Pat the Bat

My brother has been asking people for days – do they keep Burrell if he hits the GW, series clinching HR in walkoff fashion?  Some said no.  Wed night everyone he asked (he was at the game) said yes – just trot him out there every game and get cheered forever.  “Came close to actually happening.  Wish it were a homer,” he said.

 

He further reports there were “great “Charlie” chant after game.  Seemed very loud.  Definitely best chant, the boos for Selig were good too.  Burrell also got lots of love.  He seemed to really enjoy the moment –he spent more time than anyone high fiving fans as team went around the park with trophy.”

 

That ties in with some interesting comments by Burrell after the game about how he thinks he, more than any of the other players, now understands the Phillies fans.

 

It was a great article too, as whoever wrote it reviewed the excitement about Burrell’s great initial promise, the huge contract, the underperformance, the boos, the solid numbers and the grudging acceptance of the fans.

 

I think too he understands that he’s not going to be a Phillie next year and he got what will probably be the biggest hit of his entire career Wednesday night.  So I think he also understands that he’s going down in Phillies lore.

 

How crazy would the stadium have gotten if he had actually hit it out?

 

My opinion is that I think I want Pat Burrell to leave now. Go get another 8 figure contract with another team, probably in the AL as a DH, with my blessing.

 

What I don’t want is for you to be in a slump next August and hear the boos after you strikeout swinging with the patented “Pat Burrell ass-out flailing whiff.”

 

No, what I want is for the longest-tenured member of the 2008 championship team, the once promising hitter turned veteran slugger with bad feet, who put up with more than his fair share of abuse over the years, to be fondly remembered and wildly cheered every single time he steps foot in Citizens Bank Ballpark for getting the big hit that was the winning/clinching run of the world series.