Chasing Maris

(Because we all know Sosa, McGwire, & Bonds don't really count.)

Boy am I happy Ryan Howard plays for the Phillies.  As Angelo Cataldi puts it, "He’s not just a great story. He’s a great show, every time he comes to the plate."

If you watched the Phils at all this weekend you saw Ryan Howard put on a hell of a show.  There aren't many players I talk about and feel like I can't find words to describe them fairly.  Ryan Howard is simply incredible.  Sunday he hit 3 home runs in 3 consecutive at bats in the early game of the double header.  He couldn't get the ball to leave the yard in the second game.  Yesterday he hit his 53rd home run to help the Phils finally get over the Astro hump and beat Roger Clemens.

In the blink of an eye Ryan Howard has cemented himself as Philadelphia's best athlete.  Move over A.I. and McNabb, you're in Ryan's town now.  Not only is he the best home run hitter in the game, he does it all with class and humor.  Howard's summer of 2006 will be something future baseball fans will be talking about as a thing of legend.

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What some of the experts have to say about Howard:

Ken Rosenthal, Foxsports.com:

Only the most feared hitters would be walked intentionally to lead off the ninth inning of a tie game between two teams scrambling for a wild card.

This is where Ryan Howard stands as he bears down on Major League Baseball's first 60-homer season since 2001, looking more like the National League MVP with each passing day. Howard, 26, is in his first season as a major-league regular, and the Astros on Monday treated him as if he were Barry Bonds in his prime.

On 610 WIP last night, Glen Macnow called Howard the "Anti Bonds."  Rosenthal has similar sentiments, "Howard is one of several articulate, engaging young stars at a time when the disagreeable Bonds is fading as the game's pre-eminent figure."

Cal Ripken is the only player to win Rookie of the Year one season only to go on and win a league MVP the following season.  Baltimore Sun:

If Howard finishes second in the voting this year, he'd become the first Rookie winner to be an MVP runner-up the next year since Pujols in 2002.

Dave Dellucci:  "He is a freak of nature"

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The photo above is by Jerry Lodriguss for the Inquirer.  Check out the Inquirer's full photo gallery from yesterday's thriller.  Some interesting photos.  Particularly photo 4: the guy with the blue backwards hat seems completely uninterested with catching Ryan Howard's 53rd home run and very interested in protecting his manhood.  In photo 8 you see the pissed off Pat Burrell.  $10 million to be pinch hit for in the biggest of situations.  Joke.  Photo 11: I love these shots of guys congratulating the hitter who just won the game.  Shane inches out Jimmy for best facial expression.
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Yesterday's game against the Astros was the first game since the final Red Sox series at Veteran's stadium in which I tried to get a walk up ticket only to find out the game was sold out.  The crowd and mussels at Chickie's & Pete's more than made up for my disappointment.

Comments

[Maria]

Ryan Howard is undescribable. Everytime he comes up to bat you expect him to hit a HR & he delivers. He's the best thing to happen to Philadelphia & baseball in a long time.

[c]

Actually...they DO count.

[mike]

actually c.....they don't you shmuck. especially bonds who's record should be wiped out

[c]

Uh, well no. You're wrong, but whatever you say.

[Boycott Barry]

That Barry has always had amazing hand-eye coordination has never been at issue.

The difference is between a fly ball to the right fielder or a home run into the seats.

That is the difference between steroid users and clean players.

The current baseball testing regimen is an absolute joke. Baseball must address this issue in a serious way. The Mitchell Probe is a joke too.

Get the full story @ BoycottBarry.com