Category Archives: ryan howard

America’s White Boy’s 2016 MLB Un-All-Star Team

It has become a yearly tradition that we look at all the former MLB All-Stars that aren’t having very good years.

The season is a little more than half over and it’s not too late for some of these players to bounce back and turn their seasons around. You can look at our Un-All-Star team article last year, many bounced back and finished strong.

Since I’m an active fantasy baseball owner, it didn’t take me long to make this list. A few of these guys were on my teams early this season, but were quickly dropped. I spent most of my time just baffled that some of these guys were actually All-Stars at one point.

The old benchmark for an All-Star was thrown out with the bathwater when Bud Selig decided each team must have at least one representative in the All-Star Game.

Here is America’s White Boy‘s 2016 MLB Un-All-Star team.

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2016 MLB Season Preview: Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies have had a few rough years in a row as they wait for Ryan Howard’s huge contract to expire and rebuild the team from top to bottom.

Manager Pete Mackanin will serve his first year without the “interim” label. He took over last June when Ryne Sandberg stepped down. Mackanin was the bench coach for the Phillies from 2009-2012 and was then re-hired to be their third base coach in 2014. He knows the franchise inside and out, but hiring him as the manager doesn’t seem like a smart long-term move…but perfect for a team rebuilding.

How will this young Phillies team fare this season?

Here is the 2016 MLB season preview for the Philadelphia Phillies.

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2015 MLB Team Preview: Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies got old in a hurry. In a span of four years, they went from a World Series contender to possibly being one of the worst teams in the league. They signed all their stars to lucrative long-term contracts during that time. The worst-case scenario played out and they are all nearly immovable in a trade.

Manager Ryne Sandberg took over after Charlie Manuel was fired mid-season in 2013. He’s great with younger talent, but he might not be able to keep his job during the transition. They need to move the big contracts for a few decent prospects, but dumping money is more important.

Can the Phillies find a trade partner for Ryan Howard?

Here is the 2015 MLB season preview for the Philadelphia Phillies.

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2014 MLB Team Preview: Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies championship window has officially closed. Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins may be playing their last season together. They should be busy at the trade deadline this season, because they need to get younger.

Manager Ryne Sandberg took over after Charlie Manuel mid-season. He’s great with younger talent, which leads me to believe they are about to blow up this team. I doubt Ryan Howard is going anywhere with his bloated contract on the books through 2016.

Can Rollins and Sandberg squash their beef and get along this season?

Here is the 2014 MLB season preview for the Philadelphia Phillies.

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2013 MLB Team Preview: Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies have been perennial World Series contenders since Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley were in their first years in the Majors. The Phillies have spent a king’s ransom on pitching, yet the rest of the lineup have aged poorly. Could Philadelphia become sellers at the trade deadline this season?

Will Philly regret signing Cole Hamels to a superstar contract when he is the team’s third best starter?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the Philadelphia Phillies. Continue reading →

My 2008 Un-All-Star Team – Revisited

On May 7th this year I made my “2008 Un-All-Star Team.” I wanted to re-visit this, as some of the players have turned their seasons around, and some have tanked even farther down than I could have imagined. Some have grown mustaches to bust out of their slumps, while others seemed content with a mediocre year and released from their teams. I love when people say that some players are “second-half guys,” as you can see, not all players end up heating up as the temperature rises.

The batting averages in italics are as of May 7th, 2008.

Infield
Rickie Weeks – .195 – currently .229 – not an everyday starter
Robinson Cano – .157 – currently .264 – a true second-half guy
Kenji Johjima – .189 – currently .213 – lost his starting job
Ben Broussard – .159 – currently .159 – released and now currently in minors with Yankees
Johnny Estrada – .179 – currently .170 – released by Nationals
Casey Blake – .202 – currently .292 – traded to Dodgers, doing very well.
Ryan Howard – .168 – currently .235 – tied for major league lead in home-runs

Outfield
Andruw Jones – .158 – currently .161 – injury-plagued season
Alfonso Soriano – .177 – currently .293 – made actual all-star team
Nick Swisher – .196 – currently .213 – been very streaky
Jose Guillen – .165 – currently .252 – great second-half
Jim Edmonds – .172 – currently .240 – released by Padres, signed with Cubs, has been on fire when in the starting lineup
Michael Bourn – .194 – currently .226 – an off year, hasn’t stole many bases in the second half

Designated Hitter (barely)
Gary Sheffield – .176 – currently .223 – injury plagued season
Jose Vidro – .192 – currently .234 – released by Mariners
Jim Thome – .209 – currently .250 – a very resurgent second-half, big power numbers as well
Jason Giambi .157 – currently .252 – great middle of the season, has fell off here of late

The baseball season is a long and grueling marathon, not everyone can sprint the entire season. A lot can change during the season, but if a player can stay healthy and consistent throughout their career, they will have long playing careers in the Majors. For those you stay injured or struggle, it is easy for a club to cut their loses and a career can come to an end.

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