Credit where credit is due: Burrell is hitting

by RememberthePhitans on Jul 28, 2007 1:38 AM EDT Comment 14 comments

Here's the line on Pat Burrell for July:

OBP: .571
SLG: .786
AVG: .446

Outrageous.

Still think we should have released/traded/assassinated him?

His OPS is higher than Howard's for July (PB: 1.357; RH: 1.224). It's not just walks, either. PB has a slugging percentage almost identical to Howard's in July.

PB has raised his average over fifty points. He is hitting and slugging (for the season) right around his career averages after having the worst May and June imaginable.

How 'bout a little love for Pat Burrell? I was hating on PB earlier, and you have to give him credit -- he has had a remarkable month.

I hate his inconsistency swinging, but he is an on-base machine. The more I think about PB, the more I think he is grossly underappreciated, although not grossly underpaid.

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Re: Credit where credit is due: Burrell is hitting

I don't see why we should be surprised. Burrell's established performance level is something in the neighborhood of .260/.380/.500, and he was due for a bounceback after a bad first half. Players generally are what their track records show them to be, even ones as irrationally despised as Burrell.

by Seth on Jul 28, 2007 2:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Credit where credit is due: Burrell is hitting

especially since his BABIP was spectacularly low in the early months of the season. textbook return to the mean here...

by perfectdepth on Jul 28, 2007 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Credit where credit is due: Burrell is hitting

Unless he goes something like 0-14 for the next four days, this is going to be the best month of Burrell's career. His previous bests:

May 2004: .333 .455.667, 8 HR, 26 RBI
May 2002: .341/.431/.694, 8 HR, 19 RBI

I think the multiple writers who wanted the Phils to flat-out release him should have Burrell's July numbers tattooed onto their foreheads.

by dajafi on Jul 28, 2007 3:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Credit where credit is due: Burrell is hitting

It's so typical of Burrell though. Do just enough to give everyone hope just as they've written you off. It's a tease.

What does it ever mean though? Is a couple of good weeks at the plate in July make him even close to worth what he's being paid?

Will we ever see a real consistent season from him ever again? Maybe the time is to trade him is more right now than it's ever been now that his value might be peaking up? I just don't know.

As always with Burrell, I just don't know what to do.

Bleeding Green Nation Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Jul 28, 2007 6:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Just enough?

You have some pretty high standards.

Burrell is now having a typical Burrell season, only he's incredibly hot right now so there's a solid chance he ends the year better than his career average. That makes him, if not a bargain, then at least worth his salary.

by phatj on Jul 28, 2007 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Just enough?

Amazing what lowered expectations will do...

Bleeding Green Nation Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Jul 28, 2007 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Just enough?

Lowered expectations? Burrell's career average season would mean he'd be an above-average LF. If that isn't obvious to you, I don't know what to say to you except that you're just blinded with irrational bias.

Burrell's been an above-average player for his entire career except for one bad season. He may not be worth $13 million, but that isn't his fault. What are we supposed to do? Punish him for taking the deal? As far as his contract goes, what's done is done. What we've gotten from him is still pretty good, and just because thirteen million is too much doesn't mean I wouldn't extend him for eight.

by taco pal on Jul 30, 2007 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Just enough?

agree with taco pal.

one point about the contract, though: Burrell isn't signed to a $13M/year contract. it's an immensely backloaded contract with an AAV of $8.33M/year for 6 years. I suppose in some ways that's a distinction without a difference, but the fact is that Burrell cost only $21.5M over 2003-2006 (which means we got his 2005-2006 performance for well below market value, arguably). it's only this year and next that his contract is truly an albatross.

by perfectdepth on Jul 30, 2007 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Just enough?

Another angle?

After last year's FA market and some of the goofy contracts that were handed out (Pierre, for example), if this off-season goes the same way, Pat's contract may not look so far out of line.

by Dalton Bouchee on Jul 30, 2007 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Just enough?

The question is, does the fact that the market may catch up prove that the Phils were farsighted or does it just cover up the mistake of giving Burrell so much so early on.

I think it's safe to say the Phils expected more than what has become known as "an average Burrell year."

Bleeding Green Nation Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Jul 30, 2007 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Just enough?

Jason,

As far as the Phillies original decision is concerned, more of a cover-up.

But my point was more along the lines of maybe it's becoming something that folks oughta stop crying about in 2008.

by Dalton Bouchee on Jul 31, 2007 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Just enough?

Clearly it's not him who should be punished for the deal...

Bleeding Green Nation Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Jul 30, 2007 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Credit where credit is due: Burrell is hitting

Enjoy it while it lasts, and understand that he is what he is--not a superstar, not an MVP candidate, not a guy who's worth $13 million a year, but a solid, probably above-average offensive player.

by dajafi on Jul 29, 2007 1:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs