While the Phillies seem to have a pretty good idea at what their starting infield will be come Opening Day, there are still a variety of questions involving the situation of both Ryan Howard and Maikel Franco. The team has let the Ryan Howard know they feel they'd be better off without him, so unless an AL team steps up to the plate, the Big Piece will likely start the season at first base for the Phillies.
We all know that Howard can still hit the ball out of the park, but he isn't even close to being as effective as he once was in the clean up spot. Despite that fact, in Larry Bowa's morning interview with Howard Eskin of CBS Sports, he seemed rather surprised that an American League team wasn't willing to bite on Howard to fill a DH spot.
“I’m surprised in the fact that if I’m an America League—I mean, [Ryan] Howard, let’s face it,” Bowa said. “We all know what he’s capable of doing. Supposedly last year’s bad year he still hit, what 20 [home runs] and 95 [RBI’s]. If I’m an American League, those are good numbers especially the way run production is in baseball all over—National and American League.”
Bowa says Howard will be much better off in the American League as a designated hitter.
“He really hasn’t made any comment one way or another, what he would like to do, but I’m just saying easier on your body if you’re a big guy like that and you’ve had leg problems. If you want to DH, I think it would just take a lot of stress off your body.”
On the other end of things is the situation of Maikel Franco. The Phillies top prospect impressed in the Dominican League playoffs, hitting .337 with six doubles, four homers and 16 RBI's in 86 at-bats. He led his team to the championship after going 3-for-4 with two homers and seven RBI's in the final game. Though Franco went just 10-for-56 in limited playing time for the Phillies at the end of the year, he showed his defensive skill set at both third and first base. Larry Bowa compares his play at third base to that of Adrian Beltre.
“He’s been playing third [base] down here [in Clearwater, Florida] and he’s also been taking balls in left field,” Bowa explained.
“He can play first [base], he can be third [base]. He’s been exceptional, I mean [an] exceptional third baseman. A lot, reminds me a lot of Adrian Beltre—hand-wise and arm-wise. Obviously he’s not there hitting wise, but has those nice hands, tremendous arm—a little unorthodox when he throws like Beltre—but tremendous velocity. His first step is very quick, not a real fast runner but first step off the ball—right or left—is extremely quick. He’s a big league third baseman.”
Unless Franco blows away the competition in Cody Asche, all likelihood is pointing to him starting in the minors, thus extending his team control one more year to 2021.
Will he start the season in the Big League’s?
“That’s gonna be up to, probably [General Manager] Ruben [Amaro Jr.],” Bowa said. “There’s a certain date, I think it’s May 3rd, where the clock gets turned on again. You miss the first month and it buys another year or so of arbitration. It’s gonna be a matter if they want to do that or if Franco comes in here and blows everybody’s doors off. He had an unbelievable winter ball. That’s one of those decisions that the front-office people are probably going to have to make.”
Franco, Howard and the rest of the Phillies play their first action of the Spring on March 1st against the University of Tampa at 1:05pm. They open their schedule at Bright House Field in Clearwater on March 3rd against the Yankees at 1:05pm.
