Burrell’s Slump Hits A Low With 5-K Game
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Wed, September 17, 2008 11:12 AM | Comments: 19
Posts
Pat Burrell had a pretty horrendous game yesterday, going 0-for-5 with five strikeouts. Call it the Platinum Sombrero or whatever, he looked plain lost.
There seems to be no explanation for why Burrell has decreased in production in the second half. One could hypothesize that Burrell just doesn’t have enough to play a full 162-game schedule. If that’s the case, then the answer for the Phils’ offseason priorities seems clearer: The American League is the place for Pat.
Regardless, he’s hurting the team, but not so much where it’s noticeably losing games (in fact he contributed huge Sunday). But what’s the right thing to do? Sit Burrell for a game or two and trot out Geoff Jenkins, or Eric Bruntlett, or Matt Stairs, or So Taguchi? Or let him work through it and hopefully come alive soon?
At this point with Burrell, baffled isn’t the word.
Posts: 0 Jack
Have you seen Pat the Bat’s weary face lately. My guess is drugs. Perhaps greenies? I don’t know but he definitely looks wiped out.
Posted: 11:28 AM on September 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
I think you need to bench him for a game or two. He’s completely lost out there. Without Howard shouldering the load, a pitiful performance like that by Burrell will eventually cost us some games.
Posted: 11:35 AM on September 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Gary B
Watching the game last night, you could see how lost he was. He was way late on some 86 MPH fastballs…now that’s a problem. Give him a rest, get Jenkins or Stairs in there and see what they can do, I doubt Stairs will strike out 5 times in 5 at bats…
Posted: 11:40 AM on September 17, 2008
Posts: 0 RiVLez
If you really look at it. Burrell’s numbers this year are comparable to his career numbers. He’s only a .257 career hitter. What more are you expecting from him?
Posted: 11:47 AM on September 17, 2008
Posts: 0 JoeyNooch
I would sit him against RH Pitching the rest of the regular season and put in stairs or jenkins and have him pinch hit in those games. I would hate to see Pat to leave town on such a negative note after such a good 1st half if this is in fact his last year here.
Posted: 11:48 AM on September 17, 2008
Posts: 0 The Hearn
Everybody has an off game here and there. Even my future-hall-of-fame video game player, with a lifetime average of .484 and 113 home runs in 284 games over his first 2 major league seasons, lost his 42-game hitting streak with an 0 for 4 mishap.
Pat’s even streakier than most. Should he be benched for a game or two? Probably. Should we start drawing conclusions about his ability to produce for an entire year, based on a few games of looking haggard at the plate? Nah.
Posted: 11:56 AM on September 17, 2008
Posts: 0 MA Phanatic
hmmm good point The Hearn. If your video game player can do it, so can Pat the Bat…
btw, how long has it taken you to play those first 2 major league seasons?
Posted: 12:01 PM on September 17, 2008
Posts: 0 KM
If I am in the hierarchy of the Phillies’ management, Pat Burrell has played himself out of town. With this lineup, and the guys getting on in front of him consistently for the last 3-4 years he should be averaging 120rbis annually, instead of his hollow 90-95rbis he’s been getting. Burrell is a non-clutch player, and doesn’t deserve that 13-17 million he is going to get per year with his next contract. I am going to throw a number out there(besides his poor average with runners in scoring position) that supports my theory that Burell’s homeruns are hollow, and he is not clutch player deserving of ANOTHER big money deal.
When it comes to runs produced(the formula = runs scored + rbis – homeruns), Pat Burrell has a score of 119 through 147 games. A few players with comparable homerun numbers and way better runs produced numbers are: David Wright(31HR) the league leader who has a score of 190, through 148 games; and Chase Utley(31HR) at 166 through 149 games.
Considering the difference in runs produced numbers, and the comparable amount of homeruns between the players, it shows that most of Burrell’s homeruns come from non-clutch situations, with no runners on base.
Posted: 12:04 PM on September 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Burt
Pat Burrell’s Platinum Sombrero (five strikeouts in a single game) was just the fifth one in Phillies history. Even Ryan Howard has not accomplished this dubious feat. Last time it happened by a Phil was in 1999-Scott Rolen. By the way, Geoff Jenkins once struck out 6 times in a game with the Brewers (17 innings). Burrell is hitting .147 (11 for 75) with one homer and four RBIs in 19 games since Aug. 24. His .147 average is the worst in the National League and second-worst in baseball (Chicago White Sox outfielder Nick Swisher is hitting .121) in that span. He is costing himself hundreds of thousands of dollars with each flailing at-bat
Posted: 12:09 PM on September 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Sean P.
Let Pat rest for a day…
Looking at his splits its suprising he doesn’t hit more home runs at CBP. This may come as a suprise, but he’s hit almost twice as many home runs away (20) then at home (10)! Furthermore he’s hitting .284 away and .223 at home?!?!?!
Posted: 12:11 PM on September 17, 2008
Posts: 0 J-Man
Pat needs a couple of days off i say you gotta bench him the rest of this series and give Jenkins start.
Posted: 12:51 PM on September 17, 2008
Posts: 0 JoeyNooch
KM- your salary isnt about your ability, its about your demand. I dont think anyone has argued that burrell is better than utley or david wright, but the phillies need a run producer in the lineup on the rightside and if it costs them 15 mil then they should pay it, else they wont be competitive in the NL. Werth is a nice player but not consistently a 5 hole hitter and Im not ready to throw Golson in there. If we do part ways with Pat we need a rightie to pick up his run production.
Posted: 01:17 PM on September 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Ari
Give him some days off. We’ve seen how he can produce at times, he just seems tired.
Posted: 02:51 PM on September 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Chris.I
Jenkins? Over Dobbs? I’d start Dobbs in the OF before Jenkins anyday.
Posted: 03:04 PM on September 17, 2008
Posts: 0 philsphan
Burrell has been a hot-cold player the last couple of seasons. He had a great start so most people thought he would have a great season but with this long slump he is averaging back to his career norms. I still think the Phillies should sign him, how else are they going to get 30 HRs, 100 RBIs from a RH hitter? Let him walk and sign Manny?
I would sit Burrell tonight and start Matt Stairs in his place. I would start Dobbs at 3rd as well.
Posted: 03:47 PM on September 17, 2008
Posts: 0 mike
I would start Matt Stairs tonight, the guy is a professional hitter and will DEFINITELY not strike out 5 times, if i am good ole’ chuckles this is my lineup this evening vs Jurrjens
Rollins
Utley
Werth
Howard
Victorino
Dobbs
Stairs
Coste
Happ
we clearly need to put some offense up, because i do not think anyone expect J.A. to go 8 shutout innings, Should be an interesting evening.
Posted: 04:11 PM on September 17, 2008
Posts: 0 KM
joey nooch,
My whole point is that Burrell is NOT a run producer – His numbers are hollow, and he doesn’t produce too much other than his solo homeruns; He doesn’t know what timely hitting is.
Also, I understand that salary is determined on demand, but I feel we will be better off with a contact bat in LF(or RF if they decide to move werth to LF next season) because Burrell is not in demand to the tune of 15mil/year. You would assume that the 5 hole hitter in this lineup would be raking in the runs with guys life Rollins, Victorino, Werth, Utley in front of him, but unless the bases are empty, Pat isin’t interested.
Posted: 04:19 PM on September 17, 2008
Posts: 0 KM
Philsfan,
Until recently I was not a fan of starting Werth everyday, but I feel he could get us 25 of the 30 home runs Pat was getting per year, and, depending on where he hits in the lineup, 100 runs scored or 80 or so rbis. Those number would be equal to, or superior to Burrell’s stats. Werth would score more runs, play better defense, and add speed to the position. Plus, he would be a hell of a lot cheaper given that he is already under contract.
Posted: 04:23 PM on September 17, 2008
Posts: 0 MikeB
Manuel needs to go with Dobbs, Stairs and Jenkins depending on the game situation. Burrell looks physically exhausted right now. He is not eating his Wheaties and taking his vitamins.
Whether Burrell returns to the Phillies next year or not, his future is in the American League as a DH and part-time player.
Posted: 10:49 PM on September 17, 2008