Burrell deserves All-Star nod

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)