19 Days 'til Pitchers and Catchers

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Truth be told, the Eagles gave us a few more weeks of football than most of us expected this season. It was a pretty exciting run down the stretch and a bit disappointing to see it come to an end. But before you blink twice we'll be reading bylines from Clearwater, Florida. By my estimates it's about 19 days until pitchers and catchers report to officially start the defense of the WFC.

Bill Conlin takes a look today at the early favorite for the fifth spot in the rotation. He likes Chan Ho Park's chances the best.

He sets the odds as such:

Chan Ho Park, RHP2-1

J.A. Happ, LHP5-2

Carlos Carrasco, RHP10-1

Kyle Kendrick, RHP20-1

Adam Eaton, RHP200-1

A quick look at that list makes you scratch your head about Kyle Kendrick. Sure, he came out of nowhere and performed amazingly in his first season but his demise happened rather rapidly. I distinctly remember Mitch Williams gushing over this kids composure early last season.

It will be a joy not to have to deal with Adam Eaton in 2009.

Elsewhere on the web we find Scott Lauber discussing Ryan Howard's arbitration case with arb expert Maury Brown.

"The stakes are so much higher," he said. "Teams are in a bunker
mentality. They have no idea what revenues are going to be like. When
Manny isn't getting a third year, it's a problem. After winning the
World Series, the Phillies are kind of in the catbird seat. But is
Howard worth more than what Pujols is making, given the state of the
economy? It may boil down to whether they can make a case that Howard
has more upside [than Pujols]."

Of course, the sides still could
avoid a hearing by reaching a one-year settlement or striking a
multiyear deal. That seems unlikely based on previous contract
discussions. Howard is believed to be seeking at least $200 million in
a long-term deal
.

Remember how crazy people thought the Phillies were to put something together in the mid-100 millions for Alfonso Soriano? Could you ever imagine the Phillies offering a $200+ million deal to anyone? Even someone as skilled and important to the club as Howard? I don't see that happening. Maybe ever.

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