Big Phallout in Philly

The bigger they are, the harder they fall.

Such was the case Friday night for 6-foot-4, 240-pound Ryan Howard and his $172-million Philadelphia Phillies teammates.

It took about half a second for the 46,530 on hand at Citizens Bank ballpark to begin raining boos upon their $20-million first basemen after he recorded his team's final out for the second straight season, this time falling to the ground in pain after injuring himself while attempting to run to first base.

And now comes word that Howard may have sustained a torn Achillies', leaving his ability to start the 2012 season in doubt.

Of course, Philadelphia sports fans are used to being disappointed by championship calibre teams -- see Donovan McNabb's Eagles or any Flyers squad since 1975 -- but the city is looking for a new adjective today to describe the pain of losing a deciding game at home in which their ace surrendered just a single run over eight brilliant innings, but in which their offence went M.I.A.

Phillies fans can take solace in the fact that Roy Halladay will be back next year, and so too will fellow starters Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels, but beyond that, this is a rapidly ageing team facing numerous personnel questions such as:

-- How long will Howard be out? If he's torn his Achilles’ as he suspects, he might not be ready to start next season.

-- With several key players such as Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Madson, Raul Ibanez and Brad Lidge slated to become free agents at the conclusion of the World Series, they might be in the market for a new short stop, right fielder, closer and set-up man.

-- Roy Oswalt and the team have a mutual option for 2012 at $16 million. Would that be money well spent, or better served upgrading the offence?

-- Third baseman Placido Polanco needs surgery to repair a sports hernia and will be 36 next year.

-- Halladay and Oswalt will both turn 35 next year, while Lee will be 34. How long can all three be expected to maintain their current performance?

Just like their high-payroll cousins in New York and Boston, the Phillies' attempts to re-tool their roster will provide some intriguing off-season chatter.

More Phillie Phallout

-- Paul Hagen writes that the Phillies were a team built to win now. Except they didn't. And what lies ahead is a future that's uncertain at best.

-- Ray Parillo writes that Ryan Howard's injury ended a miserable night and series for the slugger. The first basemen went 0 for 4 Friday and finished the series hitless in his final 15 at-bats.

-- Matt Gelb says Howard's injury and poor NLDS showing are all of the fears of his five-year, $125-million deal realized.

-- David Murphy takes a look at the Phillies’ off-season shopping list.

-- As Sam Donnellon points out, the Phillies threw almost $50 million of pitching at the St. Louis, a number that equals just about half the money the Cardinals paid its entire 25-man squad.

-- Phil Sheridan says there are only so many realistic opportunities to win championships, and the Phillies just squandered its third in a row.

Today on the Sox and the Restless...

-- Dan Shaughnessy in the Boston Globe says whatever happens with Theo Epstein, it needs to happen soon with the team facing so many key decisions.

-- Meanwhile, Red Sox owner John Henry made it clear yesterday that he is prepared for the possibility of Epstein leaving.

-- In the Windy City, Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts has made Epstein his primary target, though he also has said he expected to talk to a "handful" of candidates.

A blog on America's national past-time from a Canadian perspective.