Phillies' Sandberg expecting Ryan Howard to be starting first baseman
Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said Wednesday he expects Ryan Howard to be the team's starting first baseman in 2015, per The News Journal.
"I'll tell you one thing, he can get on the field and work at first base with Larry Bowa and he can get his running as good as it can be and he can work with Charlie Manuel and Steve Henderson and all of the hitting guys we have in camp to see where he can really get his stroke," Sandberg said. "If he can help us win games by being a bat like he has been in the past that would help us out."
In mid-January, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Howard will have to earn the starting job in spring training, but also hinted Howard is the favorite to start at first base.
"I think that if Ryan's with us, and he's likely to be with us in spring training, I think Ryan's got to prove to us that he's ready to play every day at first base for us," Amaro said. "I mean I'm kind of looking forward to him being ready and healthy and contributing. Right now, there's nobody really that can unseat him."
