Will Ryan Howard Win His Arbitration Case?

Ryan Howard is going after another recordin salary arbitration. But, do his numberswarrant his asking figure of $18 million? There?s little denying that Ryan Howard has been a league-leader since being called up from the minors. NL Rookie-of-the Year in 2005, NL MVP and All-Star in 2006, 5 in NL MVP voting in 2007, and 2nd in NL MVP voting last year, he?s racked up a collection of awards. To back up the awards, Howard has accumulated more home runs and RBIs than any player the past three seasons. Howard has been prodigious with the power-bat, as well, posting 150 career homers in fewer ABs than any player in history. He?s garnered the largest contract for a first time salary arbitration eligible player in history when a panel of arbitrators selected his figure over the Phillies in a hearing last year, thus being awarded his $10 million asking figure. In the arbitration game, there is no selection by the panel in-between the figures. It's a selection between club and player fig...