For Burrell, the benefits of confidence

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...