who thinks Ryan Howard will hit 40 HRs next year

[MrT]

At this rate 290 40hr and 110 rbi. (Thome is Philly history!!??)

[Red Stripe]

He probably would've this year if he played a full season. If he gets full playing time and starts at 1st I see no reason why he couldn't.

[mcqfesijiba]

He has that ability and the Phillies play in a great home park for that, given he can get around 500 ABs. Of course, he'll also approach 170+ K's.

Still will the Phillies find a sucker, er, taker for Thome? It might be tough.

[eftda]

The only team I can see Thome going too is the Mets or Braves and the Phillies would have to take 1/4 to 1/2 his contract.

[bd3521]

Why not AL DH?

[Webster11]

Reminds me a lot of Morneau last year...hopefully different result

[Pedantic]

Too inexperienced and too many K's to hit 40 at this point, IMO. Boy, fantasy owners can be a strangely optimistic group at times. I can't see Thome going to the Braves, either.

[kimchi_chigae]

40 homers...tough.

right now we have 3 guys with 40 HR or more in the majors. i can see maybe 4 or 5 more guys reaching 40 this year and we are talking about guys like teixeira, pujols, ortiz and so on.

no doubt howard has some power, but baseball season is quite long, he'll struggle at times. hitting .133 against lefties won't help much his cause either.

[pangbones]

I'd say 30 HR's if he plays all year. 40 may be a few years away. But it wouldn't shock me if he did.

[Laean]

Too inexperienced and too many K's to hit 40 at this point, IMO. Boy, fantasy owners can be a strangely optimistic group at times. I can't see Thome going to the Braves, either.

to be fair, he does walk a decent amount too though, like thome, dunn, etc, and not like morneau, etc. that said, i think it's more likely that he WON'T hit 40 next season, though i wouldn't completely discount it.