Remove the Gloom

Can’t you almost feel the gloom lifting?

My, but there were some bleak months for Philadelphia recently. The Sixers lurched out the gate. Every single Flyer was hurt. The Phillies were throwing off pay-roll like the Marlins north. And the Eagles imploded.

Things aren’t so great now- but I honestly am more optimistic heading into 2006 then I was last year. In 2005, it was hard to anticipate any team outside the Eagles in Philadelphia winning a play-off round. Now, the Sixers seem to be getting organized- every two weeks is better then the two weeks preceeding. Webber & Iverson are healthy and seem to have found some workable ground. They have an excellent chance to win their division- and thus get a workable first round play-off opponent. The Phantoms- I kid of course, but seriously...- are probably the best team in the East now- racking up good wins despite missing key performers over Ottawa and Carolina in recent memory. The Eagles- well hey, it has got to be better. If nothing else, Westbrook and McNabb return to the top of the depth chart in like three days.

Only the Phils seem without real reason to hope for a good “win at least a play-off round” season as 2006 plays out. I have become a fan of PhilliesNation- but I have a bone to pick with their recent view to let Brett Myers play out this year without an effort toward a new deal. Not that I cannot sympathize- as for most of last year I couldn’t see Myers as a true top-of-the rotation starter.

But you know, he's made 100 starts the past three years and won almost 40. I wonder how many 25 year olds can say that currently?

Then I really start to think that maybe the Phillies shouldn't let him play out this year without a deal.

a. Let's say Myers wins 14-/15- games on an 83-win team. Honestly, he might be able to demand eight figures a year for five, six, seven years?

b. Let's say he's merely okay or gets hurt. As long as it is not catastrophic, he's still a marketable player as long as his contract numbers are not wholly insane. An above .500 pitcher under 30 is the most valuable commodity in baseball- short of Myers throwing his arm out, you are never going to be saddled with a "bad" Myers like Leiberthal or Thome.

I just can’t imagine Myer’s ever being impossible to move- even after a sub-par year. He’s young, healthy- and he a pretty sure bet to win double-digit games more often than not for half-a-decade. They gave Wolf the money- and he doesn’t have the stuff or health Myers does (yes, he is a lefty- so the bar is lower). I’d give Myers a deal too.