For those new to the Locker Room, we had a Phillies thread last year, as well as Yankees thread for fans of that team. Any team can have a thread, there aren't any exclusions! It was decided last year that as the board has many vocal Phillies and Yankees fans, it sort of took over the general MLB thread. So, we thought it would be better if we had fan threads for specific teams so people did not have to read through pages on teams they could care less about (except Locker Room moderators, we have to read all Locker Room threads).

So, with that disclaimer, I am starting the Phillies thread. Scuffling a little bit (except when Halladay pitches), we did get some great news today:

Howard signs five-year extension
Slugging Phillies first baseman guaranteed $125 million
By Todd Zolecki / MLB.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Phillies took an enormous step Monday to keep the main power source in their lineup through 2016.
They announced they had signed Ryan Howard to the largest contract in franchise history. It is a five-year, $125 million contract extension, which keeps him in Phillies pinstripes through 2016. The contract also includes a sixth-year club option for 2017 that could raise the value of the deal to $138 million.

Howard, 30, currently is in the middle of a three-year, $54 million contract extension, which he signed in Feb. 2009. He will make $19 million this season and $20 million in 2011. The latest extension begins in 2012. He will make $20 million in 2012 and '13 and $25 million from 2014-16. The option in 2017 is worth $23 million with a $10 million buyout.

The deal includes awards bonuses and a limited no-trade provision.

Howard, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and manager Charlie Manuel will hold a news conference at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday at AT&T Park, where the Phillies open a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants.

Howard won the National League Rookie of the Year in 2005 and NL Most Valuable Player Award in '06. He made the NL All-Star team in 2006 and 2009, won a Silver Slugger in 2006 and earned NL Championship Series MVP honors last season.


PHILLIES ALL-TIME HR LEADERS
RANK PLAYER No.
1. Mike Schmidt 548
2. Del Ennis 259
3. Pat Burrell 251
4. Chuck Klein 243
5. Ryan Howard 225
6. Greg Luzinski 223
7. Cy Williams 217
8. Dick Allen 204
9. Bobby Abreu 195
10. Johnny Callison 185

Since Howard replaced Jim Thome at first base July 1, 2005, he leads the Majors in home runs (222) and RBIs (650). Howard is just the fourth player in baseball history to have four consecutive seasons with at least 40 home runs and 130 RBIs. Babe Ruth, Ken Griffey Jr. and Sammy Sosa are the others.

Howard also was the player fastest to hit 200 home runs, which he accomplished in 658 games. Ralph Kiner held the previous mark, hitting 200 homers in his first 706 games.

Thome and Chase Utley both signed $85 million contracts with the Phillies, which had been the biggest contracts in team history until Howard's deal.

Originally selected by the Phillies in the fifth round of the 2001 Draft, Howard enters play tonight with a career .279 batting average, 225 home runs and 656 RBI in 750 games, all with Philadelphia. He currently ranks fifth on the Phillies' all-time home run list, behind Mike Schmidt (548), Del Ennis (259), Pat Burrell (251), and Chuck Klein (243). His .583 slugging percentage is the best in club history.
Thoughts?