How Much Green Will Ryan Howard Get?

Inquirer Phillies beat writer Todd Zolecki — one of my fave local beat guys — writes today about the Phillies and Ryan Howard. While the Phils made deals with Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson, the 2006 MVP remains unsigned and has filed for salary arbitration. (Don’t worry; he can’t become a free agent ’til 2011.)

Howard’s agent and the Phillies were unable to reach an agreement last year on a long-term deal, so the club re-upped him for a cool $900,000. Although roughly $950,000 less than I make, Howard wasn’t all that happy with the deal of playing baseball for just under a million. He came into camp overweight and had a bit of a disappointing season, I guess, although he still hit 47 homers. (He also set the MLB strikeout record with 199.)

Howard could get around $7 million to play for the Phillies this year, Zolecki guesses any long-term deal would have to be better than Chase Utley’s seven-year, $85 million deal and Albert Pujols’ seven-year, $100 million contract. Maybe Howard can stuff his face full of money so he won’t say “It is what it is” ever again. Ditto Kyle Kendrick. At this point, the only way to stop sports stars from saying “It is what it is” might be to pay them.

In other Phillies news, John Kruk is going to be on Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

John Kruk: Basis For ‘The Lockhorns’?

This commercial for Nutri-System has been running during football games, and it features a bunch of hall of famers — Dan Marino, Steve Young, Don Shula - and, oddly enough, Steve Beuerlein. (Who isn’t a hall of famer.)

It also has John Kruk, who shows here that marriage isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Breaking News: John Kruk Trapped In A Passionless Farce Of A Marriage [Badminton Stamps]
The Lockhorns [Seattle P-I]