This week’s The Starting 9, writer Jerry Crasnick discusses a position-by-position look at All-Star players who have not found much luck in the month of April.  Obviously the Phillies own Ryan Howard is his choice at first base.  His .181 average with 32 strikeouts (in 22 games), isn’t really what anyone expected out of the slugging first baseman almost a month into the season. 

That $10 million salary arbitration award hasn’t bought Howard much peace of mind this spring. Last year, he got off to a poor start because of a strained quadriceps that forced him onto the disabled list in May. This time around, he’s just messed up mechanically.

You can’t hit what you can’t see, and Howard keeps telling manager Charlie Manuel and hitting coach Milt Thompson that he’s having trouble picking up the ball out of the pitcher’s hand. He doesn’t trust his hands or his eyes enough to wait at the plate, so he’s lunging at pitches and getting caught out in front.

“He’s not comfortable, and when you’re not comfortable in the box, a lot of bad things happen,” Thompson said. “You just have to keep swinging until you get there. It’s like a light switch. It’ll flick on, and you’ll have it.”

Howard erupted for 10 home runs last June, 10 in July and 11 in September, so the law of averages dictates that several unfortunate NL pitchers are in for some hard-core suffering down the road.

Crasnick is spot on in his analysis.  Howard is in his head right now, which is the main contribution to his poor start, and more free-swinging ways.  Unfortunately, when a hitter is struggling through this type of mechanical funk, they tend to push themselves, which only makes matters worse. 

I’ve heard some say maybe he needs a couple days off.  I don’t agree with that sentiment.  Howard needs to find his groove, and the only way to do it is to play through it.  The best course of action would be for Howard to take a step back, and remember what got him to where he is.  Unlike some superstar players, Howard isn’t a player who’s had to work real hard to find superstardom.  He has a ton of natural ability, and is what made him the player he is today.  Instead of forcing the situation, he needs to let his instincts take over and let the ball come to him.

The good thing about Howard is we know this won’t last.  He’s going to find his stroke.  Hopefully that’s sooner than later.