Comments on: Follow-Up: Howard Deal Shakes Phillies’ Foundation

By: MDefl

MDefl — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 15:18:28 +0000

Also, imagine what Howard will get in arbitration next year if he has a year that is in between 06 and 07. Let’s say 54 hr’s and 145 RBI’s with a 280 to 290 ba. He would probably get $20m in arbitration. It makes no sense to let him continue to kick the Phils butts in arbitration.

By: MDefl

MDefl — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 15:16:06 +0000

The fact is that ownership is making a ton of $ on the Phils. They CAN afford to sign everyone. In addition, the Comcast deal is expiring in the next year or 2 (I think) and the Phils will see a significant revenue increase in revenue with the next contract.

Chase Utley is signed through 2013 or 14. He is locked in but he signed for less than market value. Rollins is locked through 2011. If the Phillies management and the invisible owners had any brains, they would sign Howard to a 7 year 150 to 160m deal and be done with it. If they wait until 2011, he will command, even at 32, 200m over 7 years.

The Phils are making too much money to not lock him up. If they do not, then I think they would not resign Rollins in 2011. By 2013 The Bank will be a ghost town. Sign him now! Also, please stop using Amaro as the front man. He is the most annoying person in baseball.

By: Sebastian

Sebastian — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 05:21:42 +0000

As much as I hate to say it, our best hope for future sustainability is that Howard whiffs as much this year as last and has a down year before he becomes a free-agent so that we can lock him up for the long haul. But I think the problem is going to be that Howard, Rollins, Utley and King Cole can’t all get the long-term payouts that they will eventually command: not in Philly, at least. And who knows what will happen if Burrell continues streaking from the second half of last year. I fear that we will always be locked into the underdog role. Maybe Gillick’s replacement will have something else to say on the matter, and maybe management has found a roster that they’re willing to go all the way with consistently, but I doubt it.

By: PHILLIES #1 Fan

PHILLIES #1 Fan — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 03:08:59 +0000

Heard Howard uses HGH

By: GregLuzinskiIsCrying

GregLuzinskiIsCrying — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:41:49 +0000

Great News Sports fans!!!!!!!!!

Tim you make an excellent point about the phillies being at the crossroads. They need to think very hard about what they will do next, compete with payroll ala kansas city, or bump it up to NY,Boston, LA spending?

Im betting they stay the same and start trading the players 1 year before they start to decrease in value. I feel for you fans, as sports fans sitting in a big market with small market owners. You have the core of a very good team, and could go to 140M or so and get outstanding pitching, and dominate, but the ownership will never do that. You know that and thats sad.

As a mets fan, I’m ecstatic. Ryan Howard is a monster, you know it and I know it, and all of your bloggers have put forth scenarios where they trade Howard for prospects, and players, acknowledging they will lose him. How can u be fans of a team when you know your team will trade your best players rather than pay them what they are worth and give the team a fair chance at competing year after year. Say what you want about the Wilpons, but they will spend for a good team, and they want to win, not just make money.

How can these teams have a meaningful rivalry whjen you wont spend any money to keep the teams competitive. Howard will be tradedbefore 2011, same with Utley and Rollins.

That is just sad

By: Sean P.

Sean P. — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:33:55 +0000

I think the Phillies should stop thinking about signing Howard until 2010, and just go to arbitration each year. At least he’ll be getting paid what he’s worth year to year. A long term deal is already elevated to a point where the Phils aren’t willing to pay. If he is still a great player thats commanding enormous amounts of money at the end of 2010 and he only cares about making the money and isn’t willing to work with the Phils, then trade him. There would probably be lots of teams willing to give up their farm system for a spectacular player like Ryne Howard, even at 32.