About that slowing down business.  WSJ did an awesome article awhile back and they found of all the thousands of baseball players the average peak performance was 27, after 27 it was all downhill, with a major exception of some of the steriod users.  So I worry about guys over 27.

Howard has been slipping the past 3 years

         Batting average       HR per game
2006    .313                       .365
2007    .268                       .326
2008    .251                       .296

SLG  and OB all down every year as well, and he keeps getting heavier.  This is a player in decline according to all the stats.

Unless he loses the weight or more likely turns to steriods or HGH, he’ll be out of baseball shortly.

just because you win the MVP, doesn’t mean you have to be fast… It’s not a sign of him “slowing down,” it’s a sign of him being 300 pounds

worse rated baserunners than howard: Prince Fielder, Magglio Ordonez, Geovanny Soto, Carlos Pena, Joey Votto and a bunch of catchers.

Breaking news from Todd Zolecki of the Inquirer:

Chase Utley will have right hip surgery, and will miss the next four to six months.
The Phillies said in a news release that since the end of the World Series, Utley “has had several diagnostic studies in regards to right hip symptoms that he had during the 2008 season.” He has been evaluated by team physician Michael Ciccotti at the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Dr. Bryan Kelly at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

The release said, “Based on the diagnostic studies and examinations, it has been recommended that Utley have surgery on his right hip, which is scheduled for next week. The procedure will be an arthroscopic evaluation with treatment of any labral or bony injury. The recovery will allow for the initiation of baseball activities between three and four months, however, the total recovery time may require four to six months.”
Four to six months means Utley could be back as early April and as late as June.
I asked Ruben Amaro Jr. about Utley’s hip last week. He said, “There’s really not much to say about it, other than we’re monitoring it.” Asked about any scheduled surgeries, Amaro said: “Not at this time. At least at this time we don’t view it as an issue.”
Turns out it was.

Also:
Pedro Feliz will have back surgery.
Feliz will have low back surgery on November 20. He was on the disabled list during the 2008 season for 26 days in relation to a low back injury and “had intermittent symptoms at the end of the season that deemed off-season follow-up necessary.” Robert Watkins in Los Angeles will perform the surgery, which is scheduled to be a lumbar discectomy. After surgery, Feliz will complete an eight-to-12 week rehabilitation program.

“For the record, the only above average pitcher we have on the paths was Adam Eaton. “    I’d just like to point out this statement and give Eaton props because it is likely the only time he will be mentioned in the same sentence with “above average”

I do believe the Phillies are a good baserunning team overall so the numbers match up but sometimes I think some of these stats are too complicated.

Here are my questions with this stat:
How do boneheaded 3rd base coaches figure into it?
How does running through a stop sign figure in? especially if the guy makes it.

Overall though, it seems to match up with what my eyes tell me so I guess they accounted for all that well enough.  Cool discussion on stats Pete! Keep em coming.