2013 Phillies & Charlie Manuel

[Caligula]

You're right Caligula. Rueben waited too long to move Howard and now, unless somebody gets a stiffy for him, we are stuck with that awful contract for its duration.

The right time to move him was before that contract, which Ruben wasn't going to do. I have no idea how he looked at Howard, looked at his numbers, and thought that contract was a good idea.

 

[Omar 382]

The right time to move him was before that contract, which Ruben wasn't going to do. I have no idea how he looked at Howard, looked at his numbers, and thought that contract was a good idea.

the contract was signed in april 2010, so i wouldn't say that looking at howard's numbers should have told ruben to not sign howard, but rather the nature of the beast. obviously, howard had a great '06-'09, there's no debating that. but look at power hitting first baseman of howard's statue. they almost all break down in their early to mid 30's. look at mo vaughn. look at cecil fielder. look at travis hafner (even though he's a DH). that's why ruben should have known the contract was a bad idea

 

[Retroram52]

After the '09 season I was thinking that would be a good time to move Howard but Rueben said no and the ugly contract appeared. Now he is stuck and there is now a waiting game unless someone is willing to want Howard and the Phils will pay a portion of the salary then it might go. But unless you are Jim Thome, I doubt if that scenario is going to fly either.

 

[SickFelonIsGOAT]

If I was the Phillies, I would pay half of Howard's contract if it meant getting rid of him. You could have a cheap replacement for him in Ruf for the next couple years. Just look at it like you are paying Ruf 12 mil/year for the next 4 years if they really believe he can be the guy here.

 

[Caligula]

If I was the Phillies, I would pay half of Howard's contract if it meant getting rid of him. You could have a cheap replacement for him in Ruf for the next couple years. Just look at it like you are paying Ruf 12 mil/year for the next 4 years if they really believe he can be the guy here.

Gonna have to pay more than half at this point for a .786 OPS that can't move, run the bases well, AND is injury prone.

 

[SickFelonIsGOAT]

Gonna have to pay more than half at this point for a .786 OPS that can't move, run the bases well, AND is injury prone.

Even to an AL team where he could DH?

 

[Caligula]

Even to an AL team where he could DH?

List all the teams that would be willing to have a 33-34 year old DH, with average power, can't hit lefts, can't get on base, can't hit for average, and has $85+ million left on his contract.

The Phillies would have to eat 75% of that contact AND get nothing in return.

 

[Retroram52]

Sounds like something the Yankees would bite on. lol. Didn't they go after Raul when he was just about toastola?

 

[Caligula]

Sounds like something the Yankees would bite on. lol. Didn't they go after Raul when he was just about toastola?

They signed him to a one year $1.1 million contract as a bench player. So, it's a little different than taking on $85 million over the next 3-4 years. And Raul has one less home runs this season than Howard has had in the last two seasons combined.

 

[Retroram52]

Great numbers Caligula. Because communication with a computer lacks voice and speech prosody, you would have not known I was using satire to be facetious. But you are right. We are pretty much stuck with Howard and his lead-weight contract.

 

[Caligula]

Great numbers Caligula. Because communication with a computer lacks voice and speech prosody, you would have not known I was using satire to be facetious. But you are right. We are pretty much stuck with Howard and his lead-weight contract.

Oh, thank god. I was concerned you were serious. I was like "great, I'm gonna end up calling this person a tarded asshat, which might get me banned within the first week."

 

[Retroram52]

lol. Tarded asshat??? That is a new one for me! lol. I've seen dipshit, dumbass, stupid fuck, little turd, big turd. Let's see, this is turning out to be the seven words you can't say on T.V. lol. Good stuff Caligula.

 

[SickFelonIsGOAT]

It is possible. Maybe right now, because he is at the lowest selling point of his career, but he needs to show some of his old power when he comes back.

 

[Caligula]

It is possible. Maybe right now, because he is at the lowest selling point of his career, but he needs to show some of his old power when he comes back.

That isn't going to happen. He is a high strikeout, low OBP player than can't hit lefties, and hits into the shift. Howard has a TON of problems and he can't stay healthy.

 

[SickFelonIsGOAT]

That isn't going to happen. He is a high strikeout, low OBP player than can't hit lefties, and hits into the shift. Howard has a TON of problems and he can't stay healthy.

What else can you tell me? Since you know everything.

 

[Caligula]

I can tell you that they are stuck with Howard's contract and that the Howard's "old power" is not coming back.

 

[Retroram52]

I agree Caligula. He was hitting better before the knee this season and getting an occasional homer, but for the most part, his old power is pretty much history.

 

[navamind]

Howard's power numbers have been declining for years.

Ryan Howard » Graphs » ISO » Batting | FanGraphs Baseball

 

[Frizzle]

Another mess....

Won't be wasting anymore cash on Phils merchandise or tickets till Ruben changes the core players out... OR Ruben is fired.

 

[Retroram52]

Frizzle. I am hoping brain-dead and Charlie both are shown the door. This team needs a shake-up from top to bottom.