I’ve criticized him in the past, but today I’ve got nothing but praise for David Murphy and his piece on the Daily News’ High Cheese blog. Murphy breaks down comparable trade histories and speculates as to what it would take for the Phillies to acquire Toronto’s right-handed ace, Roy Halladay. As I mentioned earlier today, it’s being widely reported (apparently Ken Rosenthal’s piece on foxsports.com is now the definitive offering on the subject) that the Blue Jays may be willing to trade Halladay. Obviously, this is the potential juggernaut move of the year so it’s getting a great deal of attention.

Aside from putting together realistic scenarios relative to salary, contract length, major-league readiness and mutual value, Murphy does the readership a service by offering restraint and reality in his speculation. Then again, just when you think you’ve got a dispassionate, balanced analysis, you scroll down and realize there’s the comments section.

In this case, the requisite stupidity comes from fans out there throwing around the media-created term “untouchable,” as if the fans have really ever seen one pitch thrown by Kyle Drabek, Carlos Carrasco or Yohan Flande. I love it when people wax on about which prospects should and shouldn’t be designated for promotion, regression or trade. 99% of fans have zero first-hand experience with any of these guys, much less the scouting acumen to actually analyze players’ suitability for various scenarios.

The other thing that makes the idea of prospects being untouchables in this organization is that the Phillies are at the top. When a team is defending World Champs, holding onto future prospects when there are immediate needs that are addressable by trade is P.R. and logical suicide.

It’s one thing for Cleveland or Arizona or the Orioles to keep their young trump cards close to their chests and quite another when championship-or-bust fever hits a particular market. Honestly, does winning the division and protecting the prospects for 2, 3 or 4-years down the line work in Philly this year assuming the pitching doesn’t get the Phils out of the first round? No way in hell is there’s an “untouchable” prospect in an organization that’s defending a World Series title, especially when a pitcher like Halladay is out there.