Howard: MVP, MVP. MVP

A friend writes:

 

Well, our problem now is we can't bat Jroll at No 2 because we gave away what should have been the greatest leadoff hitter in Phillies history:

Abreu.

 

Jesus, if Bobby hit leadoff, JROll in the 2-hole followed by Utley and Howard, then Burrell -- sometimes flipping Burrell and Howard against really

tough lefties -- that would have been a great lineup.

 

I'm telling you, I love Victorino and Delluci. They've got hustle and they fight and they scrap, and they look like the anti-Abreus out there.

 

The whole character and makeup of the team feels different. Oh, except for the fact that Burrell still has to play. God, does he stink now more than

ever.

It pains me to watch him swing, pulling off on every single pitch, then desperately extending/flailing his arms out because at the very last second

he's realizing -- oh no, not again! -- that it's a low and away slider, desperately trying to just make contact with the ball.

 

Crazy, but the $30-40m that we saved for next year by unloading Abreu and Lidle -- along with Bell gone and Lieby's contract ending -- some of those "savings" are gonna have to be eaten by paying a HUGE portion of Burrell's contract next year to whatever AL is remotely willing to take him off our hands.

 

Seriously, I'd give Burrell away for free at this point.