Perhaps that is why this ranking is somewhere in the middle.
Let’s start with the positive side of the ledger.
Howard was the National League Rookie of the Year in 2005 while winning the MVP the following season. Howard delighted fans with his power as he blasted 58 Home Runs (to lead the league) in his MVP season and would smack 40 or more the next three years. From 2006 to 2009, he would drive in 135 or more Runs Batted In and in three of those years he was the National League leader. In addition to his 2006 MVP season, he was the runner-up in 2008 and he finished 5th and 3rd respectively in 2007 and 2009. Howard would hammer 382 Home Runs and 1,194 RBI over his career, which was all as a Phillie.
In regards to the negative, Howard struck out a lot (he led the NL in whiffs twice) and with his glove he had ten seasons where he had a Defensive bWAR of -1.0 or worse. It goes without saying that he was horrible defensively!
Still what matters the most is that is Ryan Howard was a major part of the World Series Championship Team in 2008. The Phillies probably would not have been the winners without him.
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