Tuesday, July 18, 2006

PROBLEMS? WHAT PROBLEMS?

So much for his participation in the All-Star home-run derby messing up Ryan Howard's swing. In four games since the All-Star break, Howard has three home runs, giving him 31 for the season and keeping him on pace to challenge Mike Schmidt's single-season franchise record of 48, set in 1980.

Bobby Abreu is another story. He hit only six homers in the second half of last season after winning the derby, and this season, he has only eight home runs. It's convenient to say that the derby altered Abreu's swing. But, I submit that Abreu never was a true home-run hitter. He never hit more than 31 in a season, and in 1999, 2002 and 2003, he hit only 20.

Here's a look at the top home run seasons in Phillies history:

48 -- Mike Schmidt, 1980
47 -- Jim Thome, 2003
45 -- Schmidt, 1979
43 -- Chuck Klein, 1929
42 -- Thome, 2004
41 -- Cy Williams, 1923
40 -- Klein, 1930
40 -- Dick Allen, 1966
40 -- Schmidt, 1983

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I heard that Abreu's swing changed when he was 11 years old and brushing his teeth. You guys make too much of this crap.