Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro defended the club's treatment of Ryan Howard in response to a report that questioned the use of cortisone on the star slugger last season. Philadelphia treated an injury to Howard's left foot last Sept. 18 with a cortisone shot, an ailment the club termed as bursitis. Less than three weeks later, Howard tore his left Achilles tendon while running to first base after his final at-bat of the season.