I'm sure that in the wake of Cole Hamels' disappointment regarding his 2008 contract, the telephone lines at sports talk stations are burning up.

And Phils fans are probably a little fired up, too.

But is there really any reason to worry?

First off, the Phillies have showed in the last five years that they will spend money. They've consistently had one of the top 5-10 payrolls in baseball since 2003, when they went out and paid for Jim Thome.

So while there may me a perception that, in light of Hamels and Ryan Howard, the team is cheap, I don't think that's the case.

What about the contract extensions Chase Utley, Brett Myers, Jimmy Rollins and Pat Burrell - also homegrown products - have all signed? And while you can criticize them for how they spend, they did lay some cash down to get Adam Eaton, too. They have showed they can and will spend money.

So what's the point to my half-asleep, coffee-deprived rant this morning? Don't overreact to the Hamels' situation.

If Cole goes out and is an all-star again - and if he stays healthy for the duration of 2008 - I really don't see why either side wouldn't agree to a contract extension, maybe somewhere in the range of 4-years, $35-to-42 million.

But that's simply just a guess - those numbers, that is.

I just think Hamels wouldn't mind some security - a deal like that would give him that, and he'd still become a free agent in his late 20s (like Santana would have been if the Mets didn't re-up him this winter).

And I think the Phillies would like to lock up another of their young, homegrown stars.

The way I see it, the Hamels situation has a far greater chance of coming to a happy ending for Phillies fans than the status of the slugging first baseman. So don't fret or overreact just yet.

Ryan Howard? Well that's a story for another day...




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The Archive Files

In today's Daily Times, Davey Lopes has the support of Phillies players and coaches as he begins his battle with cancer.

And a profile on the Phillies most recent top pick, Joe Savery, who has impressed at his first big league camp this spring.