In mere seconds, a lot went completely wrong for Ryan Howard.
His ground ball ended the Phillies season in a completely painful way, and more than just heart break. Howard stumbled out of the box after his grounder to Cards second baseman Nick Punto and fell halfway down the baseline in pain.
It’s his left Achilles. And in Howard’s mind, it may have been torn on the play. He will know for sure tomorrow when he gets an MRI on the heel.
“I was trying to run and I just felt this pop,” Howard said. “The whole thing went numb, like it was on fire.”
As many know, Howard had been playing the better part of the second half of the season with bursitis in his foot. Bothering the Big Piece all season, he could barely run the bases. His over-exertion on the final at-bat may have been what caused the injury.
A torn Achilles can be very serious. If it is in fact that, Howard will require surgery and could be shelved for nearly a year.
Imagine a season without Ryan Howard and the complaints will finally subside.
TTB 