Phillies prospect Maikel Franco has been on fire at AAA Lehigh Valley in the early going. Although it is just eight games and 35 at bats, Franco is hitting .371 with a home run and seven RBI. Franco's OPS is currently at 1.122. When the IronPigs took the field for their afternoon game in Buffalo today, Franco was not where he had been for his first eight games.
IronPigs designated hitter Russ Canzler, who is defensively somewhat versatile but not known for defense (Canzler had been moved out of third base many years ago), was at Franco's usual third base. Chris McGuiness, usually the starting first baseman, was at designated hitter. Franco made his first start at first base. This could be significant.
This could lead to some speculation about Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, now the Phillies' seventh hitter who came into the day batting .167 with no home runs and two RBI. Numerous columns have been by Philadelphia baseball writers calling for Howard's merciful release. Howard's entire memory has been tarnished, and the Phillies are doing no favors to themselves, Howard, or the fans by keeping him.
If the Phillies are still holding out hope that they can recoup $10 million of the $60 million owed to Howard over the next two years, they can just forget it. In the grand scheme of things, whether or not the Phillies save $5 million each of the next two years is irrelevant. The Phillies will not be looking to sign expensive free agents and may even move some more money before next season begins.
As bad as attendance will be, the Phillies will have plenty of Comcast's money the next two seasons, when their new television contract kicks in. If anything, Phillies fans may come to the park to watch Maikel Franco play. Phillies games are simply not fun right now, leading to the Phillies' worst attendance in the history of Citizens Bank Park. This week's April games against the Miami Marlins may even lead to new lows.
If you are Ryan Howard, you are probably tired of the boos and would welcome the opportunity to be a free agent and find a team willing to give him a chance to play. A team might not want to part with talent or money, but for $507,500 a year, I think that someone will get a chance. And Howard, free of his family lawsuits and of his gruesome Achillies injury can remove the one last burden in his life: the ire of Phillies fans.
Phillies fans have seen enough of Howard this season to make the team wish to unload him before the team comes back to Philadelphia. The vitriol of Phillies fans is already too strong and his memory too tarnished that Howard simply cannot return to the Philadelphia on Tuesday. The Phillies are off on Monday and it could be the perfect time to announce Howard's outright release.
I hope that in the future they will remember Howard for his 2005 Rookie of the Year Award, for his 2006 MVP, and for the 2009 National League Champion Phillies and 2008 World Champion Phillies. Also remember that in 2011 Howard risked his ankle when the Phillies were pumping it full of cortisone that arguably led to his gruesome injury. Blame the Phillies organization for the failed contract, thank Howard for all he's done.
Now let's move on.
