MLB | Have Phillies finally come to the end of the line with Howard?

Entering tonight, 36-year-old first baseman Ryan Howard has racked up 365 homers, 1,154 RBIs and 1,432 hits in his 13-year Phillies career.

Jack Kerwin  |  ydkjack1@gmail.com

Has the day finally arrived?

After a week of recline following years of steep decline, Ryan Howard gets to come off the bench this evening for a start at first base.

Phillies manager Pete Mackanin has said so. He also has said, cutting through the obligatory, tugging-at-the-heartstrings BS, that this is pretty much a “show me or see ya” opportunity for the Big Piece turned Small Slice turned Empty Plate.

Really?

Yes, five years removed from Howard’s entrance into the descent portion of his career, the last three of which having taken on a dive-bomb quality, the club and the guy filling out its lineup everyday finally, mercifully, have come to the conclusion that, hmmm, you know what, maybe the big fella isn’t going to turn back the clock, that maybe, just maybe, the glory days from 2006 through 2009 really are now part of the past …

Cue the cheesy music.

If this is it, please let me know.

With all due respect to Huey Lewis, yo, what the eff?

Yeah, we get it. Fans have a hard time letting go of their heroes, and the team, as well as the media who cover it, realistically have some semblance of obligation to honor that or play into it. But the line of demarcation between legit and ridiculous was hopped over long ago.

Former GM Ruben Amaro committed the cardinal sin of an executive, acting like someone who loves the players on the team when he actually runs the players on the team. Oh, you can love the players when in a position such as he was, but you can’t make decisions and follow through on them in that vein. Operating a business on emotions is a recipe for disaster and the Phillies have been gagging several seasons for doing that.

Why the new regime has allowed things to continue that way is bizarre, if not insane.

New GM Matt Klentak wanted to show Howard the respect he deserves for what he has done. OK, how is treating him like a pampered China doll, emotionally as much as physically, showing him a whit of respect? It’s babying him. Coddling him. Pretending reality doesn’t exist no whiffs at air evidence scream, “hey, it’s over.”

Don’t even get me started on those “tough” guys and gals writing and talking about sports in town, either. Talk about a free pass …

It’s taken until the last couple months before any suggestion of Howard and the Phillies parting ways should be considered, and we’re not talking unanimous by any stretch. Just today, the main “news” site in Philly pitched two stories on the situation, one which asked – ASKED!! – if Howard is becoming a distraction for the team and the other which stated that if the player is OK with his useless “elephant in the room” status remaining as is in the clubhouse then you should be, too.

Guy can’t hit (or field) a lick in 2016 (or 2012 through 2015). But, hey, he won a title in 2008. Can’t forget that. Earned an eternal stay of execution with that.

Really? Yeah, really …

Sorry, but enough already. Just end it.

If this is it, please let me know.
​

Yes, five years removed from Howard’s entrance into the descent portion of his career, the last three of which having taken on a dive-bomb quality, the club and the guy filling out its lineup everyday finally, mercifully, have come to the conclusion that, hmmm, you know what, maybe the big fella isn’t going to turn back the clock, that maybe, just maybe, the glory days from 2006 through 2009 really are now part of the past … Cue the cheesy music.

If this is it, please let me know.

With all due respect to Huey Lewis, yo, what the eff? Yeah, we get it. Fans have a hard time letting go of their heroes, and the team, as well as the media who cover it, realistically have some semblance of obligation to honor that or play into it. But the line of demarcation between legit and ridiculous was hopped over long ago.