Feb. 16 -- OWNERS 4, PLAYERS 0

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- So, four arbitration cases have been heard thus far. The owners have won them all.

Bad omen for Ryan Howard?

A three-person panel of arbitrators sided against Felipe Lopez (Washington), Brian Fuentes (Colorado), Jose Valverde (Houston) and Chien-Ming Wang (Yankees) in the four cases heard this week. Howard's hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in nearby St. Pete, but during a 10-minute meeting with reporters yesterday, he didn't want to discuss his contract. (As you know, he wants to be paid $10 million this year; the Phillies are offering $7 million).

Historically, owners have won 278 of 481 hearings (57.8 percent). But according to Maury Brown, a sports business analyst and founder of the Business of Sports Network, the owners never really win. Talked to Brown by phone yesterday, and he made the valid point that players get enormous raises even when they lose a hearing. For example, Wang made $489,500 last season. He will make $4 million in 2008.

More on arbitration over the next few days. But regardless of whether you think the Phillies' offer is fair or Howard's request is more appropriate, know this: Either way, his days of being underpaid are over. Howard is about to get VERY rich. And he can't become a free agent until 2011, so he's going to be with the Phillies for quite a while.

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Ran out of real estate in the 50-center before I could squeeze this in, but Howard was asked who is calling the shots in his contract negotiations. There's been speculation that Howard, who has gone through three agents since being drafted in 2001, is being influenced by his parents. Howard handled the query with his typically disarming humor, but ultimately, he said nothing. "There's some speculations going on?" Howard said. "I'm trying to find out who's speculating about the speculations."

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Joe Savery won't be in the Phillies' rotation when spring training ends next month, but Charlie Manuel already has noticed him. Savery, the Phils' first-round pick in June, likely will open the season right here, in single-A Clearwater.

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Promised y'all a traveler's guide to Clearwater, and so far, I haven't delivered. Sorry about that. We'll get into this in greater detail in a later post, but for starters, here are two of my favorite places in Clearwater: Frenchy's Cafe (make sure to get the grouper) and Lenny's (amazing breakfast within walking distance of Bright House Networks Field).

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Kris Benson has arrived. We'll get you something from him later today. No sign of Anna yet.