The Zo Zone

"Oh, you were finished? Oh, well allow me to retort." - Jules Winnfield

Pat Gillick criticized the middle of the Phillies lineup in yesterday's Inquirer, and Pat Burrell responded with two home runs in last night's 7-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park.

Burrell has three home runs this season.

He said afterward he wasn't aware of Gillick's comments.

"I didn't know," he said. "I try not to read the papers around here. If that's the case, [the criticism] is true. You have to look at the production of the middle of the lineup and guys have to pick it up. I have no problem with that."

Did Burrell truly not hear Gillick's comments? Maybe. Maybe not. In my experience, word travels fast, especially if that information is critical. But seriously, that doesn't matter. What matters is that Burrell came up big at the beginning of a big homestand. While I think the inconsistent pitching has played a larger role in the Phillies' struggles than the production from Ryan Howard, Wes Helms and Burrell, I think the middle of the lineup needs to play big while Tom Gordon and Ryan Madson are on the disabled list. Burrell actually has hit fairly well with runners in scoring position (.333 with two homers and 14 RBIs) while Helms (.158, 10 RBIs) has struggled. If Howard can get back on the field -- he might not play this afternoon as he continues to recover from a sore left quadriceps (nobody with the Phillies has ruled out a stint on the DL) -- and Burrell and Helms pick up the pace, they could start outslugging some teams. And that would be nice while the pitching staff tries to get healthy and more consistent (i.e. Freddy Garcia and Adam Eaton).

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Here's another look at Howard's grand slam Wednesday in Arizona.

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Phil Sheridan wonders if it's possible to envy and feel sorry for Burrell at the same time?

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Forgot to mention yesterday that the latest Philliescast is up.

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This isn't baseball related, but as a native Wisconsinite I thought this was pretty funny.