This is Ryan Howard. He’s the hulking first baseman for the Phillies who was the NL Rookie of the Year in 2005, and the NL MVP in 2006, when he clubbed 58 home runs, most likely without the assistance of whatever Bonds, McGwire and Sosa were using. Howard seems like a swell fellow, and he’s poised to become The Next Big Thing in Philadelphia.

However, spring training has been unkind to the big fella. He’s flirting with the Mendoza Line. Not that it matters; there appears to be little correlation between a good/bad Spring and a productive/unproductive season.

The worrisome issue here is how Howard is coping with his struggles. You know how Zach Randolph of the Portland Trailblazers treats bereavement as a strange gift?

Howard has his own way of coping with a slump: boycott the media. When reporters surrounded him Sunday to ask about his 0-for-17 slump, Howard offered the greatest line thus far in what has been an unremarkable spring training:

“This is Ryan Howard Day. No interviews. No media.€

Classic.

The next time Negative Nancy gets on our case about anything – via email, IM, face-to-face, whatever – we’re playing the, ‘Sorry, this is Big Lead Day. Fall back, pal.’ Guess the first question is – who do we have to blow to get a day named after us?

RYAN’S STILL SIGHIN’: Phillies concerned about Howard’s spring training slump (Trentonian)
Howard strikes back – Yankees 5, Phillies 1 (Philly Burbs)