Pete Mackanin Says He Will Handle Ryan Howard 'Delicately'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Managing the decline of a 36-year-old superstar with an annual salary of $25 million is not an enviable situation.
But that's exactly the situation Phillies manager Pete Mackanin find himself in when it comes to former NL MVP and three-time all-star Ryan Howard. Mackanin, entering his first full season as the club's skipper, says he will ultimately do what is best for the team.
Related: Ryan Howard Says Platoon Situation Is 'Probably Not' Fair
"Delicately," Mackanin told Angelo Cataldi and the 94WIP Morning Show on Friday when asked how he will handle Howard. "I'd admire Ryan Howard. One of the things -- not only for his performance over the years here-- but the fact that this guy never will ask for a day off. He always comes to play. He doesn't like not playing and you have to admire that.
Listen: Pete Mackanin on the 94WIP Morning Show
"I handle it very delicately and I'm going to do what I think is the right thing for the team," he continued. "Show Howard respect, but when it comes to the team that's my job. The fans in Philadelphia want to win and so do I."
Former Phillies manager and current senior advisor to the general manager, Dallas Green, says it may time for the Phils to move on from Howard.
"He hasn't performed obviously," Green said on Friday. "If he doesn't perform in Spring Training you're backed up against the wall again. In fairness, Pete [Mackanin] has already come out and said he's probably going to platoon most of the time, which is a fair deal -- at least in his mind and the team's mind. But the guy is still here and I think it's time for somebody to grab him. If it's an American League team or somebody that wants him, I know [Phillies GM] Matt [Klentak] will work a deal that will be favorable to the team and it would be best for him to move on."
Listen: Dallas Green on the 94WIP Morning Show
Howard is entering 13th MLB season and Mackanin sympathizes with the strenuous MLB schedule.
"An everyday player in the Major Leagues is a special breed of person because it's a 162 game schedule," Mackanin said. "If I played golf seven days a week for six months, there's a lot of times I wouldn't feel like playing golf. You know what I mean? But you gotta go out there and perform and not embarrass yourself."
