CLEARWATER, Fla. -- As low, dark-gray clouds moved in and settled over Bright House Field, a new group of Phillies began batting practice. Jim Thome was part of that particular collection of hitters. He took his usual Paul-Bunyan sized swings, big and powerful, but he was not the first baseman who drew the most attention.
Shortly before 11 a.m., a familiar face stepped to the plate. He was dressed in a full uniform for the first time since the Phillies season ended last October with an unexpected and disappointing defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals. Ryan Howard took his first live batting practice swings of spring training on Wednesday. He eased into it, slapping a few hits to different parts of the outfield. Then he mashed a ball over the right-field wall and crushed another onto the grassy incline just beyond the power-alley in left-center.
?It felt good,? Howard said during a press conference on Wednesday. ?The swing feels good.?
It was only spring training batting practice, a brief moment in a long season, and yet it was a startling thing to witness. It made for a stark contrast to the last time Howard appeared on a baseball field. That was an unfortunate scene -- Howard crumpled on the ground, clutching his ruptured right Achilles tendon, while the Cardinals celebrated their NLDS win over the stunned Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. As symbolism goes, it?s hard to imagine something uglier and more powerful. Howard was asked whether he?s seen the footage of that moment, or whether it remains too painful to watch.
?It was painful when it happened,? Howard quipped, ?I can tell you that.??????????? ?
Even before the injury, Howard had his detractors -- those who think he?s overvalued and overpaid (his five-year, $125 million extension kicks in this year). Last year, Howard hit .253 with 33 homers, 116 RBIs and an OPS of .835. He?s 32 years old. Albert Pujols is also 32. He hit .299 with 37 homers, 99 RBIs and a .906 OPS a year ago. Prince Fielder, 27, hit .282 with 38 homers, 120 RBIs and a .981 OPS. You can see where this is going.
During the off-season, Ruben Amaro defended Howard and his contract against those who think he?s not nearly as good as Pujols or even Fielder. And on Tuesday Charlie Manuel said he thinks Howard?s ?best years are still ahead of him.?
Maybe Amaro and Manuel are right, or maybe they?re just putting a happy face on a sad situation that has to concern the organization even if no one wants to say so publicly. Whatever you may think of Howard -- whether you believe he?s one of the game?s best sluggers or you?re an intractable WAR advocate who yammers incessantly about him being overrated -- it?s hard to deny what he means to the Phillies and their lineup.
Last year, he accounted for 16.3 percent of the team?s RBIs and 21.5 percent of its home runs. That?s a significant chunk of the offense. And if you?re among the naysayers, you should also consider that 19 of his 34 homers (which includes the playoffs) in 2011 either tied a game or helped give the Phillies the lead. It?s hard to imagine any combination of Thome, Ty Wigginton, John Mayberry and Jimmy Unnamed Fill-in Player replacing that kind of production while Howard is out of the lineup.
Even more worrisome: What if Howard isn?t himself when he finally returns? What then? The Phillies, as everyone knows, weren?t the same unstoppable hitting machine in 2011 that they were in years past -- and that was when Howard was healthy. You have to wonder what the offense might look like if Howard can?t put up the numbers the Phils have always counted on him to produce. (He?s had six straight seasons with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs.)
Howard said he isn?t concerned about his hitting and added that he feels fine swinging a bat. That?s an encouraging thing to hear. But he also said that healing his Achilles has been a complicated process, and it isn?t over yet. That is decidedly less encouraging.
?It?s kind of like learning how to run all over again,? Howard said. ?I?ve been walking with a limp for the most part after being in the boot for two months. You kind of have to get rid of that gimp, that little limp that you have going. Right now, strength-wise it?s starting to come. But I?m taking it slow.?
His words -- that he?s getting stronger, but that he has to re-teach himself how to run -- said so much. In addition to the oral report about his health, Howard provided a strong visual clue concerning the status of his rehabilitation. At the press conference, Howard wore a light gray shirt. On the chest, there was a message stamped in black block letters: ?Wounded Warrior Project.?
E-mail John Gonzalez at jgonzalez@comcastsportsnet.com
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