Greetings from Miami, where the Phillies have split four games with the Marlins. Impossible not to regard this weekend as a disappointment for the Phils, especially since they won the first two games of the series and had put some distance between themselves and the upstart Marlins. Now, they're right back where they started.
But, for a day, I'd like to take a break from the NL wild-card (mild-card?) race to discuss what's going to be a HUGE issue for the Phillies this off-season.
Pat Burrell.
In the city where Burrell's greatest triumphs took place (he was once a star at the University of Miami), he appears to have hit rock bottom. Burrell went 1-for-12 vs. the Marlins and left 13 runners on base in four games. On Saturday night, he left nine -- nine! -- men on base. Charlie Manuel dropped him to sixth in the lineup and moved Jeff Conine up to fifth to give Ryan Howard better protection. And, still, Burrell killed the Phillies.
This has been chronicled in The News Journal and elsewhere recently, but it's worth repeating: GM Pat Gillick would LOVE to trade Burrell. Problem is, he's making $27 million over the next two seasons, and he has a no-trade clause that he's unwilling to waive for most teams. So, unless they're willing pay his entire salary and cut him, the Phillies appear to be stuck with Burrell.
Or, maybe not.
I've gotten the sense that Burrell isn't going to play much against right-handed pitchers for the rest of the season. So, "Pat The Bat," once considered the future of the franchise, will become "Part-Time Pat," and maybe he'll become so unhappy with his situation that he's willing to waive the no-trade.
The Phillies can hope, right?
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7 comments:
Hey Scott, I was wondering, could the Phils put Burrell on the DL for the rest of the season, and say that Burrell's foot is really bothering him and that they feel it would be best to shut him down? That, to me, is a way for the Phillies and Burrell to both save face. For Burrell, it allows him to hide behind his foot injury, and it enables the Phils to bench him without actually calling it a benching. It might actually help his trade value (what little value he has) if the Phils can say a lot of his problems were because of his foot. Just a thought.
I dont know if a team has ever done such a thing in the midst of a playoff race.
I think part of the problem is the way Manuel has used Burrell. Burrell used to be in the lineup regardless of righty vs lefty. This is a guy that hits 30 homers and 100 rbi's every year.
I cant defend Burrell entirely but this guy is second in the league in pitches faced at each at bat. He takes deep counts yet still finds ways to K or pop up.
Remind you of anyone? He reminds me of Schmidt. He would go on tears or look horrible.
I think the Phils need to stop messing with his head and let him hit out of this funk and do it at 7 or 8 in the lineup. If he gets hot the last couple of weeks we all know what he is capable of.
Manuel took Burrell out of the lineup against the Astros a few games back for a pinch hitter with runners on first and second with nobody out. The Astros brought in a right hander to face Burrell. Manuel countered with a lefty pinch hitter and what does Manuel do? Attempts a bunt on three pitches even with 2 strikes! Result was a bunt foul for a third strike.
Bottom line is Manuel is supposed to be this hitting guru. Yet he has gotten in the head of Burrell no question.
I would love to see the Phils trade him for equal value but it aint gonna happen. Stop messing with Pat and he will produce.
I'm with you, Eric, to some extent. Yes, Burrell does take deep counts, but when those deep counts end with him looking at a called third strike on the inside corner as he jumps back totally bewildered, what good does that do? Also, he reminded me of Schmidt, too _ in 1973 when Schmidt hit .196. But Schmidt eventually learned from that and cut down on his strikeouts every year. Burrell seems to be fooled on the same pitches (fishing on the slider away, or looking at strike 3 on the inside corner) time after time after time.
Finally, the argument that Manuel should just leave him alone and let him hit his way out of it was the same argument Burrell used to make about Larry Bowa. It's not like Burrell is a rookie or 2nd-year player anymore. He's in his sixth full season in the major leagues, and he's had 2 good years (2002 and 2005). He's still getting fooled by the same pitches in Year 6 as he was in Year 1. If I'm the other manager and Burrell is batting 5th, I'm walking Ryan Howard every single time he comes to bat.
If his foot is really causing these problems, then he needs to go on the DL. If it's not the foot, then he either needs to hit 7th, like you suggest, or ride the pine.
Good point on hitting Burrell at fifth. the phils have the hottest hitter in the league right now in Ryan, and the coldest in Pat, and there's no way they can bat together in the lineup.
It'll be hard for any opposing pitcher to give Howard any pitches (and a shot at 62) with the way the phils are hitting right now as it is. Even Utley is a little cool, which helps making the decision to intentionally walk Howard that much easier.
And I don't think it's his foot. He was pretty suspect as a defender when he was healthy to me. It's his head, and a sports-shrink might be in his future.
All good points, Martin, Eric and Paul. Keep 'em coming!
Here's the thing about Burrell: He had surgery last October to remove bone spurs in his right foot, and the procedure wasn't a success. As a result, the foot has become a chronic problem, affecting him in the field (he can't track down as many balls) and at the plate (he's unable to push off his back foot as much as he should).
Why don't the Phils place him on the DL? Good question. Charlie Manuel is hesitant to sit Burrell for the simple fact that he's the only right-handed power threat the Phillies have. Without Burrell, the offense would be entirely dependent on lefties Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and David Dellucci, with switch-hitters Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino at the top of the order. Jeff Conine has been good from the right side, but he also doesn't have Burrell's power.
So, for now, Manuel's solution is this: Drop Burrell to sixth in the order (Conine protects Howard more than Burrell will) and give him a rest against right-handed pitchers. You probably won't see Burrell play either game of today's doubleheader since the Braves have righties Kyle Davies and Tim Hudson on the mound.
But, Manuel has said repeatedly, Burrell must find a way to heal his foot (and to a lesser degree, his wrist) before next season. The best solution, of course, would be trading him. But that would require paying a large portion of his remaining salary ($27 million over the next two years) and probably not getting much in return. If Bobby Abreu yielded four middling prospects, Burrell will draw next to nothing.
Charley Finley tried to dummy up an injury many years ago in the playoffs to remove a subpar performer. The AL didn't let him get away with it. His foot better be in bad shape. WHy odn't they just bite the bullete and release him if he's so bad?
Bobby Joe,
I assure you: the Phillies aren't exaggerating Burrell's injury. Having said that, I don't believe his foot is the primary reason for his performance this season. Simply put, I don't think Burrell is that good.
Why don't they release him? Well, they owe him $27 million over the next two seasons, and if they release him, they'd still owe him that money. Suffice it to say, ownership won't go for that. There's even some debate over how much money ownership will agree to pay if the Phillies find a trade partner for Burrell.
It's going to become a front-burner issue this off-season, so stay tuned. You can bet Burrell's future will impact whatever the Phillies do this winter.
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