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Big League Stew

Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:39 pm EST

Here comes the strikeout: Ryan Howard ties Series mark for Ks

By David Brown

UPDATE: It's official. Howard breaks the record with a strikeout against Damaso Marte(notes) in the eighth inning of Wednesday's Game 6. 

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Phillies slugger Ryan Howard(notes) hasn't let teammate Chase Utley(notes) enter the World Series record books all by himself during this World Series against the Yankees.

In an almost balancing fashion, Utley's home run power surge against New York has been matched by Howard, whose strikeout binge has tied Royals' speedster Willie Wilson for the most Ks in World Series history with 12 trips back to the bench.

Phillies fans probably recall the 1980 World Series, which ended with Tug McGraw striking out Wilson to end Game 6 at Veterans Stadium and clinch the first title in club history.

Like Utley's five Series homers to tie Reggie Jackson's 32-year-old mark, Wilson's was a good record for the Phillies. On the other hand, Howard wants nothing more to do with swinging and missing. After winning the NLCS MVP against the Dodgers, he's batting .158 (3-for-19) in the Series and is 1-for-14 since he hit a pair of doubles in Game 1.

Howard's 12th strikeout came between solo home runs for Utley and Raul Ibanez(notes) against left-hander Phil Coke(notes) in the bottom of the seventh of Monday's Game 5. Howard can't say it's all good Yankees pitching that has him struggling.

The Yankees will start devilish lefty Andy Pettitte in tonight's Game 6 and lefty CC Sabathia(notes) (if necessary) in Game 7, so if Howard is to break his slump, he'll have to do it against southpaws. And we all know he's significantly weaker against lefties.

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Related: Ryan Howard, Phil Coke, CC Sabathia, Chase Utley, Dámaso Marte, Raúl Ibañez, 2009 postseason on the Stew, 2009 World Series on the Stew

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52 Comments

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  1. Jmart
    1. Posted by Jmart Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:10 pm EST

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    Howard rarely hits good pitching... he does most his work against the lesser pitchers of a rotation... go look at his stats. Especially against lefties, he can't hit a lefty who throws a slider for his life... over-rated like always. Just because you hit Hrs and drive RBIs doesn't tell the whole story. Look at his division and his ball-park... a lot of terrible pitchers and the easiest place to play offensively in the NL.
  2. Jaybatt79
    2. Posted by Jaybatt79 Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:52 pm EST

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    Jmart, you are a moron, plain and simple. He struggles against lefties, that's it. You don't knock in more steroid free runs over a 4 year stretch than anyone in 50 years cleaning up on garbage pitching. You just sound ridiculous. Oh and he just won NLCS MVP against the team with the lowest ERA in the league after getting a big hit off of Huston Street. You have to be the dumbest poster there's ever been on this blog. Please pick a different sport to follow and stop wasting our time.
  3. Uncle Nick
    3. Posted by Uncle Nick Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:01 pm EST

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    @Jmart - Come on - Based on your logic, 4 out of the top 5 home run and RBO leaders should come out of the NL east. Is that the case?
    A little harsh don't you think. You don't lead the league in home runs and RBI's over 4 years and be overrated. The Dodgers made it to the NCLS with pretty good pitching and Howard won the NCLS MVP. Was that luck?
    If you don't like the guy, just admit it but don't go overboard with crazy statements. If 90% of his homeruns and RBI's all happened in Philadelphia and against the NL East, then ok.
    When he's hot he's hot and when he's cold, he's horrible.
  4. Uncle Nick
    4. Posted by Uncle Nick Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:02 pm EST

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    @ Jayblatt - LOL, well said
  5. Jaybatt79
    5. Posted by Jaybatt79 Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:03 pm EST

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    Oh, jmart while you're pulling up his splits why don't you see where it shows he's hit more home runs on the road than any hitter in baseball since 2006 which should shut you up on the ballpark issue and considering his division has far tougher pitching and plays a tougher interleague schedule than the Cardinals face does that mean Pujols cleans up on garbage??? God, I seriously can't stand ignorance.
  6. sam spade
    6. Posted by sam spade Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:31 pm EST

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    One of the big reason the experts picked the Yankees is because they have quality left handed pitching and Ryan Howard does not hit quality left handed pitching. His struggles should continue because all the Yankees will be pitching until series end is quality left handed pitchers, Pettite and Sabathia.
  7. Jaybatt79
    7. Posted by Jaybatt79 Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:52 pm EST

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    Sam, that's actually a good point. One thing with Howard is that when he's locked in, it doesn't matter if he's facing a quality left hander. Ask Johan Santana. When he's cold like he is now it's brutal. It's really like any other classic lefthanded power hitter.
  8. David P
    8. Posted by David P Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:02 pm EST

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    He just looks lost up there, he's not seeing the ball and his timing is all off...he's not even coming close even on pitches in the strike zone...maybe they should move him down in the batting order for next game and move someone up that is hot...he just leaves a big hole in the cleanup spot when he strikes out every time...i don't see him getting his groove back if there is only 2 games left...
  9. Peter
    9. Posted by Peter Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:18 pm EST

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    jmart is he in the world series?yeah thought so [profane]not to mention it means he hits homers and rbi's against rightys all the time
  10. Jayant
    10. Posted by Jayant Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:43 pm EST

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    And i tprovides material for Buck and McCarver to blab about. Keeps those 2 bozos from giving each other [profane]s on the air.
  11. bikedad_99
    11. Posted by bikedad_99 Tue Nov 03, 2009 6:41 pm EST

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    David P. You might have a good idea there moving Howard down in the order. Hey right now it could be worth a try. He really does look lost. Amazing how he can come from MVP in the playoffs, to Mr. Nothing in the World Series. Maybe the layoff till the series started hurt him more than the others. I wish Hamels would come around, but since there is only 2 games left, maybe he will not pitch the 7th game if it goes that far.
  12. DANNY B
    12. Posted by DANNY B Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:23 pm EST

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    Howard will be alright. The last thing the Phillies need to do now is show a lack of confidence in him. Besides, remember how the Dodgers fared in the NLCS with their musical lineup. With two games left the bat of Ryan Howard will become a factor...in a good way for the Phils.
  13. Pierce
    13. Posted by Pierce Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:43 pm EST

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    Kind of difficult to repeat your NLCS performance without the same umpires, aint that right fatty?
  14. uhhh, clem
    14. Posted by uhhh, clem Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:31 pm EST

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    just how many degrees of separation are there between Utley tying Reggie`s `77 WS HR record?
    and Howard tying Wilson's 1980 strike out mark against the Phillies?
    all while the Phillies are facing the Yankees?
    does anyone have a calculator???
  15. uhhh, clem
    15. Posted by uhhh, clem Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:32 pm EST

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    ( and will the universe collapse when these Phillies shatter them? )
  16. CK
    16. Posted by CK Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:03 pm EST

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    Jmart ----- aww ... mets fan. You mad?
  17. Tim W
    17. Posted by Tim W Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:41 am EST

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    hella funny once you hate on a philly player the whole posse comes out
  18. ronaldpaxton@...
    18. Posted by ronaldpaxton@... Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:18 am EST

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    Howard really reflects the downside of a slugger when he's going bad.A contact hitter can still help his team when he's in a slump because he can put the ball in play. Sacrifice bunt, sacrifice fly, ground ball to the right side to move a runner to third with less than 2 out, work the count for a walk. A strikeout king does nothing but kill rallies and momentum.
  19. kent j
    19. Posted by kent j Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:17 pm EST

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    Hey guys.. they are about to pass yet another LUMP of legislation moving us to socialism. Are you all going to continue expending energy on sports?
    Get off your butt. Call your congressman and senators and tell them.. to READ the bill. VOte against it. Put themselves on ALL government plans (so they have a vested interested)
    And then read the constitution and a little history to relearn the definition of the word Freedom.
    Freedom isnt free if government runs everything.
    Freedom means... people can make bad choices.
    Make a good choice. Vote for a fiscal conservative.
  20. Matt K
    20. Posted by Matt K Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:18 pm EST

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    Come on JMart, the Braves, Mets, and even Marlins have solid pitching and pitcher's ballparks. And don't forget, the shift took away a lot of hits that lowered his average. I'm not denying that he's worse against lefties, especially when they pound him low and away with offspeed stuff, but some people on here really go overboard.
  21. chris
    21. Posted by chris Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:38 pm EST

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    So Pettit (steroids) is pitching tonight for the Yankees with A-Rod (steroids) hitting well during the series. Doesn't this send the message to our youth that using steroids DOES pay off? They are not only still allowed to play ball; not only participate in the World Series; but it is becoming increasingly possible that they will be part of a World Championship team! AFTER admitting to the use of steroids......not good role models or examples for our youth
  22. how you doing?
    22. Posted by how you doing? Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:39 pm EST

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    I admittedly don't know much about baseball stats and watch only when the playoffs are on pretty much. But that being said, I don't think his struggling bothers anyone as much as it does him. That's my two cents.
  23. jdibella@...
    23. Posted by jdibella@... Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:41 pm EST

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    Howard is the only thing keeping the Yankees alive...
    http://www.TheRealHall.com
  24. batboy3890@...
    24. Posted by batboy3890@... Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:43 pm EST

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    Matt K, the POINT of the shift is to take away hits... if he was a more well rounded-hitter he could spread the ball around and the shift wouldn't be effective

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