Ryan Howard Hits # 55, 56

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/wrap.jsp?ymd=20060908&content_id=1652266&vkey=wrapup2005&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb ^

[gusopol3]

Moyer hurls a gem By Ken Mandel / MLB.com Slugger Ryan Howard again made a strong case for MVP honors this year by bashing two homers (56) against Scott Olsen to help Jamie Moyer pick up his first career win against the Marlins. Howard's two homers were all the runs the veteran lefty needed.

[Man50D]

Six five and 240 pounds?

He looks legit to me.

You should have seen the before picture. ;o)

[gusopol3]

Rookie of the year '05, MVP '06? It would be impressive. The last 6 weeks has been an explosion of historic proportions, and now he'll be feasting on late season call-ups in a lot of AB's.

[misterrob]

Pitcher 1: 7-0, 2.82 ERA, 1 save, 8.91 K/9, and a batting average against hovering around .200 in 8 starts and 14 relief appearances over 63.2 innings.

Pitcher 2: 7-2, 2.89 ERA, 5.48 K/9, and a .208 batting average against in 14 starts over 87.1 innings.

Those two pitchers don't sound hugely different, right? Pitcher 1 has some relief appearances mixed in, significantly more strikeouts per IP, and averages about a third of an inning more per start, but besides that the stats are more or less identical.

If you haven’t guessed by now, pitcher 1 is an amalgam of

Josh Beckett (4-0, 2.83, .165 BAA),

Jon Lester (3-0, 2.45 ERA, .241 BAA),

Craig Hansen (1-0, 4.50 ERA, .250 BAA in 6 appearances),

and Manny Delcarmen (1 save, 2.57 ERA, .231 BAA in 8 appearances)

versus the National League.

Pitcher 2 is Anibal Sanchez. (Sanchez, in his two AL starts, was 1-0 with a 6.30 ERA and a .326 BAA.)


(from Seth Mnookin's blog)

Interesting thoughts...

[misterrob]

His HR derby performance was rather impressive...

[Tall_Texan]

With nary a taint of steroids either. Howard should be MVP. And, no, I'm not a Phillie fan and I don't play fantasy leagues.

[gusopol3]

easier to pitch in NL?

[gusopol3]

they had to move Thome out to make room for him; neither could play anything but first base.

[misterrob]

yes, no DH

[vikzilla]

15-20% of NFL linemen are using Human Growth Hormone.

I'm afraid it just isn't normal to be 6'6" 345 and still run a 4.9 40.

I'm 6'4" 290 and much to old to consider there use.

I would have had to think long and hard about it, back in the day.

That amount of money can be very tempting.