I'll start off with our plump green fuzzy homeboy the Philly Phanatic being named sports' best mascot ever. Growing up a Phillies fan I always loved the Phanatic's playful shenanigans and to this day still appreciate the humor he brings to the ball field. Glad to see he got top honors in Sports Illustrated's poll and on Forbe's list, because if Mr. Met would have won I'd have severed that dumbass baseball head right off his shoulders.
Eric Bruntlett and Ryan Howard aren't too happy with the Phillies front office right now. Why? The Phils brass is low-balling them. Newly acquired utility man Bruntlett is asking for 800k and the Phils are offering 550k...I think a compromise can be made here at 725k. Howard's situation is a bit more hairy, where the Phils don't really care if they piss off Bruntlett because he's likely packing his bags after the '08 season anyway, but Howard is a dude that should be kept happy because they want him around for the long haul. Ryan wants $10 million (which would be a record for 1st year arbitration eligible players) and the Phils countered with $7 million (which is actually respectable considering Howard's 1st year of eligibility). There's no denying Howard's talent, which is prolific power. We all know he has stonehands at 1st and is a record setter for k's, but there's no way in hell I want him being traded away for magical beans in a couple years because we can't lock him up long-term. Right now offer him an Utley-like contract (7 years $85 million) and hope he accepts. *I need to note that the Phils aren't being cheapskates with their proposal, those penny-pinching years are in the past. MLB has a salary structure set up for arbitration based on years (for example the more experienced, and every bit as good if not better than Howard, Miguel Cabrera just got $11.3 million from the Tigers); they also apply this with slots in the amateur draft. If the Phils were to go crazy and give Howard the $10 million he wants in good faith, believe me the rest of MLB would be angry.
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Eric Bruntlett and Ryan Howard aren't too happy with the Phillies front office right now. Why? The Phils brass is low-balling them. Newly acquired utility man Bruntlett is asking for 800k and the Phils are offering 550k...I think a compromise can be made here at 725k. Howard's situation is a bit more hairy, where the Phils don't really care if they piss off Bruntlett because he's likely packing his bags after the '08 season anyway, but Howard is a dude that should be kept happy because they want him around for the long haul. Ryan wants $10 million (which would be a record for 1st year arbitration eligible players) and the Phils countered with $7 million (which is actually respectable considering Howard's 1st year of eligibility). There's no denying Howard's talent, which is prolific power. We all know he has stonehands at 1st and is a record setter for k's, but there's no way in hell I want him being traded away for magical beans in a couple years because we can't lock him up long-term. Right now offer him an Utley-like contract (7 years $85 million) and hope he accepts. *I need to note that the Phils aren't being cheapskates with their proposal, those penny-pinching years are in the past. MLB has a salary structure set up for arbitration based on years (for example the more experienced, and every bit as good if not better than Howard, Miguel Cabrera just got $11.3 million from the Tigers); they also apply this with slots in the amateur draft. If the Phils were to go crazy and give Howard the $10 million he wants in good faith, believe me the rest of MLB would be angry.
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