Please Charlie Manuel, Give the Phillies and Ryan Howard a Day Off!

Please.  Enough is enough.  Ryan Howard is killing the Phillies right now.  The Phillies are killing him.  Can't we get a break from him?  Can't he get a break from himself?  The Phillies are playing on all cylinders, not willing to concede anything in hopes hey win a surprise Wild Card birth, which is why Phillies manager Charlie Manuel puts Howard into the lineup each and every day.  But this is the very reason that Howard needs a break.   

In the month of September, Howard is hitting .193.   In the last seven days, Howard is hitting .179.  He has 12 RBI in September in 17 games, a respectable number.  However, there are many missed opportunities that are hurting the team when the team needs to win most.  Even as recently as today, Manuel himself recognized that Howard is not fully recovered just yet both mentally and physically, as John Finger reports on CSNPhilly.com:

"I think his back leg is definitely bothering him.  He has trouble pushing off with his back leg and everything. But when he feels it and gets stronger and he’s on it, he doesn’t use his legs as much as he does now."

If that's the case, won't a day off do him good?

I know fans are clamoring for a Darin Ruf start, but I would still wait until the Phillies are officially out of contention and when they face a lefthanded starter.  The next two starters the Phillies will face are righties Matt Harvey and Jeremy Hefner.  Laynce Nix is hitting .300 in September.  He could be worthy of a start and provide professional, major league at bats.   The drop off from Howard is non-existent given the circumstances.

I'm not trashing Ryan Howard.  I am not going to go on an irrational tirade that his play these few weeks is proof his contract is bad.  I just recognize that he is coming off a really tough injury.  The best thing for the Phillies and for Ryan Howard is to give him a rest.

Comments

[Joe]

How can charlie keep him in the lineup. His output is horrible. Since he can't hit lefties, why the hell should he bat cleanup when there are other players who at least make contact. Charlie is old school and if he won't change, well then send him on his merry way. Bring up Sandberg.

[Jerry Parrish]

Ryan Howard is striking out constantly with runners on and when there is a runner on base if he should miraculously hit the ball on the ground it's an automatic double play because the poor guy can't run.I feel for him but he's not helping the team the way he's playing now, he needs to rest for the rest of the season before he gets hurt again.

[joycedaffodil]

Howard has struggled since he came off the dl. Charlie seems to have major issues with folks, he moves some of them all over the place, but the ones who struggle in their position he leaves them alone, it ensures that we are kept in the losing column at all times. When I saw the folks on base when Howard struck out I shuttered. We could have done better. Why keep Pop up Rollins lead off so he can get one once in awhile, and hit a home run, here and there but the rest of the time he is pop up Charlie, and yet Charlie has left him in place, regardless of all the fans screaming for a lead off hitter who can get on base. Pierre should lead off as someothers have suggested. I like Charlie, but maybe it is time to clean up and move on before we become the cellar dwellers we have been in the not so distant past.

[NFL Jerseys shop]

Very good, I would like to learn from you and continue to work hard.