggressive decisions.

He is not Pujols, but who is?

 

[Boxer22]

Cold blooded killer comes through again.

 

[VIEJODINOSAUR]

Howard is still playing this week...where is Pujols?

 

[Boxer22]

Another big at bat for Howard. 8 RBI's now this postseason.

 

[Boxer22]

Ryan Howard is now the Phillies all-time postseason RBI leader.

 

[FZA]

he is pretty darn good