What do you think of the Mets pursuing Pat Burrell? They need a veteran left fielder, Burrell has power and walks a lot. And he always has killed the Mets.
-- Paul F., Arlington, Va.

I've always regarded Burrell as a guy who "could be pitched to," even though the Mets seldom found an effective way to do that. They already have a left fielder, albeit two-headed, in Daniel Murphy and Fernando Tatis. That tandem probably won't produce at a level consistent with the premier left fielders in the game, not as much as the Phillies' new left fielder, Raul Ibanez. But I like platoons if for no other reason than they tend to keep two players fresh.

At this point, the Mets have no void in left field but conspicuous vacancies in their rotation and bullpen. The need to address those is greater than the need to import a 32-year-old outfielder given to uneven but ultimately pretty decent run production. Burrell has averaged about 92 RBIs per season the past three seasons, playing his home games in that bandbox at Citizens Bank Park and benefiting from opponents' dependence on left-handed pitching to counter the left-handed swings of Ryan Howard and Chase Utley.

We don't know how Citi Field is going to play, but chances are it will be more like Shea Stadium was, a "fair" ballpark. So perhaps some of Burrell's production would be negated by Citi.

Moreover, the Mets might see a tad more right-handed pitching than the Phillies did, and that too would have a negative effect on Burrell. And that he "always has killed the Mets" isn't much of a factor unless you're planning to wager on the intrasquad games in March.

So, the short answer is I'd pass on Burrell and get some left-handed relief pitching to throw at Utley, Howard and Ibanez.

(mlb.com)

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel suggested Thursday that he'd be in favor of bringing back left fielder Pat Burrell if the price and years turn out to be more modest than the club originally anticipated.

"When I think of his good points versus his [negatives] speedwise," Manuel said, "the more I look at it and see what's out there … I weigh all that and I think, 'Look, we won the World Series with him out there. So would I like him back? I don't see why not.'"

(espn.com)

LAS VEGAS — Pat Burrell may prefer to remain with the Phillies, but his agent has told the Courier-Post that the veteran left fielder almost certainly will be playing elsewhere in 2009.

With Burrell's name generating little buzz Tuesday on Day 2 of the annual winter meetings, one of his agents, Ed Hayes, said the Phillies haven't shown much interest in re-signing Burrell, the top right-handed power threat in their lineup for several seasons.

"I'm hopeful but I'm also a realist, and I'd be surprised," Hayes said when asked if he could see Burrell continuing his career with the Phillies, the only team he has ever known. "I have not heard anything that would lead me to believe the club wants to have him back."

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. admitted the Phillies haven't had substantive discussions with Burrell's representatives, and the club appears to be moving on by talking with free-agent outfielder Raul Ibanez and engaging in trade talk that could yield versatile Mark DeRosa.

Burrell, 32, is looking for a three-year contract, according to industry sources. But the slow-moving free-agent market hasn't developed for position players, and although Hayes said he has had discussions with multiple teams, it is possible Burrell won't find a suitor until after Manny Ramirez, Mark Teixeira, Raul Ibanez and other top free-agent hitters are signed.

It's expected that Burrell will draw interest from American League teams seeking a designated hitter.

(courierpostonline.com)

Free agent Pat Burrell is being courted by at least three teams, including the Mariners, Angels and Giants, according to several published reports on Wednesday.

Burrell, who was not offered arbitration by the Phillies, is seeking a multi-year deal worth more than the $14 million he was paid last season.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has said numerous times that he would like to see Burrell return to the club next season, but not at anything above $14 million.

The Angels appear to be looking at Burrell as a possible replacement for free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira.

(philadelphiabaseballreview.blogspot.com)

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Pat Burrell era in Philadelphia took one step toward its possible conclusion after the World Series champion Phillies balked at offering he and 16-game winner Jamie Moyer arbitration prior to the midnight (et) Tuesday morning deadline.

Burrell, who made $14 million last season, hit 33 home runs and drove in 86 runs for the Phillies last season, yet routinely came out of games in the late innings for defensive purposes and struggled during the postseason.

The decision to forgo an arbitration offer to Burrell does not completely close the door on his return, but does keep the club out of a financial corner with the outfielder in case he accepted arbitration if offered, leaving the Phillies strapped for cash with raises for pitching ace Cole Hamels, first baseman Ryan Howard and outfielder Shane Victorino likely coming soon.

Moyer, who finished 16-7 with a 3.71 earned run average last season, is 46 years old, but the two sides have a desire to work out a contract.
The Phillies also didn't offer arbitration to a pair of veteran relievers, Tom Gordon and Rudy Seanez.

(seattlepi.com)

Longtime Phillie Pat Burrell is a free agent after helping the team to the World Series title this year. He likely will command a large contract.

Today's debaters are Morning Call sportswriter Mandy Housenick, who has helped with the Call's coverage of the Phillies the past five seasons, and her husband, Tom Housenick, a former sports editor and now a member of the Call's universal copy desk.

Mandy Housenick: Absolutely not. I was hoping the Phillies would have traded Burrell in previous years when there were rumors [about it]. He's never put up numbers worthy of the huge contract he was given. Can anyone really argue that he did enough to validate the more than $14 million he made this season? He's paid to hit home runs and drive in runs. Yet, since being called up in 2000, he's never hit 40 homers and surpassed the century mark for RBIs only twice, with the most recent time coming in 2005.

Tom Housenick: One thing we agree on is that Burrell didn't earn his previous salary. But I believe that a carefully structured, two-year deal worth a total of $14 million would be a wise move for the Phillies, who have dumped/should dump So Taguchi, Tom Gordon and Adam Eaton from the payroll. That's a savings of $14.4 million from those three players. Burrell would have to accept a significant pay cut, but if he really wants to stay in Philly ... I have not seen anything offensively from Geoff Jenkins or Greg Golston to believe they could pick up the slack and join the outfield of Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino. And Greg Dobbs is a great pinch hitter. But his stats in games he starts aren't nearly as good. Neither is his glove.

MH: You should know the greed of players by now. I can't imagine Burrell would ever take that big of a pay cut. But for the sake of argument, let's say he would agree to. The Phillies still shouldn't keep him. He had two downright lousy months this season and a couple other shaky ones. In May, he hit just .227 with only five homers. In August, his worst month by far, he hit .181 with 29 strikeouts, just 12 RBIs and four home runs. Throughout the postseason, his .227 average just didn't cut it and 13 strikeouts well that's just embarrassing.

TH: Lousy months? Do you remember the entire first half of the season for Ryan Howard? He wasn't hitting my weight, let alone his own. Pat Burrell is never going to be an MVP candidate. He's never going to be the superstar the Phillies thought he was when they drafted him. He's going to be a decent, everyday player with a good arm and the capability of carrying a team for a month or two, like he did early in 2008. Plus, he's well-liked in the clubhouse and by the coaching staff. There's a lot to be said for team chemistry. The Phillies have it. Burrell is an integral part of that.

MH: Howard came on like wildfire late in the season. He was fantastic in September and wound up leading the majors in RBIs and home runs for the entire year. When that happens, I can overlook a slow start. Burrell never rebounded with nearly that much success. On another note ÂÖ why should the Phillies, now the world champions of baseball, have to settle for decent? They should be able to land a very good replacement. They blew a chance when they didn't jump on Matt Holliday.

TH: Holliday was out of the Phillies' price range and he's not a good clubhouse guy. Plus, they would have had to deal top prospects such as Carlos Carrasco, Lou Marson or Golston. When something works, really works, why mess it up? The Phillies need a right-handed bat to offset the lefty bats of Dobbs and Jenkins. Maybe Burrell doesn't get 140 starts a year. Give him 120. Give Dobbs more chances to start. Give Jenkins a chance to get in a hitting rhythm. But Burrell is the best of the three options currently available. And, see the list of free-agent outfielders? Want Luis Gonzalez, Jim Edmonds or Ken Griffey Jr.? They'd be eligible for Social Security come 2010. Adam Dunn? Talk about a strikeout machine.

(mcall.com)

Ken Mandel, of MLB.com, reports the Philadelphia Phillies have contacted the agent for free-agent OF Pat Burrell (Phillies), and have indicated that they are interested in re-signing him. If Burrell returns, it will likely be with a short-term deal and for less money than he can get with another club. Burrell is expected to test the free-agent market.

(kffl.com)

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)

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies' lack of recent contact with Pat Burrell's agents is "another indication that the left fielder is unlikely to re-sign with the team."

However, agent Ed Hayes said Tuesday that Burrell would prefer to remain in Philadelphia. "He loves it here," Hayes said. "He loves the fans. He loves playing here. He thinks this team has an opportunity to win for many, many years. And he'd love to stay. His primary goal is to stay here, but we'll see what the Phillies have in mind."

(rotoworld.com)

PHILADELPHIA — Pat Burrell walked to the plate for the biggest at-bat of his career and took a deep breath.

"I was just trying to make good contact," Burrell said. "We needed a baserunner and I just wanted to get on."

That, of course, is easier said than done. Burrell came to the plate to lead off the seventh inning of Game 5 with the score tied and locked in an 0-for-12 World Series slump. He had two walks in this game, but those came back Monday, when rain suspended action after 5 1/2 innings.

Now, two days later, Burrell had a chance to ignite his team in a way he had only dreamed about a decade ago when the Phillies made the University of Miami power-hitting third baseman the No. 1 pick overall in the 1998 draft.

"Everybody made a lot of him not getting any hits but he's had some big at-bats and good at-bats in this series," said close friend Jason Michaels, who in 10 days will get married with Burrell at his side after a decadelong friendship that began on that Miami team and continued after he was drafted on that same day as Burrell by the Phillies several rounds later. "I've seen him get big hits my whole life. I felt this one coming."

Michaels, now with Pittsburgh, saw it coming as did 45,000 or so others as Burrell crushed a J.P. Howell offering off the wall in center field to get things going. Eric Bruntlett came in to pinch run and later scored the game-winning run as the Phillies beat Tampa Bay 4-3 to secure a World Series title Wednesday.

Burrell has had his ups and downs over the years, but no low was ever as extreme as this high.

"My wife told me, not today but the other day before the game that Pat was going to get a big hit," Eyre said. "Wow, for your first hit to be that one, in the World Series, unbelievable."

"This isn't about one guy and no one knows that better than Pat," second baseman Chase Utley said. "It's about the team and no one knows that better than Pat. So who better than Pat to get that hit?"

"It's hard to explain how this felt," said Burrell, who went 10-for-44 for a .227 average in the playoffs, but nobody had eight more important RBIs than he did over 14 games. "It's been so long. I've seen it all in this town and I love this town and it's just an amazing feeling to get this done."

Burrell has been different this year. He's been reflective, as this is almost certainly his final season with the Phillies. Despite good numbers during the season and a great postseason, the left fielder will most likely move on when his contract is up after this year. While negotiations will certainly be conducted, Burrell's final moment may have been that double and the eventual game-winning run.

"I don't know how this is all going to run out," Burrell said. "I'd love to stay but that's not to talk about now. Let's just enjoy the moment."

A moment that no one waited longer for to come and certainly, a moment that Burrell will never forget.

(courierpostonline.com)

The Phillies' 2008 payroll exceeded $100 million and given the season of Ryan Howard (probable National League Most Valuable Player Award winner) and Cole Hamels (League Championship Series MVP) it will only go higher once the organization decides who will succeed Pat Gillick as general manager.

That reality could be bad news if you're a Pat Burrell fan as he signed a six-year $50 million contract extension before the 2003 season and is facing free agency.

A nine-year Phillie, who has played over 1,300 games in left field, Burrell is at that strange crossroads that accompanies 30-something-year-old outfielders (he turned 32 on Oct. 10). His 33 homers in the regular season were his highest total since 2002, but there are other indications that he may have played his best baseball already.

Consider that ...
1. He scored 74 runs, his lowest total since 2004.

2. His 86 RBIs were also his lowest since 2004.

3. He fanned 136 times, his highest total since 2005.

4. On the positive side, his doubles (33) were his highest total in six years, but his on-base percentage (.367) was his lowest mark, again, in four years.

5. His .250 batting average is his lowest in five years.

The problem with all these numbers is that while he remains an acceptable offensive option and is a fair enough hitter behind Howard, the pricetag may not equate with the production.

In 2008, Burrell made $14.25 million. Howard will soon be making that type of money, if not more, but one cannot equate a player who has averaged 143 RBIs over the last three seasons with Burrell's numbers. Burrell has not driven in 100 runs since 2005, never homered more than 37 times (in a hitter-friendly park) and never scored more than 80 runs over the last six seasons.

Defensively, he is open to interpretation. In 2008, he made only two errors and had 12 assists (nice numbers). But he is perceived as having limited range and being helped by the presence of outstanding center fielders (Aaron Rowand in 2006-07 and Shane Victorino this year).

It's a strange time to part ways with Burrell, who in this postseason has given Phils fans glimpses of the player who had 116 RBIs in 2002, 117 in 2005 and carried the Phils for much of the second half of 2007. There was the two-homer game in Milwaukee in the League Division Series and the game-winning homer in Game 1 of the LCS. But on a team that must commit to its young stars, the team may be able to find cheaper, younger alternatives.

Are the World Series games the final ones for Pat the Bat in Philly?

An uncertain offseason awaits.

(nj.com)

LOS ANGELES — The visitors’ clubhouse at Dodger Stadium is among the smallest in the majors. It is a narrow room with chicken-wire lockers and furniture in the middle. There is no separate room for coaches, and no spacious lounge for the players.

This is where the Phillies celebrated their sixth National League pennant on Wednesday night. There was a podium set up in the front of the room, near the office of Manager Charlie Manuel. The rest of the room was pretty much shoulder-to-shoulder, with players and club officials and cameramen and writers. Champagne corks were flying, and I can’t imagine that anybody left the room dry.

There might have been one guy, though — Pat Burrell. At 32 years old, Burrell is a Phillies lifer. He was the first player drafted in 1998, the Phillies’ prize for a dreadful ’97 season. In less than two years, he was in the majors for good. One year he hit .209 in 522 at-bats, and survived in a tough sports town.

As his teammates celebrated, Burrell stood off to the side of the podium, his back against a locker covered in plastic, nursing a can of Bud Light with a coach, Jimy Williams. He was taking it all in, he said, reflecting on his long journey to the World Series.

“To get to this point, it makes everything worth it,” said Burrell, who hit .333 in the N.L.C.S. “I don’t know what to say.”

Someone asked Burrell how often he thought about the path to get here. He motioned to Jimmy Rollins, the shortstop whose leadoff homer propelled the Phillies in Game 5, and the rest of his joyous teammates.

“Almost daily – every day now, with what we’ve been doing,” said Burrell, who is a free agent after the season. “It’s easy to just get caught up in the moment. But when you look at it, I’ve been up here longer but he’s been in the organization two years longer. He was in the ’96 draft, and I was ’98. To think of where we’ve come, the changes, and where we’re at – it’s a hell of a feeling, there’s no other way to say it. I’m not one with words, either, but there’s no other way to describe this. We just couldn’t be happier.”

Then Burrell paused. It was starting to sink in that the next game he plays will be in the World Series.

“Shoot,” Burrell said, “now it’s time to keep going.”

(nytimes.com)

PHILADELPHIA - There is a guy who sits 12 rows back in the leftfield bleachers who has, during the years, embraced Pat Burrell like a brother, kicked him around like a dog, and now loves him like an old army buddy again. Anyone who has sat back there on Sunday afternoons has heard him, has laughed with him and now, laughs at him.

Because he is us. In a nutshell. And we are, in this town, very much like the stuff inside those nutshells. We love our stars here, we hate our stars here, we argue the degrees of their worthiness and we are as nutty about it as that green thing that dances atop the dugout.

That said, there has never been a player like Pat Burrell in this town. No one has been loved, loathed and loved again the way he has, at least while wearing a hometown uniform the entire time.

And so there they were again Thursday night, as Burrell trotted to his spot after his sixth-inning laser of a home run into those very seats provided the winning run in the Phillies’ 3-2 victory over the Dodgers in Game 1. Some were cheering. Some were downright worshipping. The guy 12 rows back was probably doing what he always does, cracking funny.

"You see that?" asked Jimmy Rollins, laughing. "They’ve been doing that for a while. They get the Pat Burrell standing ovation going every time he does something spectacular. But at the same time when he isn’t doing something spectacular, I turn around. Because some of the things they say make me laugh."

"And he’s just sitting there putting his hands up like, ’What can I do?’ "

Here’s what Burrell didn’t do. He didn’t demand a trade. He didn’t lash out at the fans, call us names back, names like "front-runners." He never spoke obscenely about our relationships with cousins and siblings. Recalling his famous blow-off of manager Larry Bowa after that home run at Shea, it was funny to see the two men shake hands and embrace before Thursday night’s game.

Columnist Bill Conlin, sitting to my right, said Del Ennis was loved and hated before he was dealt to St. Louis, and that Dick Allen went love-hate, love-hate in his two stints here. There have been many others who have started out loved and ended up hated, and there have been many, many, many who were shipped out once it got ugly.

See Scott Rolen.

Largely because of that big contract he signed after Rolen’s exit, Burrell has hung around long enough to change our minds. And maybe his mind warmed to us a little, too. For the second playoff game in a row, he did something else that he didn’t used to do. He let us in, he let us share his joy, he seemed genuinely appreciative of the towel-waving love that cascaded down from the 45,839 at Citizens Bank Park.

Real emotion poured from him in the Milwaukee clubhouse the other day, and you could see the glee as he rolled past third base Thursday night.
"I don’t know if I feel it with him but I’m definitely happy for him," Rollins said. "It’s a situation where he’s going to have to do that. And he knows that."

Said Burrell: "These games get so magnified. One at-bat can change things."

The Phillies will face an interesting decision in the offseason. That, in itself, is remarkable, as remarkable as the fans’ turnaround, and not unrelated to it. But it starts with the bat, starts with a poise that has been forged through some tough times here. It would be amazing to think, really, that he could play in this uniform his whole career.

"He’s showing that he’s a big-time player," Rollins said. "And that always helps when teams are deciding whether to bring you back. How are you at crunch time."

Yeah, well, it’s more than that. There is talk that the Dodgers will let Manny Ramirez [stats] walk after this season, rather than risk the deterioration of popularity he underwent in Boston and Cleveland before that. There was once that sense with Pat Burrell, too, and not too long ago.

But to watch the towel-wavers out there Thursday night, he’s reversed that dynamic in a way that some famous homegrown stars never could.
Charles Barkley walked. A.I., too. This? This is something we’ve never seen in this town before. And thankfully, it’s denting our reputation as unforgiving souls.

(bostonherald.com)

Manny Ramirez never moved, just watched it go.

Pat Burrell's sixth-inning shot landed just past the flower bed in left field, in the front row. Ramirez had no doubts about its resting place. Neither did Derek Lowe, cursing to himself, again. After leaving a pitch up to Chase Utley, the Dodgers' starter had left another up to Burrell. It was his last pitch of the game.

"Oh, yeah, they were up," Phillies batting coach Milt Thompson said in the clubhouse last night after the 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.

"Tonight I'm facing a guy, he's a great pitcher, great sinker," Burrell said. "I'm not sure I've had a whole lot of success against him. And if I did, I don't remember. I really just told myself to grind it out. Stay in there on him. Make him throw some pitches. Make him work."

So Burrell's crazy Phillies ride continues. He's slumping. He's hitting. He's lunging. He's waiting . . . Fans tolerate him, are thankful for him, are patient with him, can live with seeing him go after this season . . .

All of that just this season, a microcosm of his career.

"I'm just glad they love him right now," Thompson said.

The odds were good that a leftfielder would provide last night's game-winning hit, and going into the sixth inning, Ramirez had it. His first-inning double was holding up.

Before the game, Phils manager Charlie Manuel had been asked about which team had edge in power. Manuel noted that the Dodgers had Ramirez but said, "I would give power to our team." Five games into the postseason, Burrell has three home runs. Ramirez actually had to hustle to keep Burrell to a single in the second inning.

"I think Pat is seeing the ball better," Manuel said afterward. "He's staying back, getting a better look at the ball. He's not getting out over his front side. And, like I said, his bat's quicker now."

The manager talked about the slumping late-season Burrell.

"He was getting out, striding too soon, getting out over his front side and just kind of swinging with his - just his upper body. What do I call it, somebody who swing swith his hands and arms. Right now, he's staying back behind the ball and driving the ball."

Dodgers manager Joe Torre knew Burrell was capable of hitting a pitch that was left up.

"Burrell's a good hitter; he's had a hell of a year," Torre said. "He just stayed with that pitch."

(philly.com)

Left fielder Pat Burrell didn't quite guarantee he'd hit a home run Sunday and never pointed his bat toward the outfield fence, but generations from now, who knows how Philadelphia Phillies fans might choose to remember?

Burrell, who told teammate Jimmy Rollins before the game that he was going to do something special, hit two home runs and launched the Phillies into the National League Championship Series with a 6-2 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers.

"It took a while to get here," said Burrell, who has spent his entire 10-year career in the Phillies organization. "That just makes it all the sweeter now that you're here."

Burrell, whose bat disappeared the last two months of the season — hitting .215 after the All-Star break — was also missing in the first three games of the playoffs. He had yet to produce a hit and was teased by Rollins about his lack of production.

"He gave me some lip," Burrell said, laughing. "I told him, 'Why don't you do something?' "

Burrell, who has been bothered by a bad back, then dropped by Rollins locker Sunday and told him he was feeling good and the slump was going to end.

"Pat said, 'I'm going to get them today,' " Rollins said. "He said, 'I feel good. My back's all right. I worked some things out in the cage. It's going to be on me.'

"He said it. I was paying attention."

Rollins set the tone by hitting a leadoff homer in the first, and the score remained 1-0 in the third inning when Howard stepped to the plate with Shane Victorino on second base. Brewers manager Dale Sveum didn't hesitate. He ordered Howard to be intentionally walked.

"It's not that difficult of a decision," Sveum says. "Burrell came into the series hitting .170 off righties the last 30 days. … Unfortunately, it didn't work out."

Burrell slammed a 2-2 fastball into the left-field seats. He lowered his head. Started running toward first. And all he heard was the sound of silence from the crowd of 43,934 at Miller Park.

"There's nothing like silence on the road," Rollins said.

The Phillies had a 4-0 lead, and Burrell dashed any notions of a late Brewers comeback with another home run in the eighth. He joined Lenny Dykstra as the only players in team history to hit two homers in a postseason game.

"When you get into a situation like this, where the emotions are there, all the excitement and not to be a factor and not help your team win," Burrell said, "it gets old. It can really affect you. So I was just happy to be a factor and contribute."

Burrell wasn't even sure he was going to be in the starting lineup until batting practice. He saw his name was in the second group and figured Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was going to stick with him at least one more time. Manuel said he considered dropping Burrell in the lineup but not bench him.

"This is a time of year where you've got to go with who's hot, and I understand that," Burrell said. "The bottom line is you've got to find a way to win. I understand that. I don't know that anybody takes it harder when we don't come through than (Rollins) and I."

Now the two longtime friends who met when they were high school players in Southern California have helped bring the Phillies to the brink of the World Series. This could be their final month together. Burrell is a free agent at the season's conclusion and expects to be heavily courted by the San Francisco Giants.

(usatoday.com)

Pat Burrell left batting practice early with a back injury during Tuesday afternoon's workout at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies took batting practice Tuesday in preparation for Wednesday's Game One of the NL playoffs. Burrell limped off about 20 minutes into the workout, heading for the clubhouse and walking gingerly down the steps. The clubhouse was closed to the media following the workout, and Burrell was unavailable for comment.

There is no indication the injury is anything serious, and Burrell's status for today's game is not known. He is, coincidentally, scheduled to give an MLB press conference Wednesday afternoon.

"I think he'll live,'' said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, who confirmed that Burrell's back had locked up on him during the workout. Manuel didn't seem too worried about Burrell, but stopped short of saying he thought the left fielder would be OK. Asked if he was worried, Manuel said: "We'll have him checked out.''

(courierpostonline.com)

Pat Burrell drove in three runs as the Phillies defeated the Braves 6-2 on Monday night.
Burrell launched a three-run homer just after the Phillies had broken a 2-2 tie on a failed fielder's choice in the eighth, giving the bullpen a comfy four-run lead to protect in the ninth. Burrell is hitting just .172 in September and .247 overall, but he maintains a solid 865 OPS.

(rotoworld.com)

PHILADELPHIA — Phillies fans waved rally towels, giddy at their good fortune, and chanted "Sweep! Sweep!" as the Phillies stomped on the Brewers again Sunday. They have gained four games on Milwaukee in three days. Out of nowhere -- here come the Phillies, making another late-season surge toward the playoffs. Good times, all around.

"I believe in momentum -- what do you call it -- attitude, charisma; when you come to the ballpark, everything is OK," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "Everybody is in a good mood, upbeat. Everybody's happy. People ain't walking around sulking because they ain't making enough money, or something happened at the house. I don't know; those things happen. "We're totally focused on playing the game. It shows you we're starting to get it together."

The word Manuel was searching for was "chemistry," but whatever. For the Phillies today, it's all good. They are taking advantage of a momentous collapse -- again. Among the many sins the Brewers committed Sunday, losing a doubleheader and folding faster than Superman on laundry day, was this: They got Pat Burrell going.

Burrell re-joined the Phillies lineup Sunday, driving in the game-winning run in the opener after a grievous insult -- and adding a home run in the nightcap. Burrell was hitting .165 with a .289 slugging percentage since Aug. 5, with just 10 RBIs in 121 at-bats. Still it was a heck of a thing to see Brewers manager Ned Yost bring in a lefty to face Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, and then walk Howard intentionally to let the left-hander face Burrell.

Weird -- and an open admission that Yost thought Burrell wasn't much of a threat. Burrell smoked a single to left that broke a 3-3 tie and sent the Phillies to a win in the opener. Asked if it was an important hit for him and for his confidence, Burrell said it sure was.

"To be able to help us win was important," Burrell said. "I can't lie; it was big. I needed to get a hit in that situation."

In the eighth inning of Game 1, Yost brought in lefty Brian Shouse for Utley and Howard. Utley inexplicably bunted, opening up first base. Yost ordered Shouse to walk Howard, bringing up Burrell. Then he let the lefty face Burrell.

Shouse allows right-handers almost a hundred points better batting average than left-handers. Burrell is hitting 15 points better against lefties. Howard is hitting .208 against lefties. Just weird. But that's how bad the Brewers are going -- 3-10 in September, and going all to pieces in front of the Phillies.

And that's how good Howard is going. With a homer in the opener, Howard has hit safely in eight straight games, driven in at least one run in seven straight and he has seven homers and 19 RBIs in September -- both tops in the majors.

"It's only a matter of time, because he's been swinging the bat so well," Burrell said. "I'm not surprised they pitch around him. All that does is put some pressure on the guy behind him. I need to get base hits there."

Burrell then homered in the second game, as Brett Myers pitched the Phillies into a tie for the wild-card lead. Myers was brilliant, again. That Myers and Moyer both pitched in this series on short rest proved an obvious point -- Manuel is going all-in on the Brewers, and for good reason.
This apparently is the Phillies' plan every season -- to lurk in the weeds, waiting for the teams ahead of them to throw up on themselves, and then waltz past them into the playoffs. The Phillies are a dynasty that way, as long as somebody else falls apart every year.

This year, that somebody may be the Brewers. The two teams traded hit batsmen Sunday, and there should have been a fight. The Brewers needed a fight; there was every reason for this to go haywire -- but the Brewers have no more fight left in them, and the Phillies couldn't have cared less. Bigger fish to fry.

Asked if the Mets and Brewers should be worried about the Phillies, Howard smiled before dodging the question this way: "We're worried about ourselves," Howard said. "Everybody else would probably say the same. We'll take care of our business."

It gets a lot easier if Burrell gets going again. This may indeed be his last stand in Philadelphia; he's in the last year of his contract and Burrell's fade in the last month has put a return in real doubt. He knows it; Burrell has admitted he's thought this month might be the end for him here. Unless, of course, he's playing in October. Reach Kevin Roberts at kroberts@courierpostonline.com

(courierpostonline.com)

Long before the fans filed into Citizens Bank Park just as the Phillies were strolling onto the infield grass to begin the pre-batting practice calisthenics, a video edited into a loop to play and re-play over and over again greeted the club from the Phan-a-vision hulking over the field.

And each time the video played, the laughs got harder and louder. Heck, even the guy shown in the replay enjoyed the silliness of watching himself dive in vain for a sinking line drive in left field only to have his glove fall off. Rather than pick up the glove, the outfielder dived from a crouching position like a cheetah on top of the ball as it trickled away. Finally, he calmly rose to his feet after all that hurried motion and chucked the ball back to the infield.

Needless to say, when the play was seen dozens of times over and over again, hilarity ensued.

According to manager Charlie Manuel, that kind of relaxed and fun-time attitude is exactly what Pat Burrell needs right now. At least that’s what he said in explaining why he gave the left fielder the night off on Monday as the team descends deeper into the throes of the pennant race.

“I’m trying to get him going,” Manuel said. “I just want him to sit down and relax. Take it easy – get away from things.”

Lately it appears as if Burrell has had difficulty getting out of his own way. During the 10-game road trip that wrapped up on Sunday night at Shea Stadium, Burrell went 5-for-33with no extra-base hits, just two RBIs, and 12 strikeouts. He hasn’t gotten a hit since Sept. 3 and hasn’t homered since slugging his 30th of the season on Aug. 23.

Obviously, things aren’t going well for Burrell.

Manuel says Burrell is off-balance and “too early” with his swing.

“It’s a timing, rhythm and a feel,” Manuel said about hitting. “[Burrell] needs to get it back.”

Arguably one of the team’s offensive MVP’s during the first half of the season – a start in which Burrell nearly received his first All-Star appearance – the outfielder’s fortunes began to flip in early August. He went six games without a hit from Aug. 6 to 11, snapped out of the funk briefly, but then dived back in with a jag in which he did not get a hit in 14 straight at-bats. Mixed in there was an 0-for-7 performance against the Mets where Burrell whiffed four times.

Burrell is scuffling through a similar patch now, having gone hitless in six straight at-bats with three strikeouts. So after an August in which he hit .181, Manuel decided to sit Burrell down for the third time in the last seven games.

Clearly Burrell wants to finish the 2008 season the way he started it. In April the nine-year vet reached base in 30 straight games and broke the club’s all-time record for RBIs in the month with 24.

But during the second half Burrell has taken his name out of contention for the team’s offensive MVP with a .212 batting average, seven homers and a strikeout rate that grows by the game. Always prone to a higher-than-average whiff rate, Burrell struck out in 20 percent of his plate appearances during the first half. During the second half that figure rose to 24 percent.

“He tries too hard,” Manuel said. “Sometimes when he sits down he comes back better.”

(philadelphia.comcastsportsnet.com)

With Pat Burrell's recent slump, can we assume he won't be back next year? I'm not a fair-weather fan, my patience ran out with him two years ago. I was never sold on his first half not being a contract year resurgence.
-- Peter B., Philadelphia
It's ironic that this question arrives two days after Burrell's career high tying five-RBI game that included a first-inning three-run homer, though I imagine it's also tied to him batting .211 in August.

Burrell remains streaky, extremely hot at times -- batting .326 with eight homers in April and .304 with seven homers in July -- and cold at other times -- in August, plus hitting .227 with five homers in May. Regardless, he always seems to belt 30 homers and drive in 90-110 runs. His .391 on-base percentage leads the Phillies and is seventh in the National League.

Will he be back? I'm not sure. I would have said, "No," at the beginning of the season, but the Phillies would have to find a power-hitting, right-handed-hitting replacement. I'm not saying this means he'll be back, but the Phillies will entertain the discussion.

Burrell will have suitors if he hits an open market that will also include Manny Ramirez, Milton Bradley, Adam Dunn and Bobby Abreu (would you like to see him back?). Vladimir Guerrero is another outfield possibility, if the Angels don't exercise a $15 million option. Burrell turns 32 in October, and teams may covet a seven-year average of 29 homers and 93 RBIs, especially an American League club that can play him at designated hitter.

If Burrell hits the open market what type of free agent will he be? -- Rob C., Phoenixville, Pa.
Burrell will be a Type A free agent, meaning the Phillies will receive two compensatory Draft picks from the team that signs him, assuming he's offered arbitration. Philadelphia would get a "sandwich" pick between the first two rounds, and a first- or second-round pick of the team signing Burrell, depending on whether that team had one of the 15 worst records in baseball.

(phillies.com)

PHILADELPHIA -- Pounding opposing pitchers, even good ones like the Dodgers have thrown the past two games, has been a Phillies' offensive staple, just not for the past two months.

But as manager Charlie Manuel has maintained, for as good as the pitching has been, especially ace Cole Hamels and 45-year-old Jamie Moyer, the Phillies must hit or they won't be in the playoffs.

"As long as we come out of it at the right time, I won't worry about it," Ryan Howard said. "As long as we're all hot at the right time, I'll gladly take it."
Howard, who hit a two-run double, was able to smile after a second straight offensive outburst, this time a 9-2 win over Los Angeles on Saturday in front of a sellout Citizens Bank Park crowd. With their victory and the Mets' loss to the Astros, the Phils are 1 1/2 games back in the National League East.

As has been a part of the Mount Rushmore of a cold offense, Ryan Howard brought a .164 August average into the series. He, Pat Burrell (.167), Jimmy Rollins (.211) and Chase Utley (.243) hit a combined .198 in the month.

The Phillies hitters know they're better.

So there they were, peppering Greg Maddux on Friday and phenom rookie Clayton Kershaw on Saturday, starters who entered their outings with ERAs below 4.00. The Phillies combined for 17 runs in the two games, their highest total since they blasted Atlanta for 22 runs on July 26-27.

There was Burrell rounding the bases after a three-run, first-inning homer. His 30th of the season gave the Phillies a trio of players with 30 or more homers (with Howard and Utley) for the third time in franchise history. Burrell, Howard and Rollins turned the trick last season and Chuck Klein, Lefty O'Doul and Don Hurst did it in 1929.

Burrell plated another run on a double in the fifth, thanks to Matt Kemp losing Burrell's fly ball in the sun. Kemp raced in on it, then held up his hands and watched as the ball dropped 15 feet behind him.

"I knew he was in trouble as soon as he put his hands up," said center fielder Shane Victorino. "I was trying to jump and tell the guys to go, because I could see he was in trouble. He was still coming in. That's got to be one of the worst feelings. You feel like you're helpless."
Philadelphia capitalized when Howard laced a two-run double to knock Kershaw out of the game, giving Mount Rushmore a combined .323 (10-for-31) average in two games.

"For the four of us to go into a lull?" Howard said. "That's just the game. As far as coming out of it, the last two games, we'll just see if we can try and build on the momentum. I've seen a lot of weird things that take place in this game."

(phillies.com)

SAN DIEGO — Cole Hamels knew if he was patient, the wins would come. He never figured it would take this long.

Hamels pitched eight sharp innings to snap a seven-start winless drought, Pat Burrell hit a go-ahead homer and the Phillies beat the San Diego Padres, 2-1, on Sunday night.

Hamels (10-8) limited the Padres to one run on seven hits as he won for the first time since a 4-1 victory at Atlanta on July 3 and helped the Phillies stay two games back of the Mets in the NL East. The Mets were 4-0 winners at Pittsburgh.

“Every one of us on the starting staff tries to put up good innings and quality starts and hope for the best,” Hamels said. “We have been able to do that but, unfortunately, it hasn't gone my way. That's baseball.”

Hamels stayed in control of San Diego by throwing strikes and getting ahead in the count. The left-hander didn't worry about Philadelphia's recent offensive struggles.

“I think when you really try to be extra fine, you get yourself in trouble,” he said. “That's when you put too much pressure on yourself. That's something that I learned over the past month.”

Although the Phillies scored three runs or less for Hamels for the sixth time in his last eight starts, Burrell came through again with a big home run. Burrell hit his 29th homer of the season, a solo shot with an out in the sixth that proved to be the difference. He also homered on Friday night in the Phillies' 1-0 win over San Diego.

“This team will hit because we've all done it before,” Burrell said. “But until we pick it up, we'll have to make sure we are at least getting the clutch hits.”

Philadelphia has hit just .197 with seven homers and 32 runs scored in its last 11 games.

“It's nice to win two of three especially when you score six runs,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “We battled, it was a standoff.”

Hamels was 0-3 with a 3.61 ERA during his career-high winless skid despite solid outings. Hamels has allowed two or less runs in seven of his last nine starts and 10 of 14.

“He was due to win one because he's pitched some real good ballgames,” Manuel said. “This guy has had some tough luck in getting some decisions, getting some wins. He's pitched much better than his record.”

Brad Lidge struck out the side in the ninth — and gave up a walk — to pick up his 30th save in 30 chances. Lidge has 33 consecutive saves dating to last season.

San Diego lost its ninth consecutive home series since winning two of three against the Los Angeles Dodgers, June 10-12. Since then, the Padres have dropped 20 of 27 at home.

Jimmy Rollins got the Phillies going in the first inning with a single off Cha Seung Baek (4-7). He stole second and continued to third on catcher Luke Carlin's throwing error. Jason Werth followed with a sacrifice fly.

Burrell then homered off Baek to give Philadelphia a 2-0 lead in the sixth. The RBI tied him with Greg Luzinski (811) for eighth place on the Phillies' all-time list.

“It was supposed to be a slider away but it was up,” Baek said. “It should have been down.”

The Padres strung together consecutive one-out singles by Kevin Kouzmanoff, Adrian Gonzalez and Chase Headley to cut the lead to 2-1 in the sixth.

“(Hamels) was throwing three pitches for strikes,” Headley said. “I looked up one time and he was throwing three strikes for every one ball.”
Hamels threw 97 pitches, 73 for strikes.

Baek allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits over six innings. He dropped to 0-7 at home with a 5.86 ERA in eight starts.

(phillyburbs.com)

Phillies.MLB.com's Kevin Horan reports Philadelphia Phillies OF Pat Burrell, who is hitless in his last 15 at-bats, received the day off Sunday, Aug. 10.




(kffl.com)

The question was a simple one, but not necessarily one that provides a simple answer.

Would you, if you were the Phillies, have traded Pat Burrell for Manny Ramirez straight up?

This one would drive my buddy Rock down at the Hamilton Acme nuts. An avid anti-Burrellist, Rock would ask how one could trade a future Hall of Famer (Ramirez) for a player that many regarded as a disappointment?

The stat freaks will be quick to point out that Burrell has never hit 40 homers in a season. He has but two 100-RBI seasons in his career (despite being in the middle of one of the league's most potent offenses) and as bad as Ramirez has often been on defense, Burrell is still slower in left field.

Valid points all. And yet, as I sit here receiving endless reminders of a sagging economy, the thought of tax increases and a presidential race that may become one of the most bitter in history, I can't help but take a liking to Burrell. If this were the Dow, he'd be one of the few stocks going up, whereas Ramirez is one that scares me and is going in reverse.

You never hear of Pat being Pat. He doesn't make you feel all warm and fuzzy like Cal Ripken or Arthur Ashe, but he won't embarrass you either. On a team that has already had issues with one of its stars this season (the Jimmy Rollins controversies), would a potentially volatile player like Ramirez be a good thing?

Approach-wise, Burrell isn't the same player as years back. He'll still go way over 100 strikeouts (for the ninth consecutive season), but he's also ready to go over .400 in on-base percentage, which is 30 points better than his career average.

Burrell is going to right field better now than at any time in his career and hitting in the clutch just as well. Ramirez is going the other way, which isn't to say Burrell is still his offensive equal; he's not.

But there's something positive in the devil you know being better than the one you don't; Burrell has taken more than his share of abuse from the tough fans in Philadelphia and many have come to appreciate him for the endurance. Ramirez would be immediately greeted in Philly, but what would be the next step were he to go 0-for-20?

Having seen Phils fans do the unthinkable on the last homestand and boo Chase Utley and Rollins in the same game, don't think they wouldn't boo Manny too. And don't think Manny being Manny would sell in Philly. It might be a tonic or might be a poison on a team that could make the postseason just the way it is constituted.

So to answer the question, the better player isn't always the better-for-the-situation player and I would have done just what the Phils did and stood pat with Pat.

(nj.com)

NEW YORK -- While manager Charlie Manuel acknowledges Pat Burrell's fielding shortcomings in left field, he appreciates one aspect of his defense: his arm.

"His arm is accurate and strong, but I think they definitely try to run on him," Manuel said. "They try to put pressure on him."

Burrell is the first to acknowledge that his lack of footspeed hurts him, especially in the larger outfields, but the former third baseman's arm is an asset. Burrell is part of an outfield that leads the NL with 24 assists, and is second in baseball to Minnesota's 26. Burrell is tied for second with nine assists.

"We've cut down a lot of runners," Burrell said.

There's more.
In the book entitled The Fielding Bible, John Dewan devised a way to evaluate outfielders' arms. He looked at two elements: "Runner Advance Percentage" -- how often runners succeed at taking an extra base on a single or double -- and "Baserunner Kills" -- how often an outfielder directly throws out a runner without a relay.

Burrell has four kills, and has only allowed just less than 30 percent of runners to advance. Based on his better advance percentage, Dewan selected Burrell as the "left fielder with the best throwing arm in baseball so far this year."

"He's one of the most consistent arms there is," third-base coach Steve Smith said. "If the ball is at him, he's good at getting the ball under control."

Burrell showed off that arm on Tuesday night, when he dug out a double by David Wright and fired to Jimmy Rollins, who relayed home to cut down the speedy Endy Chavez. Later in the game, right fielder Jayson Werth charged a ball and also nailed Chavez trying to score.
"It's the most exciting part of my job," Werth said. "I used to catch and you're in on everything. As an outfielder, you're not in on anything. Any time you get a chance to throw a guy out ..."

Geoff Jenkins and Shane Victorino have five assists apiece, Werth has four and T.J. Bohn has one. Burrell's nine is also a product of runners taking more chances, giving Burrell more opportunities.

"He has a great arm," Victorino said. "When you talk arms, people don't put him up there, but he makes strong throws that are pretty accurate. When guys say he's a poor defensive player, it frustrates me. He might not get to every ball, but makes accurate throws and throws guys out."

(mlb.com)

MIAMI - Pat Burrell was not happy with manager Charlie Manuel's decision to remove him late in yesterday's 11-inning loss to the Florida Marlins.

"I'm upset, absolutely," Burrell said. "I'm upset, and I have been for a long time. It's not personal. I don't want to ever come out of close games."

Manuel routinely replaces his leftfielder with a speedier defender when the Phillies have leads late in games.

Yesterday, Burrell was replaced by Eric Bruntlett in the bottom of the eighth with the Phils ahead, 2-1. Cole Hamels gave up a game-tying home run in the inning.

Burrell had been 5 for 12 with two doubles and two home runs in the series. His would-be spot in the lineup came up in the top of the 11th, and Bruntlett hit a soft leadoff pop-up to second, dropping him to .231 on the season.

Burrell said there was no guarantee he would have gotten a hit if he had stayed in. For the season, he is hitting .280 with 25 homers, third-most in the National League.

Manuel defended his removal of Burrell.

"Yes, I thought about leaving him in," he said. "If it was the seventh, I would have left him in. It was the eighth inning, and we were six outs away [from a win]. I took him out because Bruntlett covers more ground - that's why. Six outs to go with a one-run lead, that's the decision I made."

Burrell did not raise his voice or show much emotion as he voiced his displeasure with Manuel's strategy.

"In that situation, we're trying to put more speed out there, so I can't question what the manager is trying to do. He's got confidence in all his guys," Burrell said. "But I can't lie and say I'm not frustrated by it, especially when it's close like that in a low-scoring game. He knows that. We've discussed it.

"Do I wish it was different? Absolutely. I don't know any other way to say that. A lot of games I've come out, it's never an issue, but when it does come back to bite us, it becomes more of a focus."

Burrell realizes he is not a fleet runner, and there are times when he has no qualms about coming out of a game.

"If it's a tie game and I get on base and you run for me, I think that's a good time," he said.

As Burrell headed out of the clubhouse, he smiled and offered up a possible solution to his early-exit frustration.

"Maybe I've got to improve my 60 times," he said.

(phillyburbs.com)

Pat Burrell finished 3-for-5 with two solo home runs Saturday but the Phillies couldn't top the Marlins.
Pedro Feliz, Jimmy Rollins and Chris Coste knocked in one RBI apiece. Burrell hit his shots in the fifth and eighth innings but those five runs wouldn't be enough. He's hitting .280 with 25 HR and 59 RBI this season.

(rotoworld.com)

New York Mets closer/Philadelphia villain Billy Wagner was zigzagging his way through a National League clubhouse overflowed with media yesterday afternoon when stopped by Phillies catching instructor Mick Billmeyer.

“Remember the time I threw cheese in the bullpen?” Billmeyer asked with a smirk before Yankee Stadium played host to the 79th All-Star Game.

Once called a rat by Phillies outfielder Pat Burrell while they were teammates in Philadelphia, Wagner let out a laugh.

Billmeyer, a longtime prankster who is part of the All-Star festivities because he threw to Chase Utley during Monday's Home Run Derby, turned to a group of Philadelphia reporters and retold a favorite story.

“It was great,” he said. “I had these big triangles of cheese and tossed them (from the Phillies bullpen) into the Mets bullpen. Billy's like, "I knew it had to be you to think of something like that.' ''

Wagner laughed some more.

Wagner was called a rat during 2005 spring training, the morning after being spotted by Burrell dining with Phillies beat writers.

Over the years, there's been a belief that the Burrell-Wagner feud has grown now that they're on rival teams.

Not true, Wagner insists.

“We're not enemies at all,” he said. “We talk.”

Talk?

“Not on the phone, but on the field,” Wagner said. “I'm thinking about selling my '68 Chevy and he's like, "Now isn't a good time.' Pat says, "We can't let too many people seeing us talk or shake hands or else people might think we like each other.”

Wagner, who is sixth all-time with 380 career saves, says he's loves Burrell the player and respects Burrell the person. They're not friends, but friendly with a mutual respect.

“Without a doubt,” Wagner said. “Everything was all blown out of proportion. Me and Pat laugh about it all the time.”

But in 2005, the last of Wagner's two seasons with the Phillies, there definitely was friction.

The spring “rat” insult clearly showed Burrell felt Wagner was too friendly to the Philadelphia media.

And in July, things got worse when Wagner said the Phillies “ain't got a chance” at making the playoffs during a slump. The Phils called a team meeting, Burrell and others spoke up against Wagner, and the outspoken reliever responded by telling reporters that he felt like it was “24 against one.”

Wagner became a free agent after the 2005 season and moved on, passing on an offer to return to the Phillies to sign for bigger money with the Mets. Since, many of his in-game confrontations with Burrell have been well-documented even though he says they've let bygones be bygones.

Getting serious, Wagner said it's a shame that Burrell, who has 23 homers, 57 RBIs and a .404 on-base average at the break, didn't get picked for his first All-Star Game.

“His whole approach (to hitting) is different,” Wagner said. “He was always a guy who would hit some home runs, but now he's dangerous every time he's in there.”

Wagner is an All-Star for the sixth time in a season he has saved 22 and blown five, three in a row at one point.

“Do I feel I deserve to be here? No,” Wagner said. “Pat should be here.”

(phillyburbs.com)

If you were hoping that the Brad Lidge signing was only the beginning and that Pat Burrell was next, you may not want to get your hopes up too high. According to ESPN.com, and remember they are not always a credible source, Phillies' extension conversations with Burrell's agent, Greg Genske, were short and not real sweet. The Phillies are believed to be offering no more than two years and around $20 million to Burrell. And that's not even close to what Burrell and Genske have in mind.

(espn.com)

PHILADELPHIA -- This should make Pat Burrell feel better about not making the National League All-Star team.

Big home runs, like the left fielder's three-run poke in Philadelphia's stay-in-first-place 6-3 win over Arizona on Sunday, have a way of soothing disappointment. Judging by Burrell's smile and curtain call, he's over it.

"It's one of those things where I'd like to go," Burrell said. "But the focus is on winning games."

Emboldened after tying the game off D-backs starter Brandon Webb, the Phillies began the eighth inning with singles by Chase Utley and Ryan Howard off reliever Chad Qualls. Burrell worked the count to 2-2 before depositing a slider into the left-field seats.

The 31st sellout crowd of 45,277 wanted a curtain call from Burrell on an 87-degree afternoon. The win guaranteed the Phillies of a first-place finish at the All-Star break for the first time since 2004, when they led the Braves by a game.

Ryan Madson worked the eighth for the win, on a day when Cole Hamels matched Webb for seven innings. Hamels was helped by bad Arizona baserunning in the seventh to escape a jam.

With runners on first and second and one out, Orlando Hudson drove the ball to right, and Stephen Drew started back to second, thinking Geoff Jenkins would make the catch. When Jenkins couldn't make the play, Drew could only reach third, halting Conor Jackson at second. Hudson was halfway to second and fell down, making him an eventual easy second out after running out of the baseline.

After a brief meeting on the mound with manager Charlie Manuel, Hamels went after Mark Reynolds and struck him out on his 98th and final pitch of the afternoon.

Then came Burrell, the non-All-Star.

"He's been hitting home runs, game-winning stuff like that all year long," said closer Brad Lidge, who drove to New York after the game for his second All-Star appearance. "I think they both should be there."

Both, meaning Burrell and Hamels, who received a no-decision and finished the first half at 9-6. Though a trip to the Midsummer Classic would be nice, Hamels has other items ranked higher on his baseball to-do list.

"Making the playoffs and being in the World Series is the only true goal, besides the small goal of making the All-Star Game every year," Hamels said.

(mlb.com)

Colorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle made the finishing touches on the National League All-Star roster when he replaced injured Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano with Mets third baseman David Wright.

Burrell, who lost out in the Internet voting competition a day earlier, and fellow Phillies slugger Ryan Howard were thought to be strong candidates to fill the spot.


"Yeah, it's disappointing," said Burrell, who finished third on the five-man Final Vote ballot. "Obviously, you have a chance to go, you want to go. It's that simple. But the reality is David Wright is an excellent player, and he deserves a chance to go as well."

Wright, who finished second to Corey Hart in the Final Vote competition, is hitting .288 with 17 home runs and 70 RBIs.

Burrell entered Friday hitting .279 with 22 home runs and 54 RBIs. He also leads the majors with 69 walks and is ranked fifth in OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) at .993.

"Ever since the last half of last season, he's been a consistent hitter," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "In his career, he's been a run producer... I think it would have been great for him to (to go)."

Howard made a late surge in the last week. He hit his major-league leading 28th home run Friday.

Although he was hitting .234 before the game, Howard also led the National League with 83 RBIs.

"How can you possibly overlook that?" Manuel said of Howard's home run and RBI totals. "Yeah he's got 125 strikeouts or something. But at the same time, those are hard numbers to pass up."

If nothing else, Burrell was appreciative of the effort this week at Citizens Bank Park during the four days of the Final Vote process. The "Go to Bat for Pat" campaign included a trio of fans who spent the better part of three straight days constantly voting for the Phillies left fielder.

"The fan response, and the effort that the Phillies gave, I want to thank everybody for what they've done," Burrell said. "They made a huge impact on things, and I'm thankful for that."

While most players make vacation plans - some go home, some go fishing - Burrell kept his calendar clear.

Although he never went out of his way to campaign for his All-Star candidacy, the slugger, who has never been to an All-Star Game, wanted to be part of the midsummer classic.

"I can't lie," Burrell said in front of his locker stall Friday afternoon. "I'd love to have gone."

(delcotimes.com)

You can log off the computer now. Despite a huge push locally to launch an Internet wave of support for Pat Burrell, the Phils' left-fielder is not going to the All-Star Game.

Burrell came in Third in the balloting to fill the final roster spot.

Joining the National Leaguers at Yankee Stadium next week instead will be Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Corey Hart.
Tampa Bay Rays rookie third baseman Evan Longoria took the American League spot.

Hart got 8 million votes and was followed by the Mets' David Wright, Burrell, San Francisco's Aaron Rowand and Houston's Carlos Lee.

Longoria received 9 million votes.

Earlier in the day it was announced that Rockies' outfielder Matt Holliday will replace injured Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano on the NL squad.

(delcotimes.com)

Leftfielder Pat Burrell is in the final year of a 6-year, $50 million contract, not a 5-year, $60 million contract as reported in yesterday's paper. Burrell said yesterday there have been no talks of a contract extension with the Phillies


(philly.com)

The Phillies are urging fans to show their pride to a nine-year veteran, who has dealt with his fair share of cheers and jeers. Vote for Pat Burrell!

Burrell is having a great season. He has tallied 21 homers, second among National League outfielders, and he ranks among the league leaders in home runs.

Burrell is vying for the final player spot on the National League's 32-man roster, hoping to join teammates Chase Utley and Brad Lidge.

"Phillies fans came through four years ago and elected Bobby Abreu to the NL squad in the Final Vote by casting over two million votes," said Phillies president David Montgomery. "That's a lot of votes to cast in just a few short days, but Pat deserves the same support."

Fans can vote an unlimited amount of times on Phillies.com and WIP Sports Radio is hosting a marathon voting session on Tuesday afternoon at Harry the K's at Citizens Bank Park.

Don't forget to VOTE for Pat!

PHILADELPHIA — At some point around the second inning of today's game at Citizens Bank Park, a TBS national broadcast will let everyone in on this year's National League All-Star team.

Long before that, Chase Utley will get confirmation that he is yet again the starting second baseman for the National League and Brad Lidge certainly will get word he's on the pitching staff.

More than likely, Cole Hamels will be told that even though he won't be available to pitch after his final start on Sunday that he, too, will be invited to Yankee Stadium as a member of the NL team.

If all is fair, and everything isn't always fair, Pat Burrell will also get word that in his eighth major-league season, he, too, will get to play in the All-Star Game.

"I've always said it would be a great thing to be a part of that," Burrell said this week after the Phillies beat Atlanta for the second time in as many nights and he upped his season total of home runs to 21. "I've just got to wait and see, and hope for the best. It would be a big honor to be able to go."

Burrell is far from a lock. He won't get the fan vote and he'll need to overcome the politics and machinations of Colorado's Clint Hurdle -- the manager understandably has other things to think about just beyond numbers. But even then, it appears as if this may finally be the year Burrell doesn't get four off days in the middle of the season.

This isn't to say Burrell has lived up to the hype of being a No. 1 pick overall. In many ways, he's still paying the price for an awful 2003 in which he hit .209. He's not the .300 hitter the Phillies projected him to be when he was at the University of Miami and he's not the most graceful of runners. But so what?

Burrell has been consistent, and that's consistently good. Not awesome, not spectacular or outstanding, but very consistent.

It should mean something that for eight consecutive seasons, the Phillies could write down -- in permanent ink -- at least 20 home runs. His average over that time is actually 28.5 home runs, with 21 in that dreaded 2003 campaign.

It should mean something that he's knocked in at least 84 runs in seven of those seasons. It should mean something that he has the respect of his teammates -- all of whom say no one works harder -- and management. It should mean something that he's gone through plenty of abuse in left field and still indicated he wants to stay.

But all of that doesn't mean squat with the way the All-Star team is selected.

That said, Burrell has value this year.

Burrell's 21 home runs are tied for first with Cincinnati's Adam Dunn for left fielders. Dunn is hitting an anemic .227 with 90 strikeouts, while Burrell is hitting .278 with just 69 strikeouts.

Burrell is second among left fielders with a .411 OBP behind Colorado's Matt Holliday -- who most likely makes the team after a strong 2007 along with a hot June -- at .425.

Burrell's .587 slugging percentage and .999 OPS are off the charts and lead all National League left fielders.

So what stands in his way?

Well, he is competing against all outfielders and there is also the rub that every team must be represented.

But even with that, Burrell certainly deserves his spot next week at Yankee Stadium. When he gets word today, the only possible answer is yes, he's on the team.

(courierpostonline.com)

THAT PAT BURRELL'S career with the Phillies tends to be greeted with shrugs and what-ifs is pretty much a given at this point. In his ninth season now, there seems little chance of that changing. Opinions are formed, attitudes hardened. In this town, a made-up mind is a terrible thing to face.

Yet the numbers beckon, if anyone is willing to listen.

Since 2000, when Burrell broke in with the Phillies, there are only 23 players who have hit at least 200 homers and driven in at least 750 runs. He is one of them. Alex Rodriguez, Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez, Albert Pujols, Pat Burrell - all on the same chart.

Surprised, right?

That he is one of the top two-dozen power hitters of this era is unquestioned. History surely will view Burrell that way. The reply will come back that more was expected of the first pick of the 1998 draft - and, well, fine.

But if you look at the players who made their major league debut in 2000, Burrell is so clearly the premier slugger of that class that it isn't even arguable. His 236 homers are 70 more than the guy behind him on the table, Aubrey Huff. His 788 RBI are 193 more than Huff. Again, it is not close.

Yet the feeling you get is that of a person shouting into a brisk wind, the words swallowed up, gone.

"You have to look at it this way," Burrell was saying yesterday, sitting in a little runway next to the Phillies' dugout at Citizens Bank Park.

"Here in Philadelphia, we're pretty fortunate," he said. "There are guys like Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard and Chase Utley on this team - not just stars but superstars. So, for me, I'm just trying to go out there and do everything I can to help us win.

"When you look at the big picture, when a guy like Howard hits 50 home runs a year, year after year, it's tough to look at a guy who hits 30 and say, 'He's doing a great job.' That's just realistic with the kind of team this is."

Burrell is all about matter-of-fact. He always has been. He cultivates neither media people nor attention. If you can find him, he will answer the questions - but you do have to find him first. That is unlikely to change.

But sitting there yesterday, holding a piece of paper containing that list of sluggers since 2000, the list on which he figures significantly, it was clear that Burrell himself was at least a little bit surprised about part of it, too.

"There's a lot of guys I admire," he said, scanning the list, his eyes running up and down. Then, he stopped.

"I mean, Chipper Jones," Burrell said. "He's having an incredible year. He's had what I consider to be a great career. And he's got 12 more homers and 30-something more RBIs ... I wouldn't have thought that. I wouldn't have thought I was that close.

"I mean, all of these guys are great players. 'Thomes,' I had a chance to play with. [Jason] Giambi, A-Rod, these guys' numbers are incredible."

For years, it seems, Burrell has been tied to twin anvils as far as the people of this town are concerned: his huge contract for one, and his disastrous 2003 season for another. That one season, especially - when Burrell hit only .209 - seems unshakeable in the public consciousness. Even as he has built from that, and really taken off in the last 12 calendar months, the past remains predominant somehow.

"That's got something to do with it,'' Burrell said, evenly. "People who play the game for a long time, they do have bad years - some worse than others. Mine was terrible. I think I hit 21 homers that year and I don't remember any of them. I couldn't tell you one of them because it was that difficult of a year ...

"But it made me a better player. To look back and see where I have come from there, it's a world of difference.''

A lot of the change has been physical - for example, Burrell's struggle with a bum foot has been underplayed through the years. But it is more than that. He always has been an early-to-the-ballpark guy, but he says his conditioning is the best it has ever been.

"I'm in better shape now than since I was probably 22," said Burrell, who is 31. "I think I'm playing better now than I ever have, just my understanding of the game, my approach to hitting, when and what and situations. I don't know how long I'm going to play but I really do feel like, at this time, I'm playing my best.

"I really do think I'd like to play 5 more years. After that, I don't know - health becomes such a concern. You look at Chipper Jones and he's just constantly having problems now. The name of the game, really when you get past 30, is taking care of yourself. Part of the game gets easier in some ways. The hardest thing can be staying healthy.

"But in the last few years, winning has meant so much to me. Playing here and getting a chance to be a part of the change, it has been so fulfilling. I realize now what these other teams have been doing. It's the only way to play, to have this chance to win ... This organization has gone out and done everything it can to help us to win. Now it's up to the players. Everything is here."

As everyone knows, Burrell will be a free agent after this season. The notion that they would re-sign him was once scoffed at as an impossibility. Maybe it still is. Maybe this team will conclude that it simply cannot commit so many of its dollars to offense. Maybe.

"I'd love to stay," Burrell said. "If they would want me to come back, I'd love to come back. But I've been around a long time and I understand that it's a business. They're going to determine the needs they need to fulfill and I might be a piece that doesn't fit. I understand that. But if I had the chance, I would stay - no doubt."

If Burrell doesn't stay, no one can pretend that it will be simple to patch the hole. All right, maybe you can pretend. But anyone with eyes and a willingness to use them can see the truth.
 
Pat's on top
Players who made their major league debuts in 2000 and have more than 100 home runs and 300 RBI. Totals do not include last night's games:
1. PAT BURRELL 236 HR, 788 RBI
2. Aubrey Huff 166 HR, 595 RBI
3. Joe Crede 122 HR, 408 RBI
4. Jimmy Rollins 120 HR, 510 RBI
5. Pedro Feliz 117 HR, 449 RBI
6. Morgan Ensberg 110 HR, 347 RBI
7. Michael Young 109 HR, 603 RBI
8. Eric Byrnes 101 HR, 365 RBI
 
Power numbers
Players who since 2000 have more than 200 home runs and 750 RBI. Totals do not include last night's games:
1. Alex Rodriguez 382 HR, 1,077 RBI
2. Jim Thome 324 HR, 852 RBI
3. Manny Ramirez 307 HR, 971 RBI
4. Albert Pujols 298 HR, 903 RBI
5. Carlos Delgado 291 HR, 939 RBI
6. Andruw Jones 290 HR, 867 RBI
7. Vladimir Guerrero 283 HR, 931 RBI
8. Lance Berkman 274 HR, 897 RBI
9. Jason Giambi 273 HR, 802 RBI
10. David Ortiz 269 HR, 871 RBI
11. Richie Sexson 261 HR, 779 RBI
12. Paul Konerko 253 HR, 815 RBI
13. Carlos Lee 251 HR, 869 RBI
14. Chipper Jones 248 HR, 819 RBI
15. Gary Sheffield 247 HR, 781 RBI
16. Todd Helton 245 HR, 892 RBI
17. PAT BURRELL 236 HR, 788 RBI
18. Miguel Tejada 233 HR, 935 RBI
19. Aramis Ramirez 226 HR, 784 RBI
20. Carlos Beltran 224 HR, 807 RBI
21. Luis Gonzalez 218 HR, 758 RBI
22. Jeff Kent 212 HR, 821 RBI
23. Magglio Ordonez 209 HR, 841 RBI

(philly.com)

It was another night at the office for Phillies’ left fielder Pat Burrell. A 2 for 2 effort with a pair of walks, reaching base all four times and raising his on-base percentage to .433, 4th best in the National League. Alright, maybe that 12th career triple was somewhat out of the ordinary, but the message has been sent. Pat Burrell needs to be re-signed, and it needs to be done as soon as possible.

When people talk about having three consecutive MVPs in Philadelphia, the talk usually heads towards second baseman Chase Utley. But we cannot forget the season that Burrell has had. To date, Burrell is hitting .289 with 18 homeruns and 47 RBI. His 1.047 OPS is good enough for 4th best in the National League, best amongst outfielders. With Alfonso Soriano injured, Burrell could even get his shot at his first All-Star appearance next month. He deserves it.

After the 2002 season, Burrell was given a 6-year contract worth $50 million. It didn’t help his case that 2003 was his worst season in the Majors. But what Burrell has brought to the Phillies day in and day out is a work ethic and a passion to play in Philadelphia. He has stated numerous times in interviews that Citizens Bank Park is the place to be in the summertime. He loves the big crowds, the support from the fans, and the city itself. Ever since that fateful 2003 season, Burrell has been a model of consistency. Now, in the final year of his contract, Burrell has eclipsed his numbers from the past few seasons. His slugging percentage is at .614, up from the numbers (.504, .502, .502) he has posted in his past three seasons. His OPS+ is at 167, after a season in which it was 127. And, possibly most importantly, Charlie Manuel is pulling him out of games for defensive purposes less often. He could easily get 60-70 more at bats than he did last season.

There is a slight problem here, however. Phillies general manager Pat Gillick has stated numerous times in the past months that 2008 is his final season in baseball. Therefore, the future is uncertain, and Gillick rarely negotiates contracts in-season. The Phillies will have two big decisions in the off-season regarding contracts with Burrell and closer Brad Lidge being free agents. Not to mention another possible arbitration situation with Ryan Howard and the prospects of having to pay Cole Hamels. This could get very expensive for the Phillies. But winning franchises find ways to pay their players, and the Phillies need to lock up their talent that they own. They don’t have a better opportunity to do just that than they do with Burrell. A first round pick in 1998, Burrell has lived up to his expectations even though there have been times where we’ve wanted to give up on him.

It may not be easy. As far as we know, there haven’t been any discussions between Burrell and Phillies management. He makes $14 million this season, and strangely, seems to be hitting his prime at age 31. It would appear Burrell has at least two above-average seasons left in him, maybe three. The Phillies should offer a three-year contract to Burrell as soon as possible. Frontload it, and give him the same salary he’s making this year in 2009. Make him comfortable to be a Phillie. After all, they owe it to him. He’s paid his dues, lost fans, regained them, and propelled himself into a stratosphere worthy of another contract. So whether it be Pat Gillick, Ruben Amaro, Jr., or an outsider, the deed must be done. The Phillies need Pat Burrell, and Pat Burrell needs the Phillies.

(mvn.com)

PHILADELPHIA - When Phillies outfielder Pat Burrell heard the topic of conversation, he immediately was struck with an air of seriousness, suggesting the dialogue be moved to the solitude of a back room next to the Philadelphia clubhouse.

“I was going to call him when I heard,” Burrell said before he helped the Phillies defeat the Red Sox [team stats], 8-2, last night at Citizens Bank Park. Burrell was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks to move his batting average up to .289.

Burrell had an urge to reach out to Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz [stats], and the impetus was the torn tendon sheath in Ortiz’ left wrist, which is the same injury Burrell once experienced.

Ortiz, who had his cast removed yesterday, avoided season-risking surgery just as Burrell did with the same injury.

“That was the best thing I ever did,” Burrell said of not having the surgery. “When I heard (Ortiz) might have surgery because of the torn sheath, I was actually going to call Terry (Francona) and tell him that it might be worth a second opinion. But everybody is different, and it might not be my place.”

For Burrell, however, the wrist he injured on a check swing in San Diego on Aug. 3, 2004 serves as his lead hand when batting, unlike the left-handed-hitting Ortiz. Still, the Phillies player might serve as the best example when it comes to understanding what lays ahead for the Red Sox slugger.

Burrell was sent home from San Diego after finishing out that 2004 game against the Padres and returned to the lineup on Sept. 3, when he hit a home run against the Mets. Burrell was able to come back from the injury in just less than five weeks. He ended up hitting six home runs in September.

It was almost a recovery that took a completely different turn, down a surgical path Burrell was hoping Ortiz wouldn’t jump into lightly.

“I was going to have surgery, but two nights before I was taking a shower, during which I was supposed to be wearing this (splint), but just forgot,” Burrell explained. “I was supposed to be showering with one hand, but I ended up not doing it and didn’t feel any pain. So I went to have a doctor look at it again the next day.”

The physician Burrell recommended was Dr. Thomas Graham, who performed similar surgeries on former Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons and is consulting the Sox on Ortiz. The diagnosis was it would be best if Burrell didn’t have the surgery.

“I’m friends with Jay, and his advice was to play with it as long as you can because he ended up having multiple surgeries and never really had the same feeling,” Burrell said. “It’s a situation where I was told if I could tolerate it everything would be OK.”

Burrell has gone on to hit 115 home runs since returning from the injury, but he still cautions that it might be an imperfect condition that Ortiz simply has to get used to.

“I think what happened to me was with time, the body accepts that that was what it was going to be like,” he said. “For me it was a really good decision (not to have surgery).”

(bostonherald.com)

Ten years is longer than it sounds. In 1998, there were roughly 15 million Americans surfing the Internet. Today, it's over 70 million. There were around 65 million Americans using a cell phone. Today, that number is nearly 200 million. There weren't any TiVo or any iPods 10 years ago. A Blu-Ray was something an alien in a movie might use. And High Definition might have been used to talk about a dictionary, but was certainly not a way to watch television.

Ten years ago, Pat Burrell was a 21-year-old kid playing in the College World Series for the University of Miami when Phillies scout Miguel Machado approached him only minutes before what would ultimately become Miami's elimination game to tell him that the organization had chosen him with the first overall selection in the Draft. Today, he is the right-handed power bat in the middle of the Phillies' high-octane offense and the longest tenured player on the club, climbing his way up the all-time franchise home run list.

The call
It's been an interesting decade for the West Coast slugger. He played only a little more than 200 Minor League games before being called up to the big leagues in May 2000 to take over first base for an injured Rico Brogna. The fateful phone call came not from his Minor League manager at the time or the farm director -- the people who usually tell a player he's going to the Majors -- but directly from then Phillies general manager Ed Wade.

"I was asleep and Ed called," Burrell said. "He said, 'What are you doing?' I said, 'I'm sleeping.' Then he said, 'Are you too tired to go to Houston?' I didn't play the first night, but Scott Rolen got hurt, and the next day, I'm hitting fifth. Octavio Dotel started for Houston and he was really, really good. My first thought was, 'Wow, there aren't guys like this in the Minor Leagues.'"

Burrell went 2-for-5 with two RBIs in his Major League debut, including a ninth-inning triple off Astros closer Billy Wagner. The two would meet later on in their careers in more meaningful games.

The year 2000 was the final one of a difficult run for the Phillies. Despite high hopes entering the season, injuries decimated the roster and the team finished at 65-97, leading to the dismissal of manager Terry Francona.

"We didn't have a very good team at the time," said Burrell. "We were light years away from where we are now, so it was actually a good opportunity for me to get my feet wet and get comfortable because the expectations weren't that high. Terry stuck with me, even after Rico came back."

The mentors
Burrell is more of an old-school type of player than most would think. He believes in playing the game one way -- the right way, as he sees it. He doesn't talk a big game or show up pitchers. He doesn't talk much about himself because he believes his actions speak louder than any words could. Much of this was impressed upon him from some of his major influences. One of those was an old coach with a rough exterior and a heart of gold, whose impact has been felt on the last few generations of Phillies players.

"Even when I was in the Minor Leagues, I always came to big league camp [in Spring Training], so John Vukovich was a big influence," Burrell said. "A lot of guys called him Uncle John, and that's kind of how he was. He knew when to come over and put his arm around you and he also knew when to fire on you, too. He was really good for me. Scott Rolen was probably our best player at the time here and I think a lot of players looked up to him for the way he played. He was helpful in a lot of ways, both in terms of how to go about things and how to play the game."

There have been others who helped shape Burrell into the player -- and man -- he is today, but he's quick to point out one person in particular: Curt Schilling. The ace of the Phillies' staff in 2000, Schilling was attempting to come back from his latest in a series of arm injuries. He was the starting pitcher that night in Houston when Burrell made his debut and allowed seven runs in 4 2/3 innings, hardly a line that anyone would expect from one of the best pitchers of the last 10 years.

Schilling's next three starts weren't much better. But then he faced the Braves at Veterans Stadium and his whole season turned around. That night made a lasting impression on Burrell. The Phillies were clinging to a one-run lead in the eighth inning when Schilling had runners at the corners with nobody out and the heart of Atlanta's potent lineup coming to bat. He then reached back for something more, something that separates the men from the boys in the big leagues. He proceeded to strike out Chipper Jones and Andres Galarraga, walked Brian Jordan to load the bases and then struck out Javy Lopez to end the threat. The Phillies held on for a 2-1 win.

"He just absolutely blew these guys away -- and it was the middle of their order," remembered Burrell. "Schill was able to take his game to a whole new level and that was pretty impressive.

"People always talk about Curt and the things he says and does, but all that stuff doesn't matter. It's what you do on the field and there's nobody you'd rather want out there when the game counts than him. He's a big-time pitcher and I have a tremendous amount of respect for that. It's one thing to walk around here and talk a big game, but if you can go out there and back it up and shove it down somebody's throat, it's pretty fun to watch."

The understated leader
Since Darren Daulton was traded to the Marlins in 1997, it seems the Phillies have looked far and wide for a "team leader," the guy who would take care of business both on the field and behind closed doors. Over the years, the media and the franchise have anointed many players that title, whether it was Rolen, Jim Thome, Chase Utley, Aaron Rowand or Jimmy Rollins. Except for a brief time early on in his career, the guy mostly left out of the equation was Burrell.

What most people haven't seen, however, is how he's gone about his business with younger players. While Burrell won't get into specifics, his teammates know the lasting impression he leaves, especially on younger players who the Phillies call up to the big leagues for the first time. He's seen the first Major League game of players like Jason Michaels, Nick Punto, Johnny Estrada, Rollins, Ryan Howard, Utley, Brett Myers and Cole Hamels -- all products of the Phillies' scouting and player development system.

"It's important [to help the younger guys] because you never forget about the way things happen when you first come up," he said. "And the people that are here never forget how you act when you get here. So, it's important to have people to bounce things off of so you do the right thing. If you plan on being here a long time, you don't want to [tick] anyone off."

The first player to arrive at the ballpark every day, Burrell believes in leadership by example, but won't hesitate to let someone know what's on his mind if he feels it's appropriate. However, he'll never divulge when those things happen.

"One of the things that people don't understand is that you don't have to talk about it," said Burrell. "The media can think what they want, but I know that the other 24 [players] are pulling for me every day. There's a right way to do things and that's the only way. What we have here is special. You spend 180 days with these people and it's important to make sure that there's no [nonsense]. If that's not important to you then eventually it breaks up the most important part of this, which is the relationship you have with your team. Without that, you don't win."
2003

In 2002, Burrell hit .282 with 37 home runs and 116 RBIs. Four months after the season ended, the Phillies locked him up to a six-year, $50 million contract extension, which concludes at the end of this season. In the first year of the deal, though, he had the roughest year of his life, hitting .209 with 21 home runs and 64 RBIs.

"The problem I had is that I just couldn't believe what was happening," he said. "I had never really been through any period of time where I wasn't playing well and so when things started going bad I just assumed they'd turn around. But I didn't know how to make that happen. I wish I wouldn't have gone through it and I know the fans feel the same way [laughing]. I think in the long run it made me a better player. You see guys going through bad times and unless you've been in that situation, you have no idea what it's like. We're still playing a game here, though, and there are tougher things in life."

Everyone, it seemed, had the answer for how to fix his season. He was getting phone calls while the Phillies' PR department was getting e-mails from former players, former hitting coaches, college coaches and even golf pros. He did his best to block it all out and just work one-on-one with Greg Gross, the Phillies' hitting coach at the time.

"The one thing I kept hearing around the clubhouse was, 'Stay with it and keep working,' but sometimes you have to change things and be proactive. As bad as it was, though, I really think it helped me out down the road because I don't think it could get any worse. It's just a constant reminder that this game is very difficult to play."

Breaking through
While the city of Philadelphia celebrated the Phillies' first National League East title in 14 years last September, perhaps no one felt more vindicated than Burrell. He and Rollins had been part of more "near misses" than anyone else on the club. In 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, the Phillies went into the final week of the season with a chance to make the playoffs and each time fell just short.

"I always try to be realistic about things," said Burrell. "We had a lot of help [last year]. A lot of people would say that the Mets just gave it to us, but we beat them. However you want to look at it, it worked out and, in the end, it was a great feeling. All the years of being here and seeing how close we had gotten and finally seeing us push it over the edge was a great experience."

Coming full circle
When the Phillies drafted Burrell in June 1998, he had the confidence to know that he would be a Major League player some day. It's that same confidence that helps him propel a baseball into the stratosphere of Citizens Bank Park, treating Harry the K's Restaurant in left field like a shooting range.

"I've got to be honest, 10 years ago when I got drafted I had a pretty good idea that I'd be in the big leagues and then after that I had absolutely no expectations," he said. "Once you get up here and play a couple years, then you start thinking that you found your niche and now you have to build on it and keep going and keep grinding. However, I don't think I envisioned being on a team this good from what it was when I got here."

When he talks about the future, Burrell doesn't claim to be Nostradamus. But, where does he see himself 10 years from now, at age 41?
"I think it's pretty far-fetched to think I'll still be playing, but I'd like to think that in some way I will still be around the game. A lot can happen in 10 years. Starting a family is important, but I'd like to stay a part of this somehow. It's all I know."

(mlb.com)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ken Griffey Jr. didn't get anything to hit his only time up. Pat Burrell didn't miss the tasty, hanging slider he saw.
Burrell hit a tiebreaking two-run homer, Adam Eaton pitched 6 2-3 impressive innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 Tuesday night.

"We're on a good roll now," Burrell said after the NL East leaders won for the eighth time in nine games. "We want to keep it going."

Griffey walked as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning to remain one shy of 600 home runs. Griffey wasn't in the Reds' lineup for the second straight game because of general soreness. He's been bothered by a sore left knee, though he could return Wednesday.

Edwin Encarnacion hit a solo homer and tripled for two of Cincinnati's five hits. Rookie sensation Jay Bruce had a checked-swing, infield single in three at-bats.

Junior represented the tying run when he came up with one out, but walked on four pitches and pitcher Bronson Arroyo ran for him. A sellout crowd gave Griffey a standing ovation and booed when reliever Tom Gordon didn't throw a strike.

"We didn't want him to hit one," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "The tension was there. The excitement was there. You could tell. You could feel it. It's good for the game. We definitely didn't want him to tie the game up."

Griffey hit No. 599 at home Saturday against Atlanta. The only players to reach 600 are Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Sammy Sosa.

The Reds lost center fielder Ryan Freel to a strained right hamstring in the sixth. Freel crumbled to the ground after taking several steps out of the batter's box following a grounder to shortstop. Freel quickly hopped up and hobbled off the field on his own. He'll fly to Cincinnati on Wednesday for further evaluation.

"He said he heard something pop," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "That was just bad luck."

Eaton (2-3) allowed one run and three hits, outpitching Aaron Harang (2-8). Eaton has won consecutive starts after going winless in his first 10.

(ap.com)

PHILADELPHIA — It wasn't exactly Carlton Fisk waving the ball fair in the 1975 World Series. It was just Pat Burrell putting some body English on a ball down the left-field line in the seventh inning -- and Burrell kept the ball barely fair, breaking a 5-5 tie with a two-out double, helping the Phillies beat Florida 7-5 and move back into first place.

In the Phillies' dugout, manager Charlie Manuel had a great view, and he felt pretty confident it would stay fair. And he also saw Burrell, still holding the bat in his right hand, kind of twisting and gesturing rather than running full-out.

"I thought it would stay fair -- and I also thought: Run, dammit," Manuel said, laughing.

These days, Burrell is having more success getting the ball to do what he wants. He's hitting .355 in the late innings of close games, he's hitting .318 with runners in scoring position and .320 with runners in scoring position and two outs.

In the previous three seasons, Burrell batted just .236 in the late innings of close games and .240 with runners in scoring position and two outs. When Burrell hit a game-winning homer May 2 against the Giants, it was his first walk-off homer since 2002.

Burrell works very hard at this, even if he's never gotten enough credit for that part of his game. He's always among the first players to the ballpark, he hits a ton, he works hard on his game. And he's recently begun to embrace video and studying pitchers more.

"He's serious as hell," Manuel said. "As far as some of his thinking about hitting, he's more prepared now. He works hard, and he's always worked hard. But he's changed some of his thinking about video, studying the pitchers, what they've got. He gathers a lot of information, and I think that's helped.

"He's always cared. He's always taken things serious. If people don't know that, then they've got a bad read on him. He's always worked hard, and he's always cared."

Burrell faced Logan Kensing in the seventh. He had just four career at-bats against Kensing entering Sunday (0-for-2 with two walks), but he was ready.

"That guy throws pretty hard, so you have to be ready for the fastball in," Burrell said. "He threw one kind of down, but I was able to squeak one down the line."

Burrell broke his bat on the swing.

"I'd rather have it break on a hit, though," Burrell said.

It was fitting that Sunday the Phillies threw a party for Mike Lieberthal's retirement. The catcher probably wasn't greatly appreciated when he was here, but he got a nice ovation Sunday. Historians will look back on Lieberthal's career and wonder what the problem was -- Lieberthal owns almost every franchise record for catchers.

Someday, people may look back on Burrell's career here and notice that one awful year in 2003 -- but then notice that overall he's been a remarkably consistent player who's always hit for power and driven in runs. The question is how long that career lasts -- because the Phillies really have to start working on bringing Burrell back.

That's a little difficult at the moment, with the weirdness of the Phillies' GM situation. Pat Gillick is leaving after the year, and while the conventional wisdom is that Ruben Amaro will replace him, there's no concrete succession plan. And decisions have to be made -- is Brett Myers a starter or reliever, which impacts whether they bring Brad Lidge back, and can they extend Burrell?

Next year's GM has to decide that stuff -- and right now there isn't one.

The Phillies really ought to get on this. Players who reach the market tend to leave; it's the nature of the business (like, for example, Aaron Rowand). Burrell has said he'd like to stay, and today it is glaringly obvious that the Phillies need to keep him. He's an important part of this thing.

"I don't know if the fans really see what he brings to the park every day," Chase Utley said. "He gets here early, he studies, he works extremely hard to get ready to play -- and it shows.

"He's a very important part of our lineup. And he's a great guy to have on the team. He's always having fun, he keeps it loose when need be. I definitely enjoy being around him. He's been here the longest out of anybody, and he's seen his share of different teams."

It once seemed a sure thing that Burrell would end a largely disappointing Phillies career this season. But today Burrell is an important part of a winning team, and the Phillies need to keep it that way.

(courierpostonline.com)

Phillies left fielder Pat Burrell probably was the kid who told his teacher that his dog ate his homework.

His excuse for sitting out Tuesday's game with a stiff neck: His 120-pound pet Irish Bulldog, Elvis.

“I blame the dog,” Burrell said. “He had the pillow.”

Burrell woke up stiff on Tuesday morning and by early evening still couldn't turn his neck to his left.

“I couldn't turn to see the pitcher,” Burrell said.

Burrell was fine by yesterday and back in the Phils' lineup.

(phillyburbs.com)

Pat Burrell was scratched from tonight’s game against the Rockies because of a stiff neck. Harry Kalas reported Burrell is day-to-day.

Greg Dobbs has taken Burrell's place in left field. He will hit fifth.

(rotoworld.com)

Houston, TX - Pat Burrell hit a go-ahead pinch-hit solo home run in the eighth inning, and the Philadelphia Phillies edged the Houston Astros, 7-5, in the opener of a three-game set.

Ryan Howard continued to heat up from his season-long slump, going 3-for-5 with a solo homer, two runs batted in and three runs scored for the Phillies, who won their third straight. Chad Durbin (1-1) got the win for a scoreless inning of relief after Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick gave up eight hits and five runs in five-plus frames.

(ap.com)

Jim Salisbury, of The Philadelphia Inquirer, reports Philadelphia Phillies OF Pat Burrell went 0-for-4 with a walk on May 21 against the Washington Nationals. He is hitting .143 (7-for-49), with one homer and two RBI, in his last 15 games. His average has dropped from .330 to 271. "He has the same stance and setup," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's just going through a period where he's not hitting. The only thing I see him doing wrong is he's starting to chase bad breaking balls. He's pulling off the ball a little."

(kffl.com)

Pat Burrell has been pounding the baseball since July, and everyone has a theory why.

He's staying back on the ball and seeing it longer.

He's not jumping out at pitches and becoming off-balance when he swings.

His pitch selection is better.

He's trying to use the whole field more.

He's healthy.

He wants to stay in Philadelphia beyond this season.

He smells big free-agent dollars.

He's a happy newlywed.

Burrell downplayed this confluence of factors as he sat in front of his locker the other day.

"To be honest, when people write stories about it and analyze it, they make more of it than it really is," the 31-year-old Phillies leftfielder said. "What it comes down to, simply, is confidence. Confidence can take you a long way, especially in this game." Click here to continue reading...

PHILADELPHIA -- It could be a coincidence that Pat Burrell's torrid start to this season also comes at the same time Burrell's five-year, $50 million contract is set to expire.

Regardless of the circumstances, Burrell continues to carry the Phillies along with Chase Utley, who was named National League Player of the Month for April.

Burrell put an exclamation point on his opening month with a game-winning, two-run homer off Brian Wilson to propel the Phillies past the Giants, 6-5, in 10 innings Friday night. It was Burrell's third career walk-off home run and his first since '02.

Is playing for a new contract a factor?

"If that helps, that's good," manager Charlie Manuel said. "If it's there, go get it. The better he plays, the better I do. I think that [contract] could have something to do with it, but Pat definitely works hard and he's maturing, too. Sometimes, you don't really come into your own until your late 20s or early 30s.

"I think you learn more about your hitting and he's always had the talent to be a real good hitter. I think the experience comes into play."
With a second-inning double Sunday, the 31-year-old Burrell has reached base safely in 30 straight games and 31 of 32. He's close to equaling his career high of reaching base safely in 34 straight games in '02. Entering Sunday, Burrell was second in the NL in homers (nine) and RBIs (28), third in slugging percentage (.670), fourth in walks (24) and on-base percentage (.445) and tied for seventh in total bases (69).

Burrell is hitting .320 while spraying the ball all over the field. That was especially evident when he slammed a two-run shot to right in the eighth inning of what wound up being a big come-from-behind 4-3 win over the Astros on April 15.

"This is the best I've seen because he's hitting more balls to right field," Manuel said. "He's got a better setup and has got a little rhythm going. His swing is powerful. This is the best I've seen him hit."

(mlb.com)

Ryan Howard struggles, Pat Burrell reaps benefits. Ryan Howard, arguably the most dangerous hitter in baseball has begun his season well below the .200 mark and with only 5 home runs in the month of April. Although most likely this is only an early season slump, it's obvious that at this point Howard is struggling mechanically and just swinging at bad pitches. Leading the league in strikeouts with 37 on the 28th of April puts him on a pace for 215 strikeouts for the season. Although if he pulls out of his slump, he might just as well hit 50 homers. Pat Burrell on the other hand is having a stellar April. Leading the National League in RBIs, only two behind fellow teammate Chase Utley for home runs with 8, and posting a .467 batting average gives him the best April of his career and potentially of any Philly. The question is, how much are these two players connected. Pat has for the past two years, obviously seen better pitches than Ryan as the National league pitchers become more and more concerned at pitching to him. This year he is sitting quietly in the 5th spot in the lineup and sucking up the RBIs that Ryan Howard would usually be getting. In 2007, Howard had 13 RBIS and 3 home runs in April/March, while Burrell had only 1 home run and 9 RBIs, well below this season. Burrell didn't peak last year until July and August when he accrued 47 of his 97 RBIs for the year, while Howard's 13 in April/March were his lowest total of the year.Looking at the numbers, as we always do in baseball, when Howard gets out of his slump, Pat's hot bat will cool.

(bleacherreport.com)

PHILADELPHIA -- Could this be the year Pat Burrell finds his way to an All-Star team?

The Phillies left fielder has improved on his historically fast pace. With two days left in April, Burrell has already surpassed his home run and RBIs totals for any March/April period of his career. His previous best month came in 2006, when he batted .300 with seven homers and 21 RBIs.

On a team with a red-hot Chase Utley, Burrell's .349 average is among the top 10. He collected his 23rd and 24th RBIs came on April 24, and set a franchise record for April, besting Von Hayes, who set the previous mark of 22, set in 1989.

The most noticeable approach has been in his swing.

"[Burrell's] got more wiggle in his swing -- takes the bat back and is more straight up," manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's got the plate covered and he's been hitting better."

(mlb.com)

Pat Burrell’s two-out, two-run double in the eighth broke up a tie ballgame, as the Phillies held on to beat Milwaukee and split their two-game series.

On in relief of Jamie Moyer – who allowed one run over six innings – Tom Gordon pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh. Then, J.C. Romero, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge (S, 5) combined for two shutout innings to preserve the win. Jayson Werth accounted for the Phillies’ other run with a solo shot in the sixth. Ryan Howard, who started the game on the bench, ended up with two at bats and struck out both times.

Burrell’s torrid April continues as he rises to the occasion again w/RISP. As for the ‘pen, they’ve pitched 14.0 scoreless innings over the Phils’ last five games. So far, the front office rally cry appears to be correct in saying they like the way the bullpen sets up at the back-end.

(ap.com)

Pat Burrell's bases-clearing double off Manny Corpas in the ninth inning sent the Philadelphia Phillies to an 8-6 win Tuesday night over the Colorado Rockies, who lost their third straight game when leading after seven innings.



(espn.com)

PHILADELPHIA — There comes a point in the career of a major leaguer when the light switch just gets flipped on.

For some, it comes in the first year of a career. For others, it happens too late to salvage things.

For Pat Burrell, that switch seems to have been hit at just the right time.

Through the first three weeks of the season, Burrell has been the Phillies best player. Entering yesterday's game against the Mets, Burrell was hitting .364 with six homers and 17 RBIs.

“He's seeing the ball well and he's studying the pitcher more,” Phils manager Charlie Manuel said. “He's always been a guy who practiced a lot. But he's watching more video before the game.”

It should be noted that Burrell has done this before — his .277 career average in April coming into this season is the highest of any month of the season. (In June, his average dips to .222.)

This April, though, there seems to be something different. And if it keeps up, it could put the Phillies in a very interesting dilemma.

For years, there has been this belief that the club would have sent Burrell anywhere they could have, provided they could get out from under the 6-year, $50 million contract they dished out to him before the 2003 season. (There was also that little hang-up about Burrell waiving his no-trade clause, which he has always seemed to balk at.)

Well, this is the sixth year of that deal — which has Burrell's salary at $14 million. That money is something the Phillies may really need to pay Ryan Howard or Cole Hamels in arbitration next winter.

But what will they do if Burrell puts up monster numbers that almost demand his retention? For all the talk of how much of a defensive liability he can be, Burrell is this club's only consistent right-handed power threat and a big piece behind Howard in the lineup. (You can make the argument that Burrell should be hitting cleanup right now as Howard's struggles continue at the plate.)

For that matter, Burrell could command decent money on the open market — especially as a designated hitter in the AL — if he tests the waters.

Will it be $14 million per year? Honestly, that answer is probably no. But what if the Red Sox put up $12 million as a cheaper and younger alternative to Manny Ramirez in left field? Or the Yankees spend some of the Jason Giambi salary on him?

The potential free agent market in left field next year will be highlighted — most likely — by Ramirez. Beyond Burrell, the other big names on the list are older guys (Moises Alou), enigmas (Adam Dunn or Milton Bradley) or role players (Kevin Mench, Craig Monroe or Jason Michaels.)

Are any of those guys better than Burrell right now? The answer is no.

Despite what you think, players play for pride more than the paycheck. But right now, the Phillies have a double-edged sword with Burrell. He's playing like a motivated player searching for a new contract — a deal that may ultimately lead him out of Philadelphia.

(phillyburbs.com)

PHILADELPHIA — Seeing Ryan Howard start the Phillies' sixth inning with a double off Chicago Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano, Pat Burrell walked up to the plate on a mission.

“He was going to move the runner over,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “I heard him say it when he left the dugout.”
Burrell did the job ... and more.

Burrell hit a rope to right field that fell in for an RBI double and the Phillies had the lead for good in what became a 5-3 victory that opened their nine-game homestand on a high note.

“With nobody out, you've got to try to get (Howard) over,” said Burrell, who had another gigantic hit in the fourth inning, a two-run home run into the left-field seats that tied the game at 2. “You've got to try to do the little things. A lot of times I have a hard time doing that. Fortunately, today it worked out.”

Burrell's double gave his team a 4-3 lead and snapped a streak in which the Phils were 0-for-21 with runners in scoring position since the second inning of Wednesday's loss in New York.

“We haven't been scoring a lot,” Burrell said. “I've had plenty of opportunities in the last few games and haven't been able to get the big hit.”
It's been a good April so far for Burrell, who has been the Phils' best offensive player with a .400 average, four homers and 12 RBIs in 11 games.

The win was the Phillies' first in three games with 2007 NL MVP Jimmy Rollins out of the lineup and still day-to-day with a sprained left ankle.

Late last summer, Burrell came up big when Chase Utley was sidelined with a broken hand, hitting .316 with eight homers and 21 RBIs in the 28 games the All-Star second baseman missed.

“He's the type of guy that jumps in the spotlight and really swings the bat well when key guys are out of the lineup,” pitcher Brett Myers said.
Myers (1-1) had a rocky beginning, but overcame three solo homers, two in the first inning, to work eight strong innings for his first win as a starter since he fanned 12 and went nine innings in a home win over the Cubs in September 2006.

Starting again after almost a full season in the bullpen, Myers had better command against the Cubs than he did in his first two outings, both disappointments.

“I definitely felt a lot more aggressive with every pitch,” said Myers, who allowed five hits, fanned five and walked none. “I thought I threw pitches with conviction instead of lollypopping them in there.”

The Cubs grabbed a quick 2-0 first-inning lead when Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez ripped back-to-back, two-out homers to left, both on 91 mph fastballs.

But Myers settled down, allowing just three more hits the rest of the way, one a leadoff homer in the sixth by Alfonso Soriano that tied the game at 3.

“He became the Brett Myers we all know,” said Greg Dobbs, who got a start at third base and contributed two hits, the second a fifth-inning double that gave the Phils a 3-2 lead.

Myers doesn't win, though, if Burrell doesn't come up big.

“Pat is hitting the ball to right field with more authority,” Manuel said. “He's swinging good right now. He's got a quick bat.”

(phillyburbs.com)

CINCINNATI — Needing to win today to secure a split of their four-game series against the Reds – and with a hotly anticipated three-game series against the rival Mets on deck – the Phillies resorted to playing old-fashioned home-run derby.

The Phillies swatted four long balls – two by sizzling left fielder Pat Burrell – against Cincinnati starter Bronson Arroyo in a 5-3 victory before an announced crowd of 14,647 in a matinee at Great American Ball Park.

But before the Phillies jetted to New York to face the Mets in the final home-opener in the 44-year history of Shea Stadium, the Reds threatened in the ninth inning, loading the bases and bringing the winning run to the plate against new closer Brad Lidge.

A two-out walk to No. 8 hitter Paul Bako and a dropped fly ball by left fielder So Taguchi, who replaced Burrell for defense, allowed the game to continue. After Lidge intentionally walked Ken Griffey Jr., a wild pitch allowed Bako to score.

But Lidge struck out pinch-hitting Javier Valentin to pin down his first save for the Phillies.

Jimmy Rollins opened the game with his club-record 27th career leadoff homer, a shot to right field. Arroyo retired the next two batters before allowing a Ryan Howard double and a long homer by Burrell to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead.

Burrell and Geoff Jenkins blasted back-to-back homers in the third inning, marking the first time Arroyo had allowed four home runs in a game. Burrell, in the final year of his contract, finished 2-for-4 and is batting .435 (10-for-23) with three homers and nine RBIs through seven games.

Cole Hamels allowed two first-inning runs but recovered to toss seven solid innings. Hamels, the Phillies' ace lefty, allowed five hits, walked three and struck out four.

(delawareonline.com)

Another one has gotten some play this year as well, and personally I find it one of the most interesting things to watch this year. Simply put, is this Pat Burrell's last year in left field for the Phillies?

The ultimate tease, Burrell is entering the final year of his six-year, $50 million deal that went into effect for 2003. He is slated to make $14 million in 2008.

Burrell's timeline in Philadelphia has been discussed over and over again. The first overall pick of the 1998 draft had two solid years for the Phillies in 2000 and 2001, then exploded onto the scene the following season with a 37-homer, 116-RBI campaign that led to his big deal.

However, in 2003, he batted just .209 and hit 21 homers and 64 RBI. The following year wasn't much better -- .257, 24 HR, 84 RBI -- but he seemed to turn a corner in 2005. That season, he hit 32 homers and drove in 117 runs while upping his average to .281.

The damage had already been done by that point, though. Burrell was billed as a player who couldn't lead this team to postseason glory, and was undeserving of the contract he signed. He became a popular whipping boy and was largely blamed for the team's struggles.

Yet, Burrell never openly complained about it, never tried to get out of town. Still, given the Phillies inability to trade him before last season, would that have really mattered?

In his last two years, Burrell has been good. Not great and not mediocre, but good. He hasn't hit over .260 in either year, but 59 homers and 192 RBI are tough to argue against.

The problem that creates the perception of Burrell is his knack for going into streaks, both good and bad. How else could those said numbers be ignored so much.

Last year, Burrell hit just .215 before the break with 11 home runs and 37 RBI. However, as the Phillies completed an improbable run to the NL East title, "Pat the Bat" hit .295 with 19 homers and 60 RBI in 74 post All-Star games.

It was kind of the same in 2006. Burrell's second-half average was higher, but his home run and RBI total was better in the first half of the season. Still, it was a tale of two halves, and lets not forget his inability to hit with runners in scoring posting in 2006 (.222).

Logic says Burrell will not be back next year. His salary is best saved for the likes of Howard, Utley, Hamels and so on. However, let's not forget what Burrell has done for us.

He hustles to the best of his ability and as much as his nagging foot will let him. He never looks like he doesn't try or isn't hustling. And, after all, he straight-up kills the Mets, which is great.

For what it is worth, Burrell has already said he wants to stay.

"One hundred percent I want to stay," Burrell told the Phillies' official Web site in an article published on February 19. "I'd love to come back. It's really got more to do with the guys on the team. This group of guys is going to win for a long time."

If anyone is taking a vote, I vote for Burrell in left for 2009.

(daily.phanatic.com)

“Of all the years I’ve been here, I think this about the best attitude we’ve had - Are we thrilled at a chance to play in the postseason? Of course! Across the board, guys are even more excited about the possibility of taking it to the next level…I think with the group we have coming back and one more year of experience, guys are looking to not only get into the postseason but take it to the next level, and I think we’re starting off on the right path…” - Pat Burrell talks about how the Phillies won't take last year's success for granted.

(mlbonxm.blogspot.com)