For Phils, standing Pat makes sense

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)