You can say that again.
That was Ryan Howard‘s response when he was asked about being the last out of the season, two years in a row.
“I’m not going to lie. It sucks. And I know how it looks to everybody, like having the season come down and you’re that guy. But I try to look at it positive like, the last two seasons I got out, I figure I’m about due. I’d love to be in that situation again. There’s going to be those times when you come through and there’s going to be those times when you don’t come through.”
It seems like this offseason has been a bit of a reboot for Howard, who has been working hard recover from not just this injury, but the mental stress of being that last out, twice.
But realistically, when could he be back?
“We’ll see,” Howard said. “Ask me in May. I’m not going to put a time limit on it. I’m going to listen to my body and see where we are. … I feel good, where I am right now. I mean, I don’t know what everybody else’s expectations were for me at this point, but I feel good. Not exactly where I want to be yet, there is still a lot of strengthening that needs to take place, change of direction and working on those kinds of things, but I feel all right.”
I caught the tail end of Michael Barkan’s (sp?) interview last night with Howard and I thought of what you commented on in my blog. He’s endearing and down to earth for sure. They say the third time is the charm so I’m looking for Howard to be brilliant during the season and in post-season
He’s got the goods to deliver so I wish him a good recovery.
I wonder if people will ever notice what this lineup is like without him in it, and realize what a contributor he actually is.