Ryan Howard sank the Rockies the last time Colorado reached the postseason, when his two-run double in the ninth at in 2009 pushed the Phillies to a 5-4 victory in a deciding game of a National League Division Series.
“Get me to the plate, boys,” Howard said in Philadelphia’s dugout before his series-deciding hit.
Eight years later, he’s saying it again for the Rockies.
“If I could do the same thing with the Rockies and say, ‘Get me to the plate’ in that situation, that would be great,” Howard said Monday in Albuquerque. “You can say I’m coming around full circle.”
The Rockies signed Howard to a minor-league deal Saturday after scouts indicated the 37-year-old slugger might have more postseason hits in his bat. They assigned him to Triple-A Albuquerque, where he went 1-for-6 Sunday in his first appearance, a 22-1 Isotopes victory.
“I was pretty pleased with some of the at-bats,” Howard said. “I was a little further ahead than what I thought I would be, for not seeing game action for awhile. I’m trying to build on that.”
The left-handed Howard had a similar minor-league deal with the Braves earlier this season, but Atlanta released him in May after he hit .184 in 11 games. The Rockies, though, are following their own pattern.
In 2009, Colorado signed veteran slugger Jason Giambi in August to a minor-league contract before he made the Rockies postseason roster as a pinch-hitter.
“We’re going to see how this goes, but it’s a big bat. He’s a big power-hitter,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “He has a lot of home runs in his career. And I know from his days in Philadelphia, he’s imposing and always dangerous.”
In his 13 seasons with the Phillies, Howard hit 382 home runs, including a baseball-best 58 in 2006.
“The track record speaks for itself,” Howard said. “I’m a great clubhouse guy. I still feel there’s a lot left in the tank to contribute in a big way. Its being able to get myself in position for an opportunity.”
