Yesterday I wrote about the possibility that Ryan Howard just might be ready to lift this Phillies team on his broad shoulders and carry them through the summer.
Maybe Ryan was reading. He went out yesterday and put an fairly emphatic exclamation point on the issue. Howard had two home runs as the Phils beat the Cards, 4-1. The Phils took two of three and now welcome the Arizona Diamondbacks to town for a weekend set before breaking for the All-Star Game.
Speaking of that break, it couldn’t come at a worse time for Howard. He’s starting to heat up, and now leads the National League in homers with 27, blowing by teammate Chase Utley. Howard also sits atop the heap of RBI leaders with 83 after driving in three of the Phillies four runs yesterday.
But Howard is getting some unexpected time off next week. That’s because the Major League’s home run leader is not going to the All-Star Game. Howard trailed badly in the voting for first base. One way to look at it is that most of the voting took place while Howard was struggling mightily earlier in the year. But the numbers speak for themselves. The guy is a former rookie of the year and MVP, but he didn’t get as much as a sniff from the fans when it comes to the All-Star voting.
Howard won’t be alone in sitting out the Mid-Summer Classic. Pat Burrell isn’t going either.
Burrell was one of the players eligible for the ridiculous final roster spot that is determined by Internet voting. He lost out to Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Corey Hart. Burrell finished third. He shouldn’t feel too badly about it. Burrell is having a solid year. But this idea of people sitting in front of computers constantly punching in online votes for their favorite is a sham.
Howard is another story. He actually still could make the team. Starter Alfonso Soriano of the Cubs has been scratched because of an injury. NL All-Star Manager Clint Hurdle of the Rockies already has inserted his own left-fielder Matt Holliday in the starting lineup, but there’s still an opening on the NL All-Star roster.
Howard deserves that spot. If he does not make it, he will become the first player leading his league in both homers and RBI not to make the team since the same ignominy befell Hank Sauer in 1948
The All-Star voting is questionable enough. The final roster vote is just a joke. There would be nothing funny about Howard not making the team.
Maybe Ryan was reading. He went out yesterday and put an fairly emphatic exclamation point on the issue. Howard had two home runs as the Phils beat the Cards, 4-1. The Phils took two of three and now welcome the Arizona Diamondbacks to town for a weekend set before breaking for the All-Star Game.
Speaking of that break, it couldn’t come at a worse time for Howard. He’s starting to heat up, and now leads the National League in homers with 27, blowing by teammate Chase Utley. Howard also sits atop the heap of RBI leaders with 83 after driving in three of the Phillies four runs yesterday.
But Howard is getting some unexpected time off next week. That’s because the Major League’s home run leader is not going to the All-Star Game. Howard trailed badly in the voting for first base. One way to look at it is that most of the voting took place while Howard was struggling mightily earlier in the year. But the numbers speak for themselves. The guy is a former rookie of the year and MVP, but he didn’t get as much as a sniff from the fans when it comes to the All-Star voting.
Howard won’t be alone in sitting out the Mid-Summer Classic. Pat Burrell isn’t going either.
Burrell was one of the players eligible for the ridiculous final roster spot that is determined by Internet voting. He lost out to Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Corey Hart. Burrell finished third. He shouldn’t feel too badly about it. Burrell is having a solid year. But this idea of people sitting in front of computers constantly punching in online votes for their favorite is a sham.
Howard is another story. He actually still could make the team. Starter Alfonso Soriano of the Cubs has been scratched because of an injury. NL All-Star Manager Clint Hurdle of the Rockies already has inserted his own left-fielder Matt Holliday in the starting lineup, but there’s still an opening on the NL All-Star roster.
Howard deserves that spot. If he does not make it, he will become the first player leading his league in both homers and RBI not to make the team since the same ignominy befell Hank Sauer in 1948
The All-Star voting is questionable enough. The final roster vote is just a joke. There would be nothing funny about Howard not making the team.
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