http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/20161002_Ford__Goodbye_to_Ryan_Howard__and_Phillies__era_for_the_ages.html
Good article by Bob Ford. If you are not a Phillies fan, then it might be kind of tough to understand the fandoms relationship with Ryan Howard and Mike Schmidt. But this quote says it all:
"Howard and Mike Schmidt form an interesting comparison, if only because Howard was never questioned before he lost his skills, and Schmidt was never embraced until after he did. "
Still so surreal. Growing up, Schmidt was the best player in the game, but I can remember as a kid how much he was criticized. I remember being in school and being told that Pete Rose was a much better player and that Schmidt was a choker. Couldn't understand it.
Fast forward decades later, I remember telling a co-worker that that Ryan Howard struck out too f****** much. Suddenly he jumped all over me telling me how Ryan Howard was the great games best power hitter and one of the game's best players. I never saw I never saw him as that. He was a very good player, and when he was at his best, the Phillies won.
The 06-11 phillies were a good but not great team. They probably end up with only one Hall of Famer in Roy Halladay. There's a bunch of players that were very good, but fall short of Hall of Fame consideration. I can say however that they are a uniquely Philly team. Kind of sad to see them go.