I've been all over Ryan Howard like green on grass this year-no doubt. He's killed many a rally by striking out or grounding out to right field when they put on that infamous "Howard shift." His defensive miscues have equalized his RBI output on plenty of occasions.
But, when he is good, he's damn good. I don't know about calling him an MVP candidate like Jim Salisbury says, but he's managed to get that average back up to .249 which is quite impressive considering the funk he was in for the first month and a half and that it was back down in the .220's a few weeks ago.
His 45th of the year is arguably the most important because it put the Fightins back on top in the NL East as the Mets lost.
Am I sold yet? Not one bit, because I've seen it all with these teams, but I'm starting to get sold. I'll really be sold when they make it in and I'm stunned by their turn-around over the past 5 games. Last night had let-down written all over it down in Atlanta, which is as silent as a crypt and more empty than the Grand Canyon. Seriously, how ridiculous is it that there empty seats above the dugouts?
The Phils and Braves will go back at it again, same time, same place. The Phils are putting J.A. Happ on the hill against Braves' ace Jair Jurjens. It's a risky move, but they can't trot Kendrick out there again. There is absolutely no way Happ can be worse than Kendrick and that's the bottom line.
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