The Zo Zone

Now we wait.

Ryan Howard's salary arbitration hearing concluded a couple hours ago at a St. Petersburg hotel, but the result isn't expected until tomorrow. Howard is seeking $10 million. The Phillies have offered $7 million.

"It was cool," Howard said. "It was a different experience being in there, but as far as a result we'll find out tomorrow."

Houston Astros president Tal Smith prepared and presented the case for the Phillies. He runs Tal Smith Enterprises, which specializes in representing management in baseball arbitration cases.

"You don't leave happy until you have a result," Smith said. "Both sides would like to win, but it's not contentious. Really, it's not what people think. They think it's a lot of animosity, but that's not so. It's a debate about what's the appropriate salary. I don't think there's any ill feelings."

Howard gave conflicting signals afterward. He smiled often and said he was upbeat, but when asked for his take on the hearings after Smith said they weren't contentious, he said, "Ah, I don't know about that, but we'll see tomorrow."

But then in the next breath, he said, "I'm always upbeat. Did you think I'd be anything different? I'm always upbeat regardless. We went in. We had the process. We find out tomorrow how it goes, but either way it is what it is."

Service time no doubt was a big part of the Phillies' argument against Howard.

"That's certanly a major portion of the criteria," Smith said. "It's the length and consistency of the career. Basically that's what the discussion is about. There's no denying his performance. It's a question of how that slots in with the rest of the criteria."

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Actually got booted by some "security guard" at the hotel. But me and a couple other writers snuck back in and purchased some beverages to make ourselves official paying customers. Why is there no love for the media?

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Check out The Inquirer's video report: Jimmy Rollins meets the press.