Is Philly’s $125 Million Man Moved In?

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard’s new home at 1700 Gulf Blvd on Belleair Beach appears to be about completed. The structure, which appears to be on two and a half lots, has been under construction for about two years with a 20-million price tag. (EDDIE MICHELS/PHOTO)

Belleair Beach, Fla. – Here at Rocket Sports & Entertainment Network we have been following the progress of Ryan Howard’s house through the keen lens of the esteemed Eddie Michels.  It appears the home (small building) is finished just in time for spring training 2015, and we can call it “The House that the 2008 Phillies Built.”  Since having monster years in 2008 with 58 homers and 146 RBI (World Series Champs) and 45 homers and 141 RBI in 2009, Ryan Howard has been mediocre in relative terms to the monster $125 million contract.   Long DL stints in 2012 & 2013, which I imagine gave Howard extra time with contractors as he spent a lot of time rehabbing in Clearwater.  Certainly not $25 million a year numbers in 2014;  23 homers, 95 RBI batting .223 with a MLB leading 190 strike outs, and to mention the Phils finished 23 games out in the NL East.

In 2012, Ryan Howard singles to right in a rehab start in Clearwater (Eddie Michels photo)

If you are a regular listener to the show, you know how I feel about guaranteed contracts.  However this makes me think… One’s opinion of guaranteed MLB contracts  stands on which side of the dotted line one puts their John Hancock (nice, Philadelphia reference, keep up)

Some nice foliage planted beach side. (EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO)

The Howard’s could actually be living there as furniture is on the back deck by the moat. (EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO)