Ryan Howard could miss the start of next season after the Phillies' slugger had surgery Wednesday to repair his torn Achilles' tendon. Howard ruptured his left Achilles' tendon while making the final out in Philadelphia's 1-0 loss to St. Louis last Friday night. "It's going to be five-to-six months from the surgery until he can play at his accustomed level," GM Ruben Amaro, Jr., said.