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Ryan Howard is the MVP ... Or not. Anonymous
The question concerned Ryan Howard’s 0-for-4, three-strikeout showing in Wednesday night’s World Series Game 1, and his weak postseason in general. Charlie Manuel sensed bad intentions.

“I said something about it [Wednesday] night. Take him for granted and start throwing to him. See what happens,” a feisty Manuel said yesterday before Game 2 at Tropicana Field. “He’s had [’] RBIs. Forty-eight home runs. Check his batting averages and his run production from the seventh inning on, or late in the game, and see what you come up with.”

Manuel was right; I did have bad intentions in asking the questions. But any implication on Manuel’s part about Howard’s late-game prowess proved dead wrong. I already knew that after researching my National League Most Valuable Player ballot.

During the 2008 regular season, when Howard came to bat in “late and close” situations - plate appearances in the seventh inning or later with the batting team tied or ahead by one, or with the tying run at least on deck, according to baseball-reference.com - he tallied a .306 on-base percentage and .337 slugging percentage. A .643 OPS

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/newsday_davidoff_howards_numbers_in_c
lutch_are_not_so_valuable/