Phillies Nation

34 Responses to “Drew’s Homer Sinks Eaton, Phils”

1. Tim Malcolm Says:
   May 7th, 2008 at 11:29 am

   I don’t want to hear “it’s only May 7″ from people: Ryan Howard looks completely lost and isn’t improving. On WIP one of the jocks said (and I paraphrase) “oh he’ll come around, he’s a great player.” Sorry, I don’t buy that logic. It’s here and now. It’s possible for a hitter to stop hitting well. He’s killing this team.

   Also, shout out to the bullpen, who was magnificent in at least keeping things close (2 hits in 4 innings). It’s a shame the offense couldn’t at least tie the game - they had a few chances.

2. Lewisauce Says:
   May 7th, 2008 at 11:48 am

   I don’t think anyone will take Howard in exchange for a bona-fide top of the rotation guy. But maybe somebody will take him off our hands for a bona-fide middle of the rotation guy. San Diego has an abundance of pitching, but no one that can hit. Maybe a team like that would be willing to do business?

   And as far as Eaton goes: He’s had a full season, a full spring training and a full seven starts. We need to simply conclude that he blows and throw him to the wolves. Give someone else a whack. Tim, would Durbin/Happ/Carrasco/Swindle/Bastardo really make you cringe more than Eaton? Can it really be that much worse? You can tell by Charlie’s statements that he’s had enough of the guy. So have I.

3. Tim Malcolm Says:
   May 7th, 2008 at 12:09 pm

   What makes me cringe (and I should’ve clarified) is the idea of bringing in prospects before they’re really ready to go. My choice would be to let Chad Durbin start and bring in Fabio Castro for the bullpen, either bringing down Condrey or Eaton.

4. Geoff Says:
   May 7th, 2008 at 12:12 pm

   I think if eaton has, well say two more bad starts before getting three more quality starts then you have to think about pulling the plug. Id think about pulling the plug on moyer but since the hitters he faces always jump at the first piece of junk he throws instead of being patient and making him throw you a home-run ball behind in the count then we have to wait for him to implode again. ive had enough of howard in teh 4 hole. get him to the back of the lineup or dont platy him at all. If keeps this up it will be impossible to trade him away, which it may already be. thats a frightening thought: maybe the time to trade him was THIS past winter?? that would mean they have no chance of getting near the value back that they couldve gotten in the fall. almost too scary to think about.

   howard isnt focused at all on his duties. he walks up with this arrogant smug look on his face, whiffs three times then struts back over to the bench while jawing at the umpire as if its someone elses fault he just swung at two pitches low and away and looked at one right down the middle.

5. Geoff Says:
   May 7th, 2008 at 12:14 pm

   If eaton blows the next start id make him skip a start and sit in the pen for a week. let durbin get a start. condrey should alreayd have been moved down for fabio castro. i cant put my finger on condrey, he just doesnt seem to have it. nothing sticks out as to why its just not there.

6. Bruce Says:
   May 7th, 2008 at 12:26 pm

   So after just 34 games you’re hopping on the bandwagon of critics (to be kind) here who wants to bench Howard or as a few suggests he be traded? His accomplishments for the team of the past three years mean anything? His track record AFTER April suggests anything?

   It seems I have a little more patience than most here especially with the team’s early success (19-15) thanks in part to their pitching (particularly the bullpen as you mentioned). I believe when Rollins returns it will add the needed dynamic and stability to the line-up and alter the opposition’s approach in pitching to the 3,4 and 5 hitters. With Rollins and Victorino as RISP, Utley, Howard and Burrell will have more chances for better pitches to hit.

   I’m all for constructive criticism and obviously it belongs here as part of this blogging site. However, I wish a few members here would tone down their rants and see things more logically in their criticism. I can better respond to those who don’t constantly dwell on the negatives and offer solutions/alternatives to certain issues with the team.

   Let’s go Phillies!

7. Geoff Says:
   May 7th, 2008 at 12:51 pm

   Well you have to wait to trade him now because you wont get anything. NOBODY wants a cleanup hitter that is making 10mm and hitting .167.

   im all for trading him away if you get a great package for him, but thats not happening anytime soon. well i think you have to try benching him legitimately (for more than half a game) and see if he can work it out afterwards

8. Geoff Says:
   May 7th, 2008 at 1:03 pm

   besides, if we were really going overboard, we would be asking for howard to be DFA’D!!!

9. Joe DiMaggio Says:
   May 7th, 2008 at 2:10 pm

   I don’t agree that no one will take a chance on Howard in exchange for a top starter. He would likely only be considered in a slump since we are talking about a young stud who was MVP two years ago.

   Don’t undersell the worth of Ryan Howard to teams looking for a power hitter to jump start their hitting like San Diego.

10. Geoff Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 2:40 pm

    yeah the old “there is always a team desperate enough..” rule applies in baseball as well as the nfl and nhl

11. Geoff Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 2:40 pm

    i was of course being fecetious earlier about the dfa things

12. Jason Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 3:43 pm

    I love how accomplishments THREE YEARS AGO win championships TODAY.

    If that was true shouldn’t have the Phillies at least made the playoff when Abreu won the Home Run Derby?

    Why do some think that this justifies poor preformances now? I ask ANYONE - if you suck at your job (provided you are not a weather man or you do not work for yourself) as much as Howard has this year (even if it is only for a month) and tell me you are not fired or demoted? I am a huge Howard fan but do not let the tears of nostalgia from THREE YEARS AGO ruin the vision for today! HE SUCKS!

    PS GEOFF WE ARE INTO MAY AND HE STILL HAS SUCKED

    PPS Howard stats in May 23 ABs , 3 Hits, 4 RBIs, .130 average - WOW WHAT A 4 HITTER!

13. Jason Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 3:43 pm

    SORRY NOT GEOFF but BRUCE FROM ABOVE - Geoff I apologize

14. Mike T. Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 4:02 pm

    Well said, Jason.

15. Todd H Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 4:03 pm

    re: Jason “I love how accomplishments THREE YEARS AGO win championships TODAY.

    If that was true shouldn’t have the Phillies at least made the playoff when Abreu won the Home Run Derby?”

    First off those two items aren’t the same. What Howard did three years during a seson has nothing to do with Bobby winning a HR Derby title during an exhibition.

    I’ve re-read what you wrote and it really seems to me that you don;t baseball. Are you one of those fans who starts the wave when the other team is up at bat?

    Howard will come around…and if he doesn’t he’s entitled to a bad year. It happens, it’s a part of the game!

    So Howard is having a poor/slow start to ‘08 and you want to trade him? That makes ZERO sense!

    You said above regarding the vision for today…well what vision do you have if YOU could trade Howard? What player(s) would you expect to get for him at an apparent low value?

16. Geoff Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 4:06 pm

    its ok. i get worked up on here too. to me ryan howard = eric lindros = donovan mcnabb = allen iverson. great players, but they dont necessarily win you a championship. they take up too much salary space and they always leave on bad terms. you know mcnabb isnt too happy with reid right now. ive been hard on mcnabb as well but he has no one to throw to that is elite so hell leave on bad terms too. besides, they need to make sure cole hamels stays around long-term. id rather them cough up the money for that than blow it on howard. assuming you buy into their little self imposed salary cap.

    big start for kendrick (seems like i say that every time) tonight. real teams can stop the bleeding after one loss and bounce back the next night so that losing streaks dont materialize. this is big tonight. you have to get to micah owings and knock him out early tonight. they need to keep the bats hot going into thursday with brandon webb taking the mound.

17. Jason Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 4:07 pm

    You need glasses - copy the line that I said trade him - I said he sucks - right now he does. He is not entitled to a bad year when he took the Phillies to arbitration and won for 10,000,000? How can you justify that? Does it not make you upset that he got all the money in the world for ONE YEAR and is now sucking? I thought in Philly we hated players like this? I thought we hated players who were overpaid and did not preform? If this is not true when did Philly become LA?

    The line about the Home Run derby was a joke retard.

18. Geoff Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 4:22 pm

    I agree that we cannot stand guys like this here. He got paid and just quit. He hasnt looked like hes even trying, Stand closer to the plate, start going the other way more, shorten the swing, etc. try some strange tactic to mix things up. he has done none of that. he just keeps going out there and hacking at junk. reminds me on that part in the natural where redford becomes like that with the evil girl and starts being jinxed and being a jackass.

19. Todd H Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 4:26 pm

    I see Jason…so like I asked you at the end of my post…what would you trade Howard for?

    If you’re suggesting that since he “sucks” to deal him after two months when he has shown, although not to this extent, to have bad pre-all star splits what would the Phillies get in return in your world?

    Also a note…if you;re going to jokingaly make fun or compare something in fun…make sure the two go together, if will add to the humor to compare apples with apples.

    Ok, so went to arbitration which is based on the PAST and POTENTIAL, but more on the PAST with salary and stats…again, two months in he isn’t anywhere close to A) Deserving that money and B) Being the player that has been for 3 years.

    As far as “typical” Phillies fans…or at the very least I don’t think ANYONE likes a player making millions and not performing, but that doesn’t mean we should get rid of him…not a big sample size of horrible stats is it?

20. Jason Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 4:27 pm

    I think the Phillies should go out and get Zito - because he won the Cy Young a couple of years ago - he is entitled to a bad year!

21. Jason Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 4:33 pm

    I would rather drop in the order and have him take extra batting practice and until he starts driving the ball the other way. If he fails to make adjustments sit hit this does tow things - sends him the message that complacency will not be tolerated and it also sends the message to players like Cole Hamels (who also complained about money this spring) that the Phillies will not tolerate players who think they do not have to make adjustments because they are being paid.

    Trading does little right now - however, I do not think he will resign with the Phillies nor do I think the Phillie will offer him a contract with the number of years and the dollar amount he wants. Therefore, this discussion is not so much should the Phillies trade but rather when?

22. Jason Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 4:40 pm

    A legit question - next year with Howard’s contract. Say the two sides go to arbitration again, is it possible for the Phillies to pay Howard less then he is making this year? Or because Howard is already making 10 mill this year, the Phillies would have to pay at least that amount?

23. Todd H Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 4:43 pm

    Geoff:

    You know I also will include Jason on this one…let me try to see were the both of you are coming from.

    Howard has had three years of success in the majors. He went to arbitration after last season and won, going from 900,000 a year to 10 million for this year only. Again…10 million FOR THIS YEAR ONLY!

    So to suggest that he got his money and quit than I guess you’re in some way suggesting that his is his last year in the majors. He is still playing for contract as after this year it could go back to arbitration.

    Sometimes I wish people would give a little thought to what they write before it’s written!

24. Mike W. Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 4:43 pm

    No it’s 100% possible for him to be paid less. That’s part of the risk that the player takes by going year to year in arbitration, instead of signing long term.

25. Todd H Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 4:45 pm

    re: Jason Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
    “I think the Phillies should go out and get Zito - because he won the Cy Young a couple of years ago - he is entitled to a bad year!”

    Ok funny guy…”you need glasses”…I said a bad YEAR..not entitlied to bad YEARS!

26. Jason Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 4:50 pm

    Todd you are sticking up for Howard like the ‘H’ in your last name stands for Howard - are you two related? You seem to be taking the criticism of Howard personal.

    I think the point people are making is not that Howard is a bad player - but right now he is not playing to the level that justifies his contract - even if it is only one year. I think Howard could be a HOF player but right now it is frustrating to watch a player that seeming (and from our vantage point it SEEMS) like he is not making the adjustments that are needed. Therefore, right now he sucks.

    Todd you are placing A LOT of HOPE that he will come out of this slump - what if he does not?

27. Todd "Howard" Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 4:57 pm

    It’s not personal, it’s just not a big sample size to say to trade him, maybe you haven’t said that today…but others have. That’s the simpleton approach a very myopic way to go about things.

    If he doesn’t came around this year…so be it. He should take less money next year and re-prove him self.

    My point is that Howard has shown in his pre and post all-star splits to be a better hitter post-all star game. He is having a season much like Burrell did a few years ago…after a while it got in his head how he wasn’t hitting. Hopefully Howard looks at tape of himself this year and from the past and makes the adjustments.

    Since I’m going to tonights game…Howard will hit a Homer! Bets anyone?

    Howard / Utley ‘08
    For the Good of the Nation!

28. Jason Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 5:05 pm

    I also HOPE that Howard is having a Burrell-like year.

    Go Phils - no bet because last time after being benched Howard hit a home run. Tonight is a huge game - someone said early that good times do not let a bad game extend into two bad games.

    PS Liber gave up 4 HRs today

29. Todd "Howard" Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 5:16 pm

    You hope that Howard is having a Burrell-like year?

    I was talking about when Pat hit .209 in ‘03. You hope Howard has that type of year? Seeming of course your response at 5:05 was for what I said…

    I saw Lieber’s stat line today as well…glad I had Joey Votto starting!

30. Bill Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 5:17 pm

    Feliz very well may have cost the Phillies the game last night with that baserunning mistake. I hope Charlie let him have it about it. As far as Howard goes, trading him is not the answer right now. He just needs to figure out what the problem is and solve it.

31. Jason Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 5:20 pm

    Sorry I am hoping that Howard has a year like Burrell did last year.

32. Lewisauce Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 6:23 pm

    I’m not rabidly saying “Trade Howard! He sucks!” I don’t think anyone on here is actually that stupid.

    But here’s the thing. This team is doing pretty well offensively without him right now. If Jimmy comes back and stays healthy, and if the other guys play to their potential, maybe we’ll be pretty good offensively without him.

    Pitching wins championships. Right now, the Phils look like a playoff caliber team. But can they win a playoff series? More importantly (and people are gonna hammer me for this, but we need to think about it), I want all of you to think long and hard about this question:

    Can this Phillies team legitimately compete for a world championship?

    My answer: No, not with this rotation. The bullpen looks solid. The offense will be fine. But Hamels is somewhat injury prone. I’d pit Myers against anyone if it’s really Myers, but you never know when his evil twin is going to show up. Eaton’s a goddamn joke and we all know it. Kendrick is a good AAAA pitcher. I love Moyer, but he’s a bottom of the rotation guy.

    So picture yourself as Pat Gillick. You know there’s a team or two (Oakland? San Diego?) that is willing to part with a solid middle of the rotation guy, and that desperately needs a power hitter. I think you have to consider every possibility to make this team better. I’m just saying that maybe, maybe, the Phils package Howard and Eaton (we might be able to sell Eaton to someone under the “a change of scenery will help him” umbrella), eat some of Eaton’s contract, and get a starting pitcher and maybe a prospect.

    I really don’t think this is insane. I think it’s worth considering.

    Thoughts?

33. Sean Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 7:05 pm

    Howard is slowing this team down. He should split first base with Coste or Dobbs. Ryan is a great player but he takes forever to find his hot stick. Trade him

34. chris m Says:
    May 7th, 2008 at 7:20 pm

    howard and his dewrag suck…..howard soo hood

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