October 10, 2008
Hating and Loving Pat Burrell
Sam Donnellon writes about the hate-love relationship the fans in leftfield at CBP share with Pat Burrell:
And so there they were again last 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?' ''
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Right now Pat is feeling the love, right at the time his contract is up. Does he go out on a high note? Or does he stay around, hoping a great post-season earns him enough good will to carry him through the declining phase of his career?
Posted by David Pinto at
09:09 AM
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Burrell's OPS track for 2005-08: .893-.890-.902-.874.
Not a bad decline phase. In fact, it't the best four-year stretch of his career, easy. Before the last four years he only had one really good year, 2002. Otherwise he was in the low .800s or worse.
This guy has gotten significantly better after he turned 28 in October, 2004. I know, the sabermetricians say that isn't supposed to happen. But it has happened for Burrell, big-time.
I used to go to a lot of games when I lived in Philly and the Phan's there hate Burrell unless he's doing great. I've seen him get boed all day long worse than any player I've ever seen, and then he hits a double and they all start cheering like they were behind him the whole time. It always pissed me off to see that. I've always been a big Burrell supporter! The guy's problem is that he couldn't lay off that low and away pitch until the past two years. He always draws alot of walks and strikes out alot, but that's what you get with power hitters. You gotta break a few eggs to get an omlette.
The Phans just hate to see a guy that signed one of the biggest contracts in Phils history not perform like they expect. He's a good player and really hasn't been able to stay healthy, whether its his back or his wrist it's always been something with him. This year he's pretty much been injury free due to the platooning of Werth and him in the early part of the season.
I have always loved Pat and always will, even when he is struggling.
It is amazing, when you look at his OPS+, he has been one of the most consistent hitters on the Phillies in the last few years, even when he appears to be struggling according to his batting average.
