Posted: Monday, January 26, 2009, 12:05 PM | 34 comments |
 

Who Is Tal Smith?
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Tal Smith lost his last salary arbitration case to Ryan Howard. Smith may get another shot at Howard next month.

There remains a chance the Phillies and Ryan Howard agree on a new contract before they hit the salary arbitration table next month.

But it seems more likely the Phillies will be arguing why Howard deserves only $14 million, while Howard will be arguing why he's worth $18 million. Why do I think they'll end up back at the arbitration table? Well, they're $4 million apart. That's quite a gap. And if Howard is asking for $18 million, he must feel pretty confident he can win $18 million from the arbiter. He had that confidence last year when he asked for $10 million. In other words, Howard isn't afraid to battle the Phillies. He isn't afraid to lose. He's willing to stick with what he believes he deserves. I don't think that changes. And his case doesn't seem to have gotten any weaker knowing he led the majors last season in home runs and RBIs.  But do the Phillies have a better chance this time? You would think they learned from last year's loss, so maybe they feel they have a stronger case with their $14 million offer.

Jim Salisbury takes an interesting look at the man who is going to be arguing the case for the Phillies: Tal Smith.

*

Frank Fitzpatrick wrote about travelling to Clearwater for spring training in Sunday's Travel section. He mentions some tips for autograph seekers. I have a few tips for autograph seekers, too:

  • Try early mornings before workouts and afternoons after workouts or games outside the players' parking lot at Bright House Networks Field. Of course, you'll have to compete with the professional "fans" who are there every day, getting memorabilia to sign to sell on ebay. These professional autograph seekers ruin it for everybody because players see the same people there every day. It makes them less inlined to sign. (You can always tell the fans from the pros because fans want a glove or ball or hat signed. Pros show up with three or four binders full of cards, six or seven bats, etc.)
  • Down the left-field line at Bright House is a good spot.
  • Don't yell, "Sign for my kid! Come on, it's my kid's birthday!" Players hear that constantly. Kenny Lofton once congratulated a fan for telling him that it was his birthday. It was kind of rude, but like Chris Rock once said, I understand.
  • Be respectful of their time. When they're taking BP or doing drills, they can't sign. When they can't get to you, don't get nasty.
  • In other words, don't be rude. Seems simple enough.
Posted by Todd Zolecki @ 12:05 PM  Permalink | 34 comments
34
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:20 PM, 01/26/2009
    Howard will most likely not back down from an arbitration hearing. The only way to avoid it would be for the 2 sides to agree on a long-term deal for A-Rod type money..... The Mets have a better chance of not choking than that happening before Howard reaches free agency.
    — Sully
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:23 PM, 01/26/2009
    Where is Todd AND can he sign my kid's autograph book (it's his birthday) ?
    — J C
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:37 PM, 01/26/2009
    The money Texeira (sp?) got will justify Howard getting his $18million. There isnt a better first baseman/clean up hitter in the baseball. That being said, if the Phils are offering anything close to 3/$54million, I cant see Howard not taking it. But, I dont begrudge Howard going for his.
    — Master Dreamz
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:07 PM, 01/26/2009
    I don't begrudge Howard for trying to get as much money as he can, I know I would. However, you can't fault the organization for trying to hold their own on him. His numbers have gone down each year, even though he led the league this past season in HR and RBI - his production is down from a year ago. His HR and RBI totals are about equal from '07 to '08, but he had 80 more at bats in '08. All of his other stats were down, inluding avg, OB%, Slugging %, Walks and Intentional Walks.
    — Gary Varsho
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:15 PM, 01/26/2009
    I guess Todd won't be signing the 25 copies of the Inquirer I bought after the World Series.
    — NJLouis66
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:21 PM, 01/26/2009
    Tod, why are you leaving the Inky?
    — wingslax35
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:49 PM, 01/26/2009
    And don't forget to bring plenty of baseballs, if that's what you want autographed. You never know who you might see, besides players. The broadcast team, media ,etc, who are also more than willing to stop and sign. Last year, my 28 year old son saw Harry Kalas talking to someone in the dugout during workouts. As Harry was starting to leave, my son called out "Mr. Kalas! Do you mind signing my ball." Of course, Harry was happy to oblige, and then was mobbed by autograph seekers! Sorry Harry! And yes, my son actually called him "Mr. Kalas". I thought that was pretty classy! Guess I raised him right.
    — Norma
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:56 PM, 01/26/2009
    Once games begin, the best place is inside the picnic section. You are sectioned off from the crowds in the grandstands and it's a much, much calmer atmosphere. In 2007 and 2008 we met and got autographs from everyone. My kids think I am the best dad in the world. The players tend to linger longer and make multiple stops. I even had a conversation with a certain beat reporter while standing in the picnic section. They only sell the seats to large groups until you get very close to game day. Call the ticket office.
    — Joe in Haddonfield
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:22 PM, 01/26/2009
    Norma, you have a 28 year old son? I thought you were around 28
    — jeff gross
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:35 PM, 01/26/2009
    Can't be true, I met Norma and she doesn't look a day over 30. OK, maybe 31. LOL!
    — jimmymack
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:59 PM, 01/26/2009
    jeff...Thanks, I guess! My son was 28 LAST year. Actually he'll be turning 30 the end of April. YIKES! We're having a big celebration at CBP at the May 2 game. If anyone is going to be at that game, let me know. The more the merrier. Jimmy...."LOL" is right!!! When will you be in Clearwater? We'll be down 3/12-3/15.
    — Norma
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:48 PM, 01/26/2009
    The mere fact that the Phils hired the same guy who lost last year's arbitration hearing indicates that they thought that Tal Smith did a good job of presenting the case for paying Ryan Howard $7 million last year. The thing that bothers me is that I thought Ryan and his family were really upset about how Tal Smith's people presented their case. I can't help thinking that last year's arbitration process had something to do with Ryan's lousy April in '08. This year we can't expect Pat Burrell (not a Phil anymore) or Chase Utley (coming off hip surgery and won't be 100%) to carry this team this April. Without a healthy, fully-focused Ryan Howard, we could end up going back to the Aprils of old (10 wins- 14 losses) and play catch up for the rest of the season. I hope they can settle this whole thing before it gets to an arbitrator. But then again, maybe Ryan will always be that bad in April. I hope not.
    — Erich H
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:14 AM, 01/27/2009
    Todd's leaving for the same reason Ryan Howard will hold out every single year; $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
    — frankatlasalle
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:51 AM, 01/27/2009
    Newspapers are getting hammered everywhere. MLB is hot (new TV network, player salaries on the rise even in tough economy). Good move Todd.
    — NJLouis66
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:54 AM, 01/27/2009
    I assume TOdd is moving to get national exposure. He is a great writer who brings insight to teh game and "speaks" at the fan's level. I'll miss him here, and will have to bite the bullet and log in to MLB.com every day now. Gonna miss you. As a farewell gift: Let's go Brewers!!!!! (I'll never say that again so copy/paste it to your screen saver)
    — jeff gross


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About Matt Gelb and Bob Brookover












Bob Brookover and Matt Gelb team up for their third straight season covering the Phillies for the Inquirer and philly.com.

This is Brookover’s second stint writing about the Phillies, having joined the coverage team after seven years as an Eagles beat writer. Brookover was hired by The Inquirer in 2000 as the Phillies beat writer after spending 13 years writing about the team for two suburban newspapers. While on the Eagles beat, Brookover, who had covered just two winning Phillies teams in 15 seasons, saw the Phillies move into a cash-cow new ballpark and begin playing a brand of the game he found unrecognizable. Follow him on Twitter here.

Gelb is in his third season covering the Phillies. He was hired by The Inquirer in August 2009 after graduating from Syracuse University. He has also covered baseball at The Star-Ledger and Cape Cod Times. Born and raised in Bucks County, he attended Central Bucks High School West. Follow him on Twitter here.
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