Is Howard For Real?

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it took Bob Horner only 390 games to hit the first 100 home runs of his career after he broke in with the Atlanta Braves in 1978, the quickest any hitter has reached that milestone since division play began in 1969.

Ryan Howard has hit 78 homers in his first 244 games in the majors. At that pace, he would need only 313 games to reach 100.

Howard, 26, hit his 54th bomb last night and has people wondering about how he has derived his power. In his first 110 major league games he hit 25 home runs, and hit 86 home runs in two seasons in Double and Triple -A

Howard is the man responsible for the Phils unloading Jim Thome and his enormous contract in the off-season. (photo/espn.com)