Ridin’ in style

Philadelphia Inquirer baseball writer Jim Salisbury spent some time in New Jersey yesterday, watching Ryan Howard and Roger Clemens play in separate rehab assignments.

Salisbury came away with a few colorful anecdotes from the games, including one about how the Philies single-A team had to scrounge for a jersey that would fit Howard, and another about how the kid catching Clemens gave up his uniform number to the future Hall of Famer.

But one anecdote caught my eye more than the others.

From the Inquirer:

Howard arrived for his assignment in style - a team-sponsored limo. Clemens showed up for his in a luxury coach bus.

Now, we all know Clemens is traveling through the minor leagues on John Madden’s bus. He’s livin’ large. No news there. But Howard is riding in a team sponsored limo?

If I was a multimillionaire professional ballplayer rehabbing in the minors with a bunch of guys who are probably making less than your average gas station attendant, I think I’d feel pretty silly pulling up to the stadium in a limo. That’s like showing up to do Habitat for Humanity in a Corvette. It’s just a little tacky, isn’t it?

If I were Howard, I think I would have told the Phils to just call me a cab. Or I’d see if John Lieber would let me borrow his car.