The Phillies’ Precarious Pat Problem
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by user JuTMSY4
Yes, Pat Burrell’s contract is up at the end of the 2008 season, and yes he’s still making 13 million this year and 14 million next, but Burrell’s effect on the Philadelphia Phillies could not only effect them for the next two years, but perhaps for the foreseeable future.
Right now, Burrell is essentially untradeable. In 2002, after a 37 Home run, 116 RBI campaign, Burrell signed a 6 year, 50 million dollar contract, with a full not trade clause. This move was seen as, perhaps, the crowning achievement of the Ed Wade era in Philadelphia. Burrell followed up his 2002 campaign with a 21 homer, 64 RBI (.209 avg) year in 2003, and a 24 homer, 84 RBI (.257 avg) in 2004. Burrell was thought to be back in 2005, hitting 32 home runs, knocking in 117 RBIs and batting .281. That season was merely an aberration, as Burrell returned to form in 2006 with a surprisingly decent 29 homers, 95 RBI, .258 avg 2005. Burrell is now back to 2003, batting .205 with 8 homers and 31 RBIs in about a half season’s work, well worth his 13.25 million dollar salary.
The Phillies have tried to move Burrell, with possible trades to the New York Yankees and Anaheim Angels, but both teams were unwilling to foot more than a sizable chunk of the Burrell bill and the Phillies, being fiscally savvy (or cheap), refused to budge. Moreover, as seen with the Bobby Abreu trade, the Phil were going to get little in return for an overpaid, lackadaisical and questionably talented/motivated ballplayer. The fact is, for both the team and the fans, Pat Burrell is here to stay until 2008.
But Pat Burrell is costing Philly fans much more than the small (heh) fee to watch him play (or not). With Pat Burrell’s currently poor average of .205 (and baffling .373 OBP) and even poorer power production (8 HRs and 31 RBIs, again), Pat Burrell, as of late, has actually managed to make his when to the pine. As such, young speed demon, 24 year old Michael Bourn (Who is making $380,000 this year) has managed his way into left field and the two hole in the lineup. Currently, Bourn is batting a robust .294 (.390 OBP), with 4 RBIs and 11 stolen bases, over, admittedly, 51 at bats. In the 2 years (total of 80 career games) Bourn has been in the majors, he’s collected 26 total stolen bases, namely during his pinch running duty (for Burrell no less).
With Bourn in the outfield, the Phillies have one of the best defensive (and fastest) outfields in the league, namely because of hard-nosed, fan favorite, centerfielder Aaron Rowand and outfield assist leader Shane Victorino in addition to the speedy Bourn…
(As I’m writing this, 8:24PM by my time, Ryan Howard just unloaded a pitch to straight away center…a solid 500 plus feet)
Naturally, you must be asking, am I so concerned the Phillies now have a fleet-footed young up and comer in the outfield. The Phils’ current centerfielder, Aaron Rowand, is a free agent at season’s end. Considering Rowand’s solid year (.313 avg, .341 OBP, 10 home runs and 39 RBIs), he is in line to clearly up his current 4.35 million dollar salary. The “Flyin’ Hawaiian” Shane Victorino is not arbitration eligible until the end of 2008 and is essentially “locked up” for the likely future. Should Bourn truly become a prominent ball player, he will deservingly take a starting spot in the outfield, but at what cost.
Being familiar with Phillies management (you really don’t even have to be), it should be obvious that if Victorino is signed and a very speedy Bourn earns a starting spot and one Pat Burrell, earning 14 million dollars in 2008 remains on the team (all but guaranteed), there leaves: a) no room for Rowand and b) Phillies management not willing to pony up the approximately 8 million dollars a year he will command. Naturally with the “investment” in Burrell, it is likely management, regardless of the fact that he’s in the final year of his contract, will want him to play and start in left field.
Rowand’s value is not only in his defensive prowess, his protection of one slugger named Ryan Howard or his very respectable average, but in his hard-nosed, “balls-out” style, example setting play and plain old leadership skills. The Phils have a .524 winning percentage with Rowand in the lineup and he’s been every bit a part of the Phillies 40 wins this season (having played in all of them).
With that said, it seems very unlikely the Phillies will resign Rowand and are apparently more than willing to let him walk, even more so as Michael Bourn exerts his presence. Unless someone is willing to keep sitting the 14 million dollar man, Pat Burrell, the Phillies will continue to tread water, and let current fan favorite, Aaron Rowand walk...all to save a buck
Damn the Money Pit
Great Pat the Bat Trivia
Pat’s infamous At Bat Music has included:
“Some Day” – Nickleback (2004)
“Holy Diver” – Dio (2005 & 2006)
“Baby One More Time” – Britney Spears (Late 2006)
“Dirty Laundry” – Don Henley (2007)
Chase Utley brought this to my attention in his Maxim Magazine Interview
