"According to general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., Ryan Howard will miss approximately five-to-six months after having his ruptured Achilles repaired. The consensus from medical types is that a six-month recovery is standard for the type of surgery Howard had.

That doesn't take into account the baseball training Howard will need before a return. It was Howard's left Achilles that ruptured, which is the foot he loads up on before taking a swing. If the Big Piece needs six months to get his Achilles right, it might take another month to get his swing down."