USATODAY.com - One final step to baseball stardom a major one

USATODAY.com - One final step to baseball stardom a major one

Mr. Beaton is reaching when he includes Ryan Howard in a failed rookie article.

MacPherson, Hardy and Bartlett were given a fair chance to keep starting roles that were given to them. (In Bartlett's case, he earned it, too.)

Ryan Howard was not given anything despite earning a shot with a good Spring Training, and after starting 1-18 in his only-called-up-until-Thome-is-back time with the Phils, finished 5-9 with a HR.

Howard was included because his 2004 minor league numbers were the gawdiest and would lend some sex appeal to this article, but in fact, he did not belong in it.