Ryan Howard hopes to begin an official rehab assignment in the next week. The Phillies first baseman said he sets smaller goals for himself and his current goals include being able to run the bases and play defense comfortably. Howard, who has not yet played this season after rupturing his left Achilles in the National League Division Series in October, has been in playing in simulated games and facing pitching in Clearwater. "I'm very optimistic, looking at hopefully being able to start a rehab assignment here, hopefully in the next week or so," Howard said. "So then I can actually get back to out playing games and starting to get out there on the field and working my way up to Philadelphia."