Everybody knows the Phillies have the best offense in the National League, but not everybody knows just how good Pat Burrell and Ryan Howard have been since the all-star break.
Even with the strikeouts.
Since the break, Burrell and Howard rank second in the league with 17 home runs. Since the break, Burrell leads the league with 53 RBIs. Howard is second with 48. They came up with big hits in last night's 6-5 victory over Colorado at Citizens Bank Park. Burrell hit a game-tying three-run home run in the seventh inning, while Howard hit a solo homer in the sixth and the game-winning homer in the 10th.
For the season, Howard ranks second in the National League with 38 home runs. He leads the league with 115 RBIs. Interestingly, as bad as Burrell was before July 1, he ranks 11th in the league with 28 home runs and 14th in the league with 90 RBIs. Since Burrell's average hit a season-low .201 on July 1, he is hitting .337 with 20 home runs and 58 RBIs in his last 59 games. That's pretty incredible.
The Phillies just need them to keep it up.
“Really, I knew if I just stayed with it and kept going things would turn around,” Burrell said. “Now it’s just trying to maintain what I’m doing.”
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The Phillies are 1 1/2 games behind the Padres in the NL wild-card race.
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If only the Phillies had pitching. They rank first in the National League in runs (788), OBP (.356), SLG (.467) and OPS (.820.) The Mets rank third in OBP (.341), sixth in runs (697) and SLG (.431) and seventh in OPS (.772).
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Jim Salisbury writes about all the heroes from last night's game, including Fort Washington's Ryan White. White, 24, is the fan who dropped Yorbit Torrealba's grand slam into the first row in right field onto the field in the fourth inning. First base umpire Mike DiMuro ruled fan interference even though the ball cleared the fence. He ordered Torrealba back to second for a ground-rule double.
It saved the Phillies two runs.
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In this week's Phillies Report, we look at the upcoming week for the top four wild-card contenders: Padres, Dodgers, Phillies and Rockies. We also look at how bad Jose Mesa, Antonio Alfonseca and Tom Gordon have been since Aug. 10.
(Mesa allowed a two-run homer to Matt Holliday last night, but you probably remember that.)
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Michael Bourn has been activated from the DL. He figures to add a little speed and a little better defense the final 19 games of the season.
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Cole Hamels could throw a bullpen session tomorrow. The Phillies are hopeful he can be back in time to make three more starts.
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We Should Be GMs is happy Burrell has bounced back. A Citizen's Blog returns from an eight-day hiatus. Swing and a Miss talks more about Burrell. The Good Phight looks at the experienced bullpen arms vs. the inexperienced bullpen arms, and why experience isn't helping the Phillies much right now.
Comments (15)
I humbly, publically apologize again to Pat Burrell for wanting to run him out of town early this year. Boy, was I wrong. What a turnaround, he has carried this team in the second half with big clutch hits. He will probably finish with 30 homers and over 100 ribbies, WOW!
Low crowds at the park but it was sellout level noise when Pat homered. On the bright side, parking is easier, concession lines are nil.
Get the Maalox and Pepcid ready for tonight, Adam Eaton will be pitching BP. Hope the bullpen is rested. Why they still run him out there is beyond me. Please prove me wrong, game and a half out we need him to come up big tonight. Think Charlie pitched Myers two innings because he assumed with Eaton pitching we would have no save opportunity tonight? Sorry, Eaton pitching makes me crabby, I have no faith in him.
Posted by jimmymac | September 11, 2007 10:41 AM
Posted on September 11, 2007 10:41
"It's interesting, but I'm wondering" . . . what?
Posted by David S. Cohen | September 11, 2007 11:13 AM
Posted on September 11, 2007 11:13
Game winning double in the 10th - not homer.
Posted by Anonymous | September 11, 2007 11:38 AM
Posted on September 11, 2007 11:38
Jimmymac, welcome to the lovefest. My Pat the Bat man-crush is finally justified!!!
But I'm trying to stay cautious. Still hate Myers as the closer, still think Howard would have 20 errors this year if they counted all the DPs he has muffed.
One day at at time. Eaton might surprise us.
Posted by John in LA | September 11, 2007 12:03 PM
Posted on September 11, 2007 12:03
Gentlemen,once again we have reason to give credit to Charlie. I remember,back in June,he sat Burrell for a few games, to get his head together, then gave him a shot and stuck with him, when no one else would've. That's Charlie's biggest strenth,a confidence builder. Not a bad hitting guru either. Also,includes his bench in almost every game ,keeps them ready to contribute.. It takes a real man to admit, he was wrong. Step to the plate, all ye naysayers,humble yourselves. Admit it..(3)yr contract, well deserved..The last few years,have taken me back to the glory years, of the late '70's.Early '80' Were going in that direction. Hopefully,play-offs,then THE BIG PRIZE..P-H-I-L-L-I-E-S Phillies !!!
Posted by Pat H | September 11, 2007 12:44 PM
Posted on September 11, 2007 12:44
Yo,metsfan,how bout leveling the playing field . If you would be so kind, to give us your hometown,blog..And your post, m.o.I doubt you will...Ny coward !
Posted by Pat H | September 11, 2007 12:56 PM
Posted on September 11, 2007 12:56
Todd Zolecki, dont u think u r getting beside urself w/ ur first line of this story, b'cuz thats exactly what it is , a story. We, as Met fans, truly, honestly disagree with that statement. I would take old a@% Shawn Green over your right fielder. i m lying but the Mets are a way better hitting team than the Phils and u can just take a look at our stats, THANK YOU.
Posted by REALMETFAN | September 11, 2007 2:54 PM
Posted on September 11, 2007 14:54
Todd Zolecki, dont u think u r getting beside urself w/ ur first line of this story, b'cuz thats exactly what it is , a story. We, as Met fans, truly, honestly disagree with that statement. I would take old a@% Shawn Green over your right fielder. i m lying but the Mets are a way better hitting team than the Phils and u can just take a look at our stats, THANK YOU. HI JIMMYMAC and PAT H, which stands for PAT HATERADE, u wish u were in our shoes right now...thats not 4 u jimmymac
Posted by REALMETFAN | September 11, 2007 2:56 PM
Posted on September 11, 2007 14:56
hey pat h.,all you have to do is go to nydailynews.com and you will find me all over the place just like your loser boy jimmymac.you guys are all full of the sod you call a home.you start condemning your "big bopper" burrell and want to get rid of him....he hits a nice shot(again off of a fastball,still can't hit a curve mind you),and now you want to give him the key to the city or your precioous cracked bell.beat it.you guys are losers now and forever more.you will learn soon enuff that the mets are your true daddies in the east.only player worth anything on that team is j-roll.maybe we will go after him to play 2 base once he gets tired of losing and wants to play for a winner.LETS GO METS......you sorry excuse for a sports fan......why don't you follow lacrosse or ping pong,maybe some crochet to help pass the time.....your tormentor for life is now leaving the building...
Posted by metsfan | September 11, 2007 2:59 PM
Posted on September 11, 2007 14:59
Can ANY Mets' fans write in a way that doesn't make my eyes hurt?
By the way, nice job on the Delgado and Beltran pick-ups. Love the consistency. How much is Beltran and his .280 lifetime average making? He's Abreu with worse numbers.
Posted by John in LA | September 11, 2007 3:12 PM
Posted on September 11, 2007 15:12
hey john,whatever they give us is a hell of alot better than what your gives you.think about it a sec.....isn't beltran your personal tormentor whenever they play each other?oh how short your memory lasts.......loser
Posted by metsfan | September 11, 2007 3:19 PM
Posted on September 11, 2007 15:19
I was just jealous JM and Pat B were getting all the attention.
You're right, Beltran and his 1 RBI in that 4-game series a couple weeks ago drove me crazy! Delgado's another Beltre. How much longer do you have him? If only Paul LoDuca were less interested in the ponies...
Posted by John in LA | September 11, 2007 3:27 PM
Posted on September 11, 2007 15:27
Yo Todd- thanks for the shout out today, my blog appreciates it.
Posted by GM-Carson | September 11, 2007 4:42 PM
Posted on September 11, 2007 16:42
Is it just me or does anyone else picture the Geico cavemen when they read the above posts from the Mets fans?
Posted by Lisa | September 11, 2007 5:22 PM
Posted on September 11, 2007 17:22
John in LA: If by ponies, you mean 16 year old girls, we are in agreement.
Posted by SC | September 11, 2007 6:55 PM
Posted on September 11, 2007 18:55