Damn it Ryan Howard…

…Why did you have to start playing like an MVP now? Where’s the Ryan Howard of April/May 2008. The guy that would strike out with runners in scoring position, huh? Why this new fangled Ryan Howard circa 2005/06? Without you Ryan, the Braves maybe could have maintained their lead in the eighth inning and then Mike Gonzalez wouldn’t have looked so sad in the picture posted above. He may have been pumping his firsts with excitement that he had gotten the Braves out of a jam and into the ninth with the lead still in tact. But alas Ryan Howard, you ruined it. So what all of your teammates are clapping for you, giving you high fives and slapping your ass because you did a good job. And so what if the fans in Philly aren’t booing you right now and instead have probably gone back to their old punching bag Pat Burrell. Does it really matter to you that badly? I mean you’re still making $10 million a year thanks to the favorable arbitration ruling.

Now I get to hear at work, so your Braves could only bet the Mets, huh? Couldn’t handle the Phillies for us? And I have to reply well my Braves (since apparently I now have a large holding in Liberty Media) only fare well against teams that enjoy choking down the stretch; they have nothing for teams that actually want to win. So thanks Ryan Howard for the awkward moments in the break room and for beating the Braves last night. Real upper for me this morning! I can barely even enjoy my butterfinger crunch yogurt!

News&Notes: Bobby Cox is not happy with the way Ned Yost was fired...But could Yost ended up back with the Braves?...Congrats to the Double-A Mississippi Braves who won the Southern League championship on Saturday. Their manager Phillip Wellman was up with the Braves on Monday...Speaking of the Braves minor league system, the Gwinnett Braves has decided to name their mascot "Chopper".

(Photo: AP)