Phillies' Payroll Doesn't Show Signs of a Recession

Read this from today's Philadelphia Daily News and see what I mean.

The economy is faring poorly, but you wouldn't know it by glimpsing at the linked article. Ryan Howard, going into arbitration for a second consecutive year, is guaranteed a 40% raise and could get an 80% raise if the arbitrator picks his $18 million figure over the Phillies' offer of $14 million.

Cole Hamels, Shane Victorino, Chad Durbin, Ryan Madson, Joe Blanton and Jayson Werth also got big raises, paydays you'd expect for having good years and having won a World Series.

The ups and downs of the economy just don't touch those whose abilities are in demand and very unique.