Ryan Howard Phillies say they have broken the Achilles tendon

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - First baseman Ryan Howard of the Phillies could miss the start of spring training and possibly part of the regular season after tearing an Achilles tendon.
The first power hit was injured on the last play of Philadelphia, which closed the season loss to St. Louis in Game 5 of the National League Division Series on Friday night, falling to run out of the box batting at the time.
The team said Saturday night that an MRI revealed a torn left Achilles tendon Howard.
"They can not have surgery until the inflammation resolves, and has not determined that the surgery is performed," said the Phillies in a statement. "The recovery time will not be known until after the surgery is complete, and there is no guarantee that will be ready for spring training."
Injuries of this type require at least six months of recovery. When soccer star David Beckham broke his Achilles tendon on March 14 last year, was shelved until September 11.
Voluntary reporting date for position players is in late February, and outdoor Phillies Pittsburgh on April 5, two days shy of six months after Howard got injured.
Howard, 2006 NL MVP, hit .253 with a team of high-33 and 116 homers this season to help Philadelphia win its fifth straight NL East title. The Phillies set a club record with 102 victories.
Howard was 2 to 19 (.105) with one homer and six RBIs in the National League playoffs against the Cardinals. The slugger went 0-4 at the end of the series, as Chris Carpenter pitched St. Louis to a 1-0 victory, ending with a surprising victory for the Phillies.
Philadelphia lefty Cole Hamels also said it has removed loose bodies in his left elbow surgery on Friday and again a week later to repair a hernia.
Right fielder Hunter Pence and second baseman Placido Polanco will both have an MRI to assess their hernias. Polanco is likely that surgery and examination will help determine what needs pence.
First baseman Ross Gload will probably be arthroscopic surgery on his right hip after being re-examined by Dr. Bryan Kelly.