Yardbarker: Ryan Howard

NL MVP Retrospective, or Why Chase Utley Will Never Win Anything in His Lifetime

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:00:02 -0500

More photos » by Matt Slocum - AP Philadelphia Phillies' Chase Utley shields himself from Ryan Howard's monstrous right palm after Utley hit a three-run home run during the first inning of Game 5 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the New York Yankees Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, in Philadelphia. Howard raised his hand in a slapping motion, quietly warning Utley that those were HIS runs to be driven in! (AP Photo/Matt Sl...

Happy Birthday Ryan Howard

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500

Born on this day in 1979.Also celebrating a birthday today is Phillies relief pitcher Clay Condrey (1975), and former players Dickie Noles (1956), and Bob Boone (1947).

Fantasy Baseball: Early Mock Draft-Round 1, Pick 8

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:00:17 -0500

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP 13 days ago: Philadelphia Phillies' Ryan Howard hits a two-run home run during the sixth inning of Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the New York Yankees Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) Browse more photos » I am not one to select pitchers in the first round, and some can make the case to draft Tim Lincecum o...

Offsides: Ryan Howard's World Series Struggles

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:19:55 -0500

After winning the MVP honors for the NLCS, Ryan Howard is struggling in the World Series. "Big Brown" is just 3-for-19 with no homers and one RBI as the Phillies enter a win-or-go-home Game Six tonight in New York.

SI Jinx for A-Rod and Howard?

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:24:29 -0500

This week's Sports Illustrated previewed the World Series with a cover story with the following headline: "Welcome to the Big Bash," and this subhead, "Ryan Howard + A-Rod = World Series Home Run Derby."

Or maybe not. After two games Rodriguez and Howard have combined to go 2 for 17 with 12 strikeouts and 0 home runs. Howard has both of the hits, and both players have six Ks. Good call SI.

Or maybe it's the famous SI jinx at work. It's known more for bringing down teams, but maybe in this case it's affected a couple of players. Howard and A-Rod have at least three more games to prove that wrong.

A Testament to Charlie

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:35:56 -0500

Jayson Stark has another wonderful postseason piece today looking at the Phillies and their opportunity to reach historic territory. Stark points to a team with a lot more "we" than "me" in it."We have some big names," Rollins said. "But we don't have bona fide superstars, or a special set of rules for certain players. Everyone here is the same, from Ryan Howard to Antonio Bastardo. Or they're treated the same. The expectations are the sa...

Phils' Howard named MVP of NLCS

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:27:23 -0500

With one big swing after another, Ryan Howard delivered many of the clutch hits the Philadelphia Phillies needed to return to the World Series. Howard was picked MVP of the NL championship series after helping the defending champs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the NL championship series Wednesday night. "We got one more step," Howard said. "Then we got action." The slugger hit .333 (5 for 15) with two homers, one double, one triple and eight RBIs in th...

Bring on the Dodgers! The Phillies are going back to the NLCS

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:50:00 -0500

(AP Photo) The Phillies are going back to the NLCS! In a game that was a roller coaster of emotions, the Phillies pulled out a thrilling 5-4 Game 4 victory over the Rockies to win the NLDS and move on to a rematch with the Dodgers in the NLCS. The Phillies proved once again that you can never count them out, even when down by two runs and down to their final out. With the Phils trailing 4-2 in the 9th, Ryan Howard hit a clutch double to bring in a pair of runs and Jayson Werth followed with a...

Ryan Howard is all business

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:47:00 -0500

Look at that face. That is the face of a determined baseball player. This AP photo was taken just after Howard had stepped on the first base bag and the Phillies clinched the NL East division for a third straight season.If you watch Howard during the initial on-field celebration it appeared to me as though he knew the most that the job was just beginning. You can tell by looking at the photo of Howard and Brad Lidge that Howard's focus is on a different level than some of his teammates as...

Ryan Howard Implores You To Wear It; Suck On It

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:08:40 -0500

When the Phillies first stepped foot in the locker room to begin their 2009 NL East Division Champion celebration, the first interviewer on the scene was none other than Phillies color man and Penn State alum, good ol’ muffin himself, Chris Wheeler. T-Mac & the Sarge threw it down to Wheels, and he was standing by [...]

Today in Philly Sports History: Ryan Howard Breaks Strikeout Record, 2007

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 08:00:00 -0500

When you connect for a near-guaranteed forty homers and 130+ RBIs a year, I suppose the chances are pretty damn good that the swings you take to live up to those standards are occasionally going to find nothing but air. Still, plenty of power hitters have put up monster offensive numbers without an equally monstrous K tally to match. Alas, such is the nature of Ryan Howard, who had tied the Reds' Adam Dunn league-record 195 punchouts in a season the game before he faced the Brave...

Ryan Howard Hits His Way Into Historic Company

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:44:00 -0500

>The Big Piece [Finger Food] Ryan Howard image by Mark ~ JerseyStyle Photography

Chasing Henderson: Stolen Base Number Eight For Ryan Howard

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:33:47 -0500

8 down. 1,398 to go. The Phillies speedster Ryan Howard was at it again last night. For the first time in nearly a month, most likely because a high percentage of his hits lately have been leaving the yard, Ryan Howard stole 2nd base off of the intimidating duo of Sean Burnett and Josh Bard during the [...]

70s Night at the Bank: Hot Pants Patrol Revival, and Ryan Howard Is Indeed a Pimp

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 09:58:59 -0500

Sure it's gimmicky, but if you can't get a laugh out of 70s nights at MLB ballparks, you may be trying too hard. I chuckled like a Phillies grandma when I saw the pictures of the Phillies PS'd with ridiculous 70s gear, especially a normally stoic guy like Chase Utley decked out in Saturday Night Fever gear (which, oddly enough, Shane Victorino still rocks). We also got to see the revival of the Hot Pants Patrol, a moment in Phillies history we wish were celebrated mo...