Burrell, Myers Power Phils To Win
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Sat, April 12, 2008 11:17 AM | Comments: 12
Posts
Finally, they look good. Brett Myers pitched eight strong innings, giving up a 
couple of home runs but only surrendering three hits and — most importantly — walking none, while striking out five. He went far enough to hand Brad Lidge the ball in the ninth, and the new closer shut the door with a four-batter save.
Then there’s Pat Burrell, who’s flat out mashing. He sliced a home run into the far reaches of left field to tie the game at 2, then doubled in another run. He also singled, raising his batting average to a stellar .400. By the way, he’s been on base 51 percent of the time and has a ridiculous 1.369 OPS. Sure it may be early, but Burrell is clearly having an awesome season.
Charlie Manuel fixed his lineup issues, dropping Eric Bruntlett to the eight-hole while giving Pedro Feliz a night off and placing Greg Dobbs in the two-hole. It worked — Dobbs went 2 for 3 with an RBI double on a controversial play by Kosuke Fukudome. Bruntlett went o for 3. Shane Victorino brought his average up a bit, going 2 for 3 with a walk and a run.
Clearly this was the best looking win of the year. You want your “ace” to give you eight innings, and he saved the bullpen possibly two days since Cole Hamels goes tonight. Meanwhile, the offense got going enough to put a five-spot on the board, and they took advantage of a slowly sinking Carlos Zambrano later in the game.
Associated Press photo
Posts: 0 Geoff
Good start by Myers. Burrell is just ripping the ball now.
Posted: 11:29 AM on April 12, 2008
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
His swing is just pretty, and he’s seeing the ball much better. (Had to have been the Lasik surgery.) We’re now looking at a patient hitter who when he sees the pitch he can drive, he’s on it. Tell me this is the same player who regularly displayed a golf swing on low sliders.
Posted: 11:30 AM on April 12, 2008
Posts: 0 scot
Gotta love the way Burrell is playing. I had no idea he had Lasik surgery, is this true? Regardless, he’s been excellent. And to have Victorino, Dobbs, and maybe most importantly Myers get going the same game, it definitely makes for the best looking win of the year.
Posted: 11:52 AM on April 12, 2008
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
He had the surgery last season (I believe it was in March). If you remember, there were pieces about him having trouble right after the surgery, adjusting and such. It’s not far fetched to think he finally adjusted by June and started ripping the ball. Combo the surgery, his diminished late-game PT, his health returning and the walk year, and potentially, Burrell could be a 40/120/.300 guy.
Posted: 12:00 PM on April 12, 2008
Posts: 0 Gnomicide
Burrell is finally delivering on his huge contract. Hopefully this year will be worth all fifty million.
Posted: 12:21 PM on April 12, 2008
Posts: 0 rob
Slow down Tim.
Burrell has played 9 long years in the majors, and never hit higher than .281.
After getting Lasik, his batting average dropped two points from the year before.
I know these 43 plate appearances have got you excited, but lets wait for the other 550.
If a walk year and eye surgery added 20 points, 10 homers and 20 rbi to your ledger, everyone would sign short-term contracts and stare at the sun.
Posted: 12:57 PM on April 12, 2008
Posts: 0 Greg
haha. that last post made me laugh out loud. It is nice to have some optimism about Burrell after HATING him for so, so many years.
Posted: 01:46 PM on April 12, 2008
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
Well Burrell is capable of those numbers. That’s all I’m going at.
Posted: 02:55 PM on April 12, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
Yeah now that his swing looks refined, its the nicest-looking swing on the team. Howards swing is so wierd and he stands so far away from the plate sometimes. Hes got to shorten that up a bit. If you can get burrel to put up those numbers, im all for keeping him around for 8-10 million. Ill pay that for 30 hr 100 rbi or so. Im going down there in a bit, it had better not rain.
Posted: 04:17 PM on April 12, 2008
Posts: 0 chris.I
I was at the game lastnight, sitting along side the left field wall, and had the blessing to watch Burrell’s blast. One thing is for sure…It was a BOMB. Burrell’s swing has always been pretty, but now he’s finally seeing the ball better, and swinging through it.
Posted: 05:56 PM on April 12, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike T
I was behind home plate last night, my seat facing directly down the 3rd base line. Burrell’s homer was indeed a massive blast. Man, when that guy connects with the ball… see ya.
Posted: 06:59 PM on April 12, 2008
Posts: 0 Fran
i will keep saying this all year long pat for MVP
Posted: 07:05 PM on April 12, 2008