How many sunk costs do they have now?
Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said Wednesday that first base will be a "day-to-day thing" going forward.
It's a nice way of saying Ryan Howard has lost his grip on the starting first base job. Howard and Darin Ruf will platoon based on matchups and who is swinging the hotter bat, and it appears Sandberg is resolute in his willingness to see what Ruf can do over the next two months. CSN Philly's Jim Salisbury reports the Phillies have considered the possibility of releasing Howard if he can't be moved in a trade. The Phillies owe Howard, who is hitting .224/.305/.377, $60 million guaranteed over the next three years.