Phillies Nation

This is a baddddd move by the Phillies. There was no need to give him 125 million. Pitching wins. We dont have any. Would of signed Lee and Halladay then rode out Howards contract. He will slow down and we will regret signing him til 37.

This group is special… without them, Harry doesn’t make his “Swing and a miss…” call that you hear on ringtones and radio broadcasts. I wrote this on the other post… when they were kicking our butts year after year, I admired the Braves for keeping their guys around. Glavine, Maddux and Smoltz were 3 of the top 10 highest paid players in baseball in the late 90′s. All of them stuck around in Atlanta until their better years were over because the Braves wanted them and they wanted to be there… they stuck around long enough to win pennant after pennant. Fast forward to the present… we are that team… let Ryan walk and you don’t know what you’re going to get. We have three potential HOF’ers in our infield… guys that came up through the system and stayed here. It would absolutely KILL me to see any one of them in any other uniform. So yes, I’m extremely happy with the news… I don’t care about what Howard may or may not be able to do on the back end of that deal and if we win a few more pennants, you won’t either. So Rube took a little risk by signing Howard to a 5 year deal; the guy has done NOTHING to indicate that he won’t continue to get better. He has developed into a phenomenal baseball player (not just a hitter). Many of you thought that there was no way that we could sign Howard long-term and he was only looking for the money… I’m hearing the same people saying the same thing about Werth. I’m not worried… if he wants to be here (and I think he does because this is the place where he needs to be in order to reach his potential) the Phillies will do whatever they can to keep him around.

Hahahaha. Nice one Repeat! When someone drags their sister into a baseball convo, its just hard to lay off the sister jokes. I’m sure you understand. I begrudgingly admire the Big Piece. Its funny because I think he calls his girl the Big Piece.

The Dipsy

Publius,
What kind of college could you have ever gone to and played baseball that allowed you to leave believing that there is no such thing as protection in hitting with baseball. Case in point the difference between the American league and the National league. Facing a DH vs. facing a pitcher is much harder because they have to face another strong hitter in the lineup and can not pitch around a decent hitter to get to a weak one. Just as this is often done, if a strong hitter is hitting behind another strong hitter, the pitcher must try to get each hitter out (rather than pitching around) allowing a higher possibility for the hitter taking advantage of a pitchers mistake. I am not sold on the Ryan Howard extension, but you even with sarcasim have no room to insult any one’s opinions with your clear non-intelligence of the sport.

Fangraphs and their stats really HATE this deal.

I don’t love it, but I don’t hate it… I really like that we keep him for $20 million for two extra years (2012-13), which I actually think will let us sign Werth until 2013/14… However, I really dislike the last year of the contract AND that ultra expensive buyout option ($10 million is insane)…we might end up paying $23/25 million for a 37-38 old player.

Overall, I’m pleased that we get to keep Howard in red pinstripes for a long time… despite the fact that there is a great deal of risk involved.

Howard, I believe, will be productive for a long time, despite what pundits say about his body type. Look at Jim Thome. I also believe that he has some lofty goals and understands that this is his opportunity to make history as an enormous hero in baseball.

I like that the Phils have Howard signed up but it is a year or two too many because of the risks involved with an aging baseball player.

Like most, I have mixed feelings on the Howard deal. The Phils are where they are (class of the NL, along with the Cards and Dodgers) because of Howard. He’s a producer and a likable guy (do you realy want Fielder or A-Rod as the face of your org?), and has already more than earned the extension. The Nat’l press treats Howard like Mo Vaughn, fat and sloppy, only a bat, yet each year his comes into camp in batter shape and a better defender. A gold glove probably isn’t in his future, but he is more than capable first baseman, and has shown the desire to continually improve in all facets of the game. Will he be the same player in year 5? Probably not. But he will finish out his prime in red pinstripes.

My biggest concern is that mikemike likes the deal – it is the first positive comment I’ve ever seen from him. Probably why Halladay lost last night.

I love how people come on here and say ibanez will be traded. Who is stupid enough to take on that contract??? pipe dreams. only way they can move him is if they eat most of contract. so it will effect werth status,if they stick to there budject. I can see mathieson and rosenberg being in the bullpen to help us, and saving money cause they are cheaper than danny baz and madson, but we need to have brown take over for ibanez,, and its aint happening unless we find a sucker.To take on ibanez contract.

I have no idea what the financials of the team are but the speculation fuels the conversation, right? But, spec terms of the contracts are public. Ibanez has a no trade clause, doesn’t he? Ok, I can’t figure out why – in the name of all that’s holy – this would’ve been signed, but it was, and it appears we gotta live w/this now. So, sh*t. Does anyone know about a reasonable way to deal w/Ibanez? I mean if Rube’s in a spending mood, well, let’s do it, buy him out or whatever. Bite the bullet and get it over with.

As for the Werth sit, I’m choosing to think the same as The Orig Chuck P. JDub will stick. Yeah yeah, he had lunch with Reggie but he IS a family friend & like it or not he’s also from Phila,lol (he talked to Howard that same day too). Of course RJ was putting in dibs for the Evil Empire but JDub’s no virgin to baseball or the business of it. Nobody has more baseball in his DNA. He expected the lunch invite. He also has an idea of what he’ll take from the front office to stay. I’ll get kicked for this – but I think he wants to stay & will take a deal. I heard him on Eskin (I know I know) during ST. Asked if this was his last season in Philly he said “Until you asked that I always thought I’d end my career in Philadelphia.” He sounded kind of weirdly bothered. Of course after that he said he’s prepared for anything here or anywhere. What else could he say?

Truth is – like him or not he’s arguably a 3 – 5 tool player (I say validly 4 tool). It’s stupid to lose him. He’s good w/the team & them w/him skills & personality-wise. Find a way to keep him.

I read your write up last week and I wanted to show it to my girl friend. I have been searching for this for hours and only now came across it.