Sunday, April 3, 2011
Posted: 4:29 p.m.Updated: 6:57 p.m.
By John R. Finger
CSNPhilly.com
BOX SCORE
Before the season began, much was made of Jayson Werths departure and the notion that the Nationals new 127 million man was great protection for Ryan Howard.
With Howard batting cleanup, the idea holds, it would be difficult for pitchers to work around him since Werth was waiting in the No. 5 spot.
Nice theory, but maybe theres a little more to it.
Based on Sundays 7-3 victory over the Astros to sweep the opening three-game series of the season, we just might have that protection theory all backwards. After all, last season Werth went just 5-for-53 in the first inning of games, which generally meant he came to bat after Howard had already been up. Those numbers improved as the game wore on, of course, but when there were runners on base, Werths stats hardly can be qualified as good.
MLB
With Howard typically hitting ahead of him in the lineup, Werth posted a .255 batting average with men on base (.375 on-base percentage) and a .186 batting average with runners in scoring position. His on-base percentage with runners in scoring position was an admirable .353, but maybe it wasnt Werth that provided the protection for Howard
Just maybe the so-called protection for Howard came from somewhere else?
Take a look at the first three games of the series against the Astros where Howard went 7-for-13 with six RBIs and no intentional walks. Sure, the Astros pitching isnt the best in the league, but if given the chance to pitch around The Big Piece, one would believe that they would take it.
Only this weekend with Jimmy Rollins ahead of him in the No. 3 hole and Placido Polanco batting second, Howard was protected.
Considering that Rollins and Polanco combined to go 11-for-24 with four walks, the Astros had no choice but to pitch to Howard. Needless to say, it didnt go too well.
Howard slugged his first homer of the season in the first inning after Polanco walked and Rollins singled to give the Phillies a quick 3-0 lead. Two innings later after Polanco doubled and Rollins singled again, Howard just missed another three-run jack when his RBI double hit high off the right-field wall. Twice in his first two plate appearances Howard came up with two on and had a 3-0 count and twice he belted extra-base hits.
In the sixth inning Howard came to bat again with runners on base, this time with two outs and the bases loaded after Rollins worked his first of two walks during his 2-for-3 effort. However, his would-be extra-base hit bid was snarled when his liner caught Brett Wallaces glove at first base.
Protection? Yeah, it looks like Howard is covered.
When we get guys on base up there in front of him, what happens is they have to make up their mind how theyre going to pitch instead of just throwing up the ball and wasting pitches and hoping hell get himself out, manager Charlie Manuel explained. When hes patient like today, running the count to 3-0 the first at-bat, thats how you hit 3-0. He was very patient, he got a good ball to hit and took a good, aggressive swing at it. To me, that right there is what its all about.
Now that injuries have made it necessary for Rollins to move out of the leadoff spot in Manuels batting ordera place where the manager steadfastly ceded to his shortstop no matter how he was performingperhaps the Phils best table setter is batting third. In fact, when Manuel discussed Sundays highlights with the media after the game, one of the first things he mentioned was Rollins two walks.
Thats right, the two walks instead of the two hits.
It stood out, Manuel said, also noting that Rollins has hit third and fifth in the past, though never for long periods. He swung the bat good, really. He has been swinging the bat good all series.
Nevertheless, it wasnt as if Howard didnt have good hitters ahead of him in the past. In seasons past when Rollins was the leadoff man, Werth often batted second and Chase Utley, a pretty darned good hitter in his own right, was in the three-slot. For whatever reason the notion that Rollins couldnt be the set-up man from a different place in the batting order didnt feel ideal.
After all, says Howard, it wasnt like Rollins suddenly aged exponentially overnight. Besides, hes only three years removed from his MVP season.
Its been fun, Howard said about hitting behind Rollins. I think a lot of people kind of wrote him off a little bit. Theyre trying to say that hes old, or from last year, hes lost this, hes lost that, people are talking about him declining. Sometimes people have off years. Sometimes people get hurt. So I think Jimmys going to open up a lot of peoples eyes. If he just has his normal year, hell be fine.
But an above average year from Rollins in the final year of his contract could prove to be quite lucrative. Sure, he might be able to command a nice contract on the free-agent market, but also he could help ensure that there will be postseason bonuses for all of his teammates, too.
E-mail John R. Finger at jfinger@comcastsportsnet.com
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