Some Phillies Links for You, April 27, 2010: The Howard Investment, For What It's Werth

by WholeCamels on Apr 27, 2010 8:30 AM EDT

Baseball Prospectus | Ahead in the Count: Ryan Howard and the New MORP
Blogger Emeritus Matt Swartz breaks down the Ryan Howard contract (subscription req'd)

Phillies Notebook: Will Jayson Werth get new deal from Phillies? | Philadelphia Daily News | 04/27/2010
I'd like to think so, but I doubt it. They've got an awful lot tied up in Raul Ibanez for another year, and Shane Victorino.

Inside the Phillies: After Howard's extension, eyes turn to Werth, Rollins | Philadelphia Inquirer | 04/27/2010

Hitting instructor Milt Thompson compares Rollins to Rickey Henderson without the walks as a leadoff man.

That's funny, because I've been described as George Clooney without the charm, looks, and charisma.

High-priced trio complicates money matters for Phillies
Counting on an awful lot of health, too.

Phillies still have enough for Werth?
This would result in so much money tied up in just a few players. Players who are getting old.

Minor Leagues: BlueClaws defeat Grasshoppers, 8-6
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Adam Buschini's grand slam homer in the top of the fifth inning carried the Lakewood BlueClaws past the Greensboro Grasshoppers, 8-6, in the South Atlantic League on Monday.

Halladay hits bump, takes first loss | MLB.com: News
The Giants took an aggressive approach and swung early in the count against Halladay. I'm sure he'll learn and adjust.

Bucks artist presents Phillies manager Charlie Manuel with original oil
Wow. Can someone paint me yelling at people at work? I'd like that.

Washington Nationals Lose 4-3 In 10 To Chicago Cubs On Walk-off Walk. - Federal Baseball
Just when they start to look reasonably competent, something like this happens.

Fish Wrap - Marlins 10, Padres 1 - FishStripes
At least one NL East ace dominated on Monday night -- Josh Johnson struck out a career high 10 Padres and chipped in 3 RBIs of his own.

Renewed optimism abounds as Astros approach .500 | Baseball | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle
What a difference a Lance Berkman makes.

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This would result in so much money tied up in just a few players. Players who are getting old.

Count me firmly against a Werth extension, for precisely that reason. Werth is a great player who deserves a market-level deal as much as anyone else on the team, but the fact is that we’ve already tied up a ton of money in a bunch of the other guys and we shouldn’t tie up any more even if we can “afford” it. Unless you’re the Yankees, you don’t win in baseball by signing as many good players as you can, you win by maximizing value.

While I remain ambivalent for now about the Howard contract itself, the fact that John Gonzalez and Sam Donnellon came out strongly in favor of it this morning is pushing me strongly toward the opposition.

by taco pal on Apr 27, 2010 9:22 AM EDT reply actions

love this site, but i rarely post...

but one thing that’s been bothering me about the howard deal: who were the phillies competing against for ryan’s services?

by P. Incaviglia on Apr 27, 2010 9:26 AM EDT reply actions

That goes hand in hand with the query, “Why did the Phillies feel the need to do this now?” Both are excellent questions for which I have no answer.

by PhillyFriar on Apr 27, 2010 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s really where I come down. I just don’t see the numbers being all that more even if he had raked his way to the ASB, but they could have been less given the paltry walk rate and his proclivity toward early-season slumpin’ – to say nothing of waiting to see if he had made any adjustments to the “shift+soft stuff away, hard stuff inside, maximize lefties” defensive playbook that everyone has, and the Yankees perfected.

by Wet Luzinski on Apr 27, 2010 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Hitting instructor Milt Thompson compares Rollins to Rickey Henderson without the walks as a leadoff man.

I need the cult of
I need the cult of
I need the cult of
PER-SON-AL-IT-EEEEEEEE!

I’ve been compared to Faulkner without the tremendously long and complex syntax, fatalistic enmeshment with the Lost Cause, quasi-sociopathic sexual hangups, seersucker suits, or the bourbon.

by Wet Luzinski on Apr 27, 2010 5:52 PM EDT reply actions