Saturday: Another Incredi-Burrell finish for Phillies

Fans have experienced no shortage of thrilling games this season, and the Phils have been on the winning side of many of them. Last night it happened again, as Pat Burrell’s 10th inning blast sailed over the wall.

In many ways, it feels like 2008 was eight seasons in the making for Pat Burrell: the ups and downs, the myriad successes, the tough love, the hard work. “And everything that is past is prologued to this.” – “Swingers” (1996) It’s indeed sunny every day now for Burrell. With Chase Utley on first in the 10th – capping another great night for the Phillies’ second baseman – Burrell, at the plate instead of the bench for a rare late-game AB - fought tooth and nail for a pitch to crush, and jacked it. That which has not killed him has only made him stronger.

Comments

[GM-Carson]

Walk-off game winning homeruns kick ass! Especially when they're by the Phillies longest tenured athlete (Pat Burrell) and it's in the bottom of the 10th inning with the Phils other begotten son Chase Utley on base. Chase Utley and Pat Burrell are the show, they are the offense, they are what is driving this team to victory. Where would the Phillies be without these two? Certainly not in 1st place in the NL East with a 17-13 record, that's for damn sure. The dynamic duo now has 47 runs scored, 76 hits, 19 doubles, 21 homerun, and 53 rbi collectively. Ryan Howard better buy these guys a Rolex or at least a steak dinner, because if they weren't producing at this level much more disgust would be heaped upon Mr. Ten Million Dollar Man due to his alarmingly lackluster start to the season (.176 average and 42 k's in 108 ab's).

[GM-Carson]

Last night I attended the Reading Phillies game against the hometown Harrisburg Senators at City Island. I was disappointed. It was my son's first baseball game and the Lil' Phillies were horrible. The only amusing part of the game was watching Reading manager PJ Forbes argue with the homeplate umpire about a close call where Jeremy Slayden was gunned down. Zach Segovia was the starting pitcher last night and he was difficult to stomach; he went 2.2 innings allowing 5 runs on 4 walks and 3 hits upping his era to 14.40. Just last year Segovia actually made a start in a real Phillies uniform, but since then he's been banished to the minors and continues to work his way down the organizational ladder. Relieving him was prospect Josh Outman, but he was equally horrendous. All in all, the entire team played poorly with the exception of catcher Lou Marson who had some decent at bats and threw out an attempting base stealer.

[Inside/Outside the Parker]

"Come in here boy, have a cigar. Your going to gar far... Your gonna fly high....Your never gonna die....Your gonna make it you try....Their gonna love you. So welcome to the MANCHINE."

Pink Floyd's "Welcome to the Machine" (Lyrics altered slightly).

Lost in all the hoopla was another stirring performance by Chollie's gut. It is worth noting that the gut came out and argued balls and strikes with the ump while Pat was getting in the box. It is obvious that the omniscience and pure raw power of the gut left the pitcher stunned and incapable of throwing anything but fast-balls down the middle to the Manchine, one of which came to its appropriate resting place in the bleachers in left.

[Phillieanthropist]

Incredible!!!!

I can't help but note that Aaron Rowand got what he deserved for deserting us for dollars. He may have "showed us how to win" and play with hustle and grit, but we showed him that winners don't bolt for money. It's the cherry on the cake for also beating that other traitor, Randy Wolf.

[NCPhilly]

That's the second time this season that keeping the Manster in the game for the ninth inning paid off with a game-winning hit.

[clout]

I'm tempted to dip into the Beerleaguer archives to repeat the posts about Burrell from this time last season, when the overwhleming majority of posters were saying Burrell was washed up, should be traded for whatever we can get, etc. etc. etc. Those names, of course, include some of the very same posters now praising him to the sky. You know who you are.

[joe l]

I would never call Randy Wolf a traitor for wanting to go home and finish out his career. Veterans have earned that.

[clout]

I know this will never happen if it hasn't happened by now, but I'd love to see Burrell hit between Uts and Howard.

[Ribbies]

For anyone who was watching on gametracker last night (like me) the video is up over at the700level.com. What an ending, what a swing! Burrell absolutely demolished that pitch, and he looked like he wanted to keep playing! What happened to the old Pat Burrell!? Incredible.

[MPN]

Come on clout, take a qualude and savor the win for a few hours. Even your nemesis Pedro Feliz hit a key 2 run HR.

[joe l]

I was watching on ESPN gametracker last night too, and instinctively stood up when it showed Burrell's HR in flight. It initially looked like a flyball to left field, but after watching the video... there was no doubt off the bat.

[GM-Carson]

Yes Clout, I am one of those posters you speak of that was ripping Burrell a new one. However, I backed him his entire career until around June of last year when nearly the entire world thought he was done with the exception of a few diehards like yourself. I regret turning my back on him, but I certainly don't consider myself a fairweather fan for doing, he was horrible for the 1st half last season.

[Andy]

"I'm tempted to dip into the Beerleaguer archives..."

Go ahead, clout, look for me there. Hope you've got a lot of time.

[J. Weitzel]

Burrell was benched in the heat of a playoff race in favor of Jeff Conine. Past frustration with Burrell is justifiable.

[clout]

Carson: Your post is correct. You were indeed one of the many who said he was washed up. Confession is good for the soul.

[Tray]

I'm just surprised there's not an outcry on here for trading Howard yet. One could argue that the offense gets along fine without him contributing anything, that he could probably get you a very good starting pitcher, etc. I wouldn't be in favor of it but I would've thought many of you would.

[Valo]

re: ripping or praising Pat Burrell...

"A foolish consistency is the hobgobblin of small minds." Ralph Waldo Emerson

[The Theory]

Tray- the topic has been broached a number of times. Generally, though, it would be a bad idea. 1) He is notoriously streaky. Even though he is struggling right now, there will probably be a month stretch when the other players are on the downward trend and Howard absolutely carries the team. 2) Phillies management has a history of bungling trades of big players. Look at Bobby Abreu for the most recent and most tragic example. I honestly don't think we could get anything worth a cough and a sneeze for Howard with current management at the helm. 3) To play into the above point, when Howard is struggling it would be even harder to get anything worthwhile in return. We'd probably be looking at a couple of prospects... but nothing about this organization has told me that they have the ability to judge prospects at all.

[The Theory]

Also, I totally neglected to read that last line where you said you wouldn't be for a trade. So just ignore everything I said above.

[King B]

Clout - If you don't already have a job working for a political campaign, then you clearly need to get involved (except your about 4 years behind on the "flip-flopper" zinger. We get angry about pastors now.). Anybody who got upset when Pat stunk last year was right to feel that, and they are right to be excited when he does good. It's called being a fan.

[King B]

Dammit, "you're", not "your". My 9th grade English would flip her lid if she had seen me make that mistake.

[king myno]

Tray: God, stop giving clout so much ammunition. Any talk of trading superstars is just going to make him mention CJ Henry again. And justifiably.

This really is a major issue with Howard, though. Hitting .180 over 30 games is really pushing 'slow start' as far as it can go. One-fifth of the season is just about over, and our 10 Million Dollar Man is under the Mendoza Line.

[Tray]

Nice to see one person on here knows the difference between you're and your.

[phillieanthropist]

Joe: Yes, veterans certainly earn that. Veterans who rehab on our dime and then bolt haven't earned it. He owed us one more year, in my estimation.

[redbeard]

pat burrell should be in clean up.

L- victorino
R- werth
L- utley
R- burrell
L- howard
R- coaste
R- bruntlett
R- feliz

[redbeard]

edit: coste

[KidCarnivore]

When Rollins comes back, would it be that terrible of an idea to try the Milwaukee thing and bat Victorino or Werth in the 9-slot?

Rollins
Werth
Utley
Howard
Burrell
Feliz
Coste
pitcher
Victorino

[clout]

King B: You (and several other posters) are not paying attention to what I wrote. I have no problem with ripping Burrell or anyone else when they're going bad. I'm talking about posters who said HE WAS WASHED UP. And SHOULD BE DUMPED. Get the difference?

[clout]

Tray: I'd like to think there's a learning curve among Beerleaguer posters. The crowd that declared the Abreu trade a good move and said Burrell was washed up probably now pause before they declare Howard should be dumped. Because, you know, they could possibly be wrong about someone who's shown to be one of the best young power hitters in the game.

[GM-Carson]

Clout- I love how you act like you're right about everything Phillies related, like you've never misjudged a player's worth or overvalued another's.

[Bob]

From previous thread:

Got to agree with MG on Howard's griping about calls with the umps. I sympathize with what he's going through, and I believe he thought he was breaking out of it. It seemed like maybe he had moved a little closer to the plate.

Those two K's were tough. It looked like the first may have been doubtful, high and inside. Then next AB he gets rung up on a nice low pitch on the outside corner, that's got to play with your head if you're fighting a slump.

But no matter. Umps talk about players, and a rep as someone who complains will probably work in reverse. I don't know an ump's psyche, but it is probably worse when you complain when you are in a slump. You look whiny, and it's like you're trying to put your poor game on the ump and show him up to the crowd. If you're in a groove and you gripe once or twice, just maybe the ump will write it off and say, "Well, he's ticked because he thinks I slowed up his hot streak, OK".

[The Theory]

"When Rollins comes back, would it be that terrible of an idea to try the Milwaukee thing and bat Victorino or Werth in the 9-slot?"

I'm not a fan. Just means the pitchers hole will be one more spot in the lineup likely to see an extra at bat. The only player I could justify in the 9 hole would be Feliz... when Hamels pitches.

[AWH the RBP]

Many of the same people who were ripping Burrell last year were also ripping Werth (remember the "less" tag that was added to the end of his name?). The criticism of both players was justified based on their performance at the time.

clout, you deserve credit for being one of the voices supporting Burrell on this blog when he was playing poorly last season. If I recall correctly, I believe you made the argument that he was due for a "mean reversion", and that it was premature to talk of trading or 'dumping' him. (I took a "wait and see" position).

However (and I know I'm asking a lot), a little humility and a little less gloating on your part would be refreshing.

To offer a helpful suggestion, you could have typed:

"Wow, I'm glad they didn't trade Burrell last year. He's been great since the All Star break."

The point would have been made just the same. Remember...character counts.

[CJ]

clout's been wrong. I have a feeling by the time this season is over, he will have been wrong about Brad Lidge and this bullpen.

However, he's absolutely right about Burrell. Burrell didn't deserve many of the declarations he received last year. He wasn't washed up. Trading him would have been stupid.

And the declarations about Howard now? Those who don't learn from past mistakes are doomed to repeat them.

[clout]

AWH: Gloating? Not remotely. I was simply making a factual observation. As CJ notes, I'm sometimes wrong in my assessments like anyone else. And, by the way, I ought to be held accountable when I am. But, as I said, I'd like to think there's a learning curve around here.

[AWH the RBP]

On another note, once again the Phillies have een dishonest about the extent to which a player is injured.

"Jimmy Rollins remains in a holding pattern with his sprained left ankle" according to Zolecki in this morning's Inky.

"Rollins will not join the team on its trip next week to Arizona and San Francisco"....."There is no date for when Rollins might begin a rehabilitation assignment."

This is not good news. If I recall correctly, he said he heard or felt "something pop" when he caught his spike.

Having sprained ankles myself on several occasions in my prior athletic life (to the point where I had to have them taped every day just to play), IMO when something "pops" it's an indication of more than a mild sprain, which is what we were told by the Phillies.

Did he tear cartiledge or a tendon?

Does anyone believe this comment by Amaro: "Jimmy is progressing really well"...?

[clout]

Carson: I don't think you and I are all that different. The main difference is time frame. My time frame tends toward 162 games. Yours tends toward the next 30 seconds.

[King B]

Clout - I do agree that, in hindsight, it was premature to declare Burrell washed up. But, at the time, we were dealing with a player who was wildly under performing (especially in relation to his contract), was constantly hobbled, frequently came up short in pressure situations, and (as someone who worked in the ballpark McFadden's and talked as much as possible with the McFadden's girls) was more known for swinging his other bat after the games than for walk-off home runs. I think those ingredients come together nicely to form a delicious frustration goulash, don't you?
I just get fed up with your personal attacks, and delving into the archives to try to shame others into admitting your brilliance. We can all agree Pat is performing now like we all wished he had from Day 1. It's not terribly important which commenters drunkenly posted "let's trade pat for half a bottle of smirnoff" last year after an 0 for 3 night when he was pulled in the 6th for defense after striking out flailing at two sliders and looking at an inside fastball.

[AWH the RBP]

"Those names, of course, include some of the very same posters now praising him to the sky. You know who you are."

clout, yes...gloating. It doesn't take much to infer that from the above comment.

[AWH the RBP]

King B, give clout credit...he firmly held to the position that "it was premature to declare Burrell washed up", but with foresight, not hindsight.

It's the smug, gloating attitude that annoys, not his being an accurate prognosticator.

[from the district]

clout!

defender of justice
only one man has the fortitude to root out hypocrisy wherever lies

There is so much that's laughable about your attitude in these posts I don't even know where to begin.

1. way to be a buzzkill. let people enjoy this win for a little bit before you start gloating

2. "I'm sometimes wrong in my assessments like anyone else. And, by the way, I ought to be held accountable when I am."

This is a baseball blog! nobody needs to be held accountable for anything! there is nothing more trivial . . . all you did was make a correct judgement about a baseball player that any moderately intelligent, level headed person could have made through a cursory glance at the statistics. The only reason others on this board weren't able to make the same judgement is because they were too emotionally vested in the team. If there is any place for sentimentality and emotionally rash judgements, its when thinking about your baseball team.

Your delusions of grandure are astounding.

[King B]

AWH - You're right. Clout's a bright cat, and has a great baseball mind. I can't and won't argue that. He was dead-on in this case. I'm not trying to ramp up the personal attacks. I just wanted to put things in perspective.

[King B]

And use the phrase "frustration goulash".

[clout]

King B, AWH, FTD: There are lots of blogs for "drunken idiots." I always thought we tried to hold Beerleaguer to a higher standard. My bad.

[clout]

From the District: "This is a baseball blog! ...there is nothing more trivial."

I must say, given the intensity and tone of your posts on this blog, I laughed for 5 solid minutes when I read that!

[sifl]

Weitzel: I love the Swingers references, but I think the "What's past is prologue" quote originated with Billy Shakespeare.

On that note, it says here, "Breakfast anytime"? I'll have the eggs in the Age of Enlightenment.

Hold on, Voltaire.

[joe l]

phillieanthropist - I'll agree to meet you halfway with respect to Wolf. A one year deal after rehab and call it even.

[Hugh Mulcahy]

"There are lots of blogs for 'drunken idiots.' I always thought we tried to hold Beerleaguer to a higher standard. "

It's much more fun to have a few drunken idiots mixed in, or to have the denizens become drunken idiots as the late innings approach. As for standards, did someone actually suggest that Pat Burrell should be criticized for "swinging his other bat" better than his Louisville Slugger? Get it while you can, Pat. The money's in the bank and both bats are gonna go silent eventually.

[Hugh Mulcahy]

It would have been nice had Wolf felt a sense of obligation to the club for carrying him thruogh his injury but, in truth, the club had no choice in the matter. I was never surprised, or upset, that Wolf followed the maxim "It's all about me." I'm glad to see he's still making a living as a pitcher. Wouldn't mind if he had said yes to Philly but he apparently prefers California. It's nice out there.

[johnnysanz3]

omgz;, traid howard now!

Doing my part as a drunken idiot.