The Good Phight: Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell: Mr. Clutch and Mr. Not-So-Much

Patrick, Ryan: How They Won the War...with the Mets. (well, Ryan anyway)

What’s amazing about Howard’s season is just how good he’s been since May 9.  Before May 9, he was horrendous.  On that date, his numbers were .167/.282/.326 for an OPS of .608.  That’s pretty much incomprehensible for a player of Howard’s caliber.  But, since then, he’s been a monster.  He’s hit to the tune of .273/.352/.600 for an OPS of .952.  That’s still less than his career OPS of .969 and is nothing compared to his MVP year 1.084 OPS.  But, a .952 OPS would place him 9th in the majors and 5th in the NL this year.  I’d say he’s been pretty good from May 10 on.

And his counting stats have been even more impressive.  Since May 10, he’s played 114 games.  In those games, he has 39 home runs, 119 RBI, and 77 runs scored.  Translated over an entire season’s worth of games, that’s a pace for 55 home runs, 169 RBI, and 109 runs.  Now that’s production.

On the other hand, we have Pat Burrell.  Last night, he struck out five times in five plate appearances.  Two of those strikeouts came with men on base when the Phillies needed a run—in the fifth when the Phils were ahead by only one and two men were on; and in the seventh when the Phils were down by two and had a man on third.  Burrell flailed at the plate.  Luckily, Howard picked him up last night with his 8th inning homer.