Ryan Howard’s newfound approach at the plate is producing tremendous results seven games into the season.

The slugger is on pace to have a career year. The home runs (three) and RBIs (11) are typical, but what’s going on with that batting average?

Howard is batting .375 (12-for-32) with a .412 on-base percentage. Again, it’s early, but it’s hard not to be impressed with Howard’s numbers so far.

More impressive, Howard has three hits the opposite way to left field. He had a total of nine all of last year.

He has only four strikeouts in 32 at-bats, a tremendous ration for a guy whose averaged 190 Ks since his MVP year in 2006.

If Howard continues to rake, driving the ball to all fields, the Ryan Howard Shift will cease to exist.

Who can we thank for Howard’s emergence as a complete hitter? Barry Bonds.

Yes, the Barry Bonds.

In January, Howard worked out with Bonds for four days in Tampa, Fla.

“For me, it was about trying to learn,” Howard recently told reporters. “I wanted to learn what it was that he did over his career. I was just sitting back and listening. A lot of the things that he taught me were basically staying with basics for the most part…”