Ryan Howard is clearly not the same player now as he was during his dominate stretch from 2006 – 2011. In the past three seasons, his combined numbers don’t even compare to his averages during that stretch (he’s hit .235 with 41 homeruns and 161 RBIs over the past three years while playing in 252 out of a possible 486 games. That puts his per 162 average at 26 homeruns and 104 RBIs, which isn’t awful except for the fact it’s spanned three seasons). Even so, it is incredibly unfortunate that the boos have started to rain down on him at this point. He hasn’t played well this season, but given everything he’s done for this team over the past decade, you would still like there to be some sort of respect towards one of the franchise’s most important players. He’s been the subject of constant trade talks (if he is traded today, it will most likely be as part of a mega-deal along with Hamels. If the Phillies can't get the king's ransom they're asking for Hamels, they'll require whoever does trade for Cole to take on Howard's massive contract as well. I don't think that happens today, but I wouldn't be surprised if it did), and there’s even speculation that the Phillies will just flat out release him in spite of having to eat his massive contract. Baseball’s a business, I get that. But still, it’s unfortunate to see how the post-Achilles injury Ryan Howard has deteriorated (he’s dealt with a torn meniscus, broken foot, and various other leg injuries since coming back from the Achilles tear) and even more unfortunate to see how the fans have treated him in recent weeks. It’s not an excuse for his sub-par play recently, but without Ryan Howard, the Phillies never come close to the team they were during their peak. In a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world, Ryan Howard’s past accomplishments don’t do much to mask his current struggles. Maybe most Philadelphia fans can’t look past his play over the past three seasons back to a time when Ryan Howard was the most feared hitter in baseball. But they should. Howard is approaching a level of underappreciation I thought was reserved for only Donovan McNabb. If it continues, then soon enough, Philly fans will forget everything Howard’s done until he comes back to have his #6 retired.
Howard has always been a personal favorite of mine. I’ve seen some of his best games in person (like a three homerun Sunday afternoon performance against the Braves or a two homerun, seven RBI performance against the Yankees that included a homerun hit into the third deck in right field off Mike Mussina or his two homerun, five RBI performance in Game 4 of the 2008 World Series or, I could go on for a while), and I can honestly say that when Ryan Howard was on, I’ve never seen a better hitter or a player who was more fun to watch. But Ryan Howard’s time in Philadelphia is quickly coming to an end. Who knows? Maybe he’ll latch on to a contender next season and regain some of his terrorizing form from previous years (maybe that contender is the Phillies. I ALMOST made it through that without laughing). Or maybe he really is finished, in which case his career could be one of the greatest lightning-in-a-bottle cases in baseball history. Either way, I will always root for and respect Ryan Howard for however long he continues to play, and I’ll do everything I can to be in the stands when he comes back to have his number retired one day. He’s given so much to the Philadelphia fan base, he deserves it.