Did Ryan Howard have a good NLCS?

[RubeBaker]

Normally I don't pay too much attention to postseason stats, but Ryan Howard's were almost too strange to ignore.

He led the team in hits, BA, OBP and slugging. He was also the only Phillies hitter to bat over .300.

Yet in his 25 PAs, he struck out 12 times, and only put the ball in play for an out 3 times (kinda of important when runs are at a premium to move runners over and what not even if you don't get the hit).

Of his 7 hits though, four of those were doubles.

But, despite leading his team in pretty much every offensive category, he accounted for 0 runs. No runs scored and no RBIs.

But that is more likely the fault of the rest of his team for not getting on base and not driving him in.

So would you say that Howard actually had a pretty good NLCS? Or do you add him to the list of Phillies hitters who didn't get it done?

[dominik]

he had a good series unlike his teammates. However it's a problem that he strikes out so much. he misses so many balls with his long swing. that makes him a liability for his team. I know people say a K is just another out and BA is not important and it's OBP that counts. but the problem is that great pitchers don't walk guys. so a guy with a .370 OBP in the season will become a .260 OBP guy against the great pitchers of the post season because the walks go away. so ability to hit for average is important in the post season.

And that he fails to put the ball in play with runner on third and less than 2 outs is simply not acceptable even if the opposing pitcher is great. an MLB player must be able to put the ball in play if the situation requires it.

[kiluckzle]

In the eyes of a Phillies fan, he had a terrible series. Seems as if he got all his hits with no one on. Whenever there was any pressure whatsoever, he got one of his 12 strikeouts. When he came up in the 9th of game 6 I didn't go "YES ITS RYAN HOWARD" i went "maybe next year..."

[ConnieMack]

This is the argument you get with power hitters like Howard. Yea, the stat line for saber style looks good, .318 .400 .500.

But in reality he was a non factor, scoring 1 run , and driving in zero. He gets paid to drive in runs, nothing else really matters when it comes to hitters of his genre.

[EdTarbusz]

And that he fails to put the ball in play with runner on third and less than 2 outs is simply not acceptable even if the opposing pitcher is great. an MLB player must be able to put the ball in play if the situation requires it.

Waiting for a walk in this situation is not acceptable in my opinion also. The hitter has to be able to put the ball in play. That's my 20th century baseball mentality showing.

[cooperstownersincanada]

I think all Phillies fans would tell you that they would've liked to have seen Howard at least swing at the last pitch of the NLCS.

[Milt on Tilt]

6 years, $145 Million left for him. Yeesh.