"Ryan Howard has developed such a fine reputation as a power hitter that when he hit 31 home runs last season, everybody wondered what happened. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and manager Charlie Manuel offered clues in the offseason. Both said Howard's left ankle, which he badly sprained Aug. 1 in Washington, bothered him much more than he let on. It cost Howard three weeks on the disabled list and maybe sapped some of his power the remainder of the season. "Whether it bothered me or affected me, it's last year," said Howard, who still finished eighth in the National League in homers. "Now it's a lot better.""