Has it been 12 days since the
Phillies won the World Series?
It has, and it still feels as if life hasn't been the
same since Brad Lidge threw Eric Hinske that 0-2 slider
to win it all at Citizens Bank Park. If life hasn't
returned to normal for the average Phillies fan,
imagine what life has been like for Pat Burrell, who
has been in town for most of the last 12 days,
including last night when he and Cole Hamels were on
the field for the coin toss for the Eagles-Giants game
at Lincoln Financial Field.
"We have to leave town in the next couple days,"
Burrell said about he and his wife, Michelle. "I wish I
could stay and hang out. It's been pretty fun. People
say, 'You won't pay for a dinner here for the next 10
years.' Well, that's actually been true. I've really
been able to get a feel for how excited people are in
the city. To be able to walk around and say, 'We won
it. We did it. Through all the stuff, we actually went
ahead and did it.' It's just a proud feeling."
As everybody knows, Burrell, the team's first pick in
the 1998 June amateur draft and the longest tenured
player in a Phillies uniform, is a free agent. The
Phillies have two other major free agents: lefthanders
Jamie Moyer and Scott Eyre. The Phillies have contacted
both, but as of last night Burrell said he hasn't heard
from the Phillies.
"You never know what's going to happen," Burrell said.
"I think it's been very clear that I want to stay, and
they know that. But at the same time, I don't know what
the direction of the organization is. Either way, I've
got nothing but positive things and thanks to say to
the organization for my time here. And obviously, this
past couple weeks has been the end of it all. I want to
be back, but I don't know what's going to happen."
The Phillies have exclusive negotiating rights with
Burrell through Friday, but at the moment his return
seems less likely unless the length of the contract or
amount of money is attractive to the Phillies. First,
the Phillies have money they probably want to allocate
elsewhere. Second, they also might want to get younger
and more athletic in left field.
"With the way that they've structured things in the
organization with payroll and stuff, there are some
issues there that I think are important," Burrell said.
"They've got to do what they think is best for the
franchise. They're in the position to do whatever they
need to do now, and I understand."
Burrell said his having not heard from the Phillies
doesn't concern him.
"No, because sometimes with these situations there are
agents and all this other stuff that gets involved," he
said.
What about a hometown discount?
"When the situation comes up I'll address it then," he
said. "Who knows if that's even something that's going
to go on? I think I'm at the point in my career with
this organization that they're going to have no problem
being honest with me and telling me what they want to
do. As a player, that's all you want. You'd rather it
be that way. I can certainly handle the truth."
What does his gut tell him?
"My gut tells me that it would be great to be here," he
said with a smile.
These issues will sort out themselves in the coming
weeks. Still, no matter what happens, Burrell always
will be remembered for ripping that leadoff double off
the left-center field wall in the seventh inning in
Game 5, which set up the winning run against the Tampa
Bay Rays. He also will be remembered as the man who led
the Phillies' parade down Broad Street.
But until he leaves town, he will continue to receive
congratulations from anybody and everybody.
"What's up, man? Congrats," Donovan McNabb said on the
field before the game.
Even if Burrell's future life is not in Philadelphia,
his life will never be the same because of
Philadelphia.
"When you see the effect you can have on a city like we
have had, it's just incredible," he said.
(philly.com)