Welcome Back, We Hope - Friday, May 02, 2008
204 Views :: 0 Comments :: :: Michael Bradley

   This is how it's supposed to work: The Phils get six strong ones from Adam Eaton -- believe it or not -- the bullpen steps up to make sure no further damage is incurred, one of the team's MVP candidates plays superhero, and Brad Lidge closes it out.

   Check, check, check and check. Last night's win over the Padres was hardly a dominating effort, but in the 162-game life cycle of a big-league season, it was the kind of victory that makes managers smile. And seeing Ryan Howard smite a game-winning home run to right in the eighth might have made Charlie Manuel giddy.

   Despite pre-season reports promising us that a more fit Howard would avoid his annual stumble from the gate, the first baseman staggered through the first month, hitting below the Mendoza line, showing extremely sporadic power and complaining that he "wasn't seeing the ball well." Somehow, the Phillies managed to have their first winning April in five years with Howard's banjo-hitting and injuries to Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino.

  That's all good stuff. But now it's time for Howard to get hot. And stay hot. He battled hard for his $10 million contract during the off-season, and was quite vocal in his assertion that he deserved much more than that. His last two seasons have set the bar high for him, and his contract demands have put considerable pressure on him. Should he press too much and continue to slump, he'll be in a tough spot come next year's arbitration hearings.

  It was good to see Howard hit that clutch homer Thursday night. If he can keep it up, the Phillies have a chance to establish themselves as the East's best. If he can't deliver, the Phils' margin for error shrinks to nearly nothing.

  That's a formula no one wants to see.