Alas, another Eagles season is upon us as the unofficial start to the season begins today when veterans are expected to report to Lehigh.
Another season and another controversy.
Unless you've been hiding out in the Pinelands you are aware that one Brian Westbrook is the latest disgruntled member of your Philadelphia Eagles.
Word is he wants 3 years and $30 million, but the Eagles can only offer him $10 million because under the collective bargaining agreement they can only tack up to $10 million more on his existing contract. He wants more money now so an extension isn't in the cards. What doesn't make sense to me is why the Eagles can't just give him an extension that includes a $20 million guarantee. Players sign contract extensions all of the time.
I'm not buying this business that the Eagles can only pay so much. There is no rule against signing a player to a contract extension while he still has years remaining on his deal. Hell, the Eagles do it all of the time with younger players. How many times have they locked up a younger player like Trent Cole or Shawn Andrews who is just a year or two into their deal for an extension? They do it all of the time.
What the Eagles are doing here is playing both sides. They're trying to tell the fans that they want to give him more money, but can only give him so much because of stipulations. What they're not telling the fans is that they could sign him to a contract extension. But, the propagandists out there will come up with an excuse as to why they can't do that.
I think his demands of $30 million over 3 years are ludicrous, but giving him an extension with $20 million in guaranteed money is unreasonable or unrealistic.
From what I'm hearing he'll get around $25 million. We shall see.
Players have to report by 7 PM tonight. The clock is ticking...
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Phillies lose to Mets 6-3
And, let's turn our attention to the Phillies who lost this game as soon as Jose Reyes launched Ryan Madson's pitch over the wall to right center field.
How badly do you want to see Reyes break his ankle now after that awful celebration last night? He's becoming a player I love to hate.
Certainly Brett Myers pitched poorly last night. He didn't get lit up (allowed 3 earned runs) but he walked five batters, had three strikeouts, what was really alarming is the fact that he threw 49 strikes and 46 balls. Those are numbers that a rookie should have, not a veteran pitcher who has on his resume a pair of seasons in 2005 and 2006, where he went 13-8 and 12-7, and averaged 200 innings and 200 strikeouts, with a sub 4.00 ERA.
Sure, he's not an ace like they've tried to sell us, but Myers is capable of being a #2 starter. And, he's in Adam Eaton territory now.
This just shows you how much pitching impacts a team. If Myers were having a career year like Kyle Lohse is having, the Phillies would be a World Series contender, but since he's drinking swamp water they are struggling mightily in games he pitches. And, the proof is in the amount of losses in games he starts. In his 18 starts this season, the Phillies are 4-14.
They are facing off against the Mets now as we speak. Jamie Moyer is on the hill against Oliver Perez.
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