In Defense of Ryan Howard

markj111

Bill Conlin has an article at http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20110713_Bill_Conlin_.html

Intro-
ON THE DAY AFTER the All-Star Game was played in Phoenix without Ryan Howard, this column is directed at the haters and bashers who have been coming out of the woodwork in larger numbers than usual.

They are predictable as smog in a heat wave. They pretend to be knowledgable baseball fans, but trip themselves up every time because they are dead wrong. And egregiously stupid.


I agree with poster who said at BBTF:

1) Ryan Howard is a very good player
2) Ryan Howard has never been as valuable as Albert Pujols (or, at the moment, as valuable as Prince Fielder or Joey Votto), even in his rosiest dreams
3) Ryan Howard is not likely to be worth $25M a year by the year 2016, unless hyperinflation ensues

stevek

Frankly, I'm not a big Bill Conlin fan.

It's not debatable that Ryan Howard is a big asset to the Phillies...the "problem" is the contract and I can understand those who say it's too much money...but I've mentioned this before...ya gotta understand that guys like Howard puts fans in the stands, and increases ratings on TV...and all that is worth a lot of money to a ballclub...and things such as that have to be factored in as to the reasons why the Phillies gave Ryan Howard that huge contract.

mcadams

If only he could catch routine fly balls.

DIMEMAN

I would not call Howard a great player period! Maybe better than average.

He just doesn't get hits when needed. Sorry Steve.

He is not even in the same league as pulhois(sp) or arod and on and on.