He's Talented, Popular, and a Model Citizen; Pay Ryan Howard, Mr. Gillick
RYAN HOWARD is a former Rookie of the Year and a former Most Valuable Player, and last year, in an off year, mind you, he still crashed 47 homers and knocked in 136. Philadelphia has completely embraced him. He smiles a lot, never gets in trouble, and plays his ass off. Yet because he has been in the league for only a few years, Howard has to go the charade of salary arbitration.
Don't get me wrong. I know that $7 million, the amount Ryan will get if he loses his case, is a hell of a lot of money. But for all of the reasons enumerated above, it makes sense for both sides to put their heads together and hammer out a long-term deal. Let's not let yet another one of our stars feel underappreciated. He deserves the bump he's seeking, and the Phillies' fans deserve having a happy Howard playing first base for the next several years. Pay the man, Pat Gillick. S|C
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