“I don’t know why everybody keeps talking about me clearing my head,” Howard said. “You want to tell them to go back and play a regular second base, that’s fine.”

Come on now Howard, we just want you to be back to normal form.

Well, he’s starting to get there. Since returning from the DL, Howard is hitting .296 with four homers and 12 RBIs in nine games. He’s back in MVP territory.

“It’s awesome to have his presence in the lineup,” Victorino said. “He brings an aura. You can feel the presence of him back in the lineup.”