Howard has been a homerun machine since the Phillies brought him up. He didn't start his career until he was 25 because the Phillies had Jim Thome at the time. He didn't just break the record for the fewest games to 200 - he shattered it. And it's not the ballpark. He hits about as many on the road as home.

I remember Philadelphia sports talk radio, which regularly crucifies the Philly pro teams, lambasting Phillies m,anagement for not going ahead with the deal that would have sent Howard to Pittsburgh for pitcher Kris Benson. They claimed that minor league firstbasemen are a dime a dozen and how can you pass on proven talent like Benson.

Anyway, Howard has had his best games after the all-star break and has a history of getting red hot in September. I'll take the strikeouts because he is one of the most productive hitters of the decade.