Burrell's bat taken out of his hands

By Steve Lienert

The Phanatic Magazine

While strolling through a flea market in the Pocono Mountains last November, I stumbled upon a sports booth that was selling old Mike Lieberthal and Pat Burrell jerseys for $20 apiece. Not the crappy kind, either, but the stitched, heavyweight button-down kind that usually runs about $75 at the local sporting goods store.

After explaining to the vendor that while Lieby was a playing in L.A., Burrell was still on the team, I asked him why he was selling Burrell's jersey with Lieberthal's ancient rags. He said it was because more people still rooted for Lieberthal.

He was trying to be funny, but he had a point: Burrell has been Philly's phavorite whipping boy the past few years. In 2006, when it was, ahem, rumored that Burrell vetoed a trade to the Orioles, he wasn't viewed as a guy that wanted to finish his career in Philadelphia. He was viewed as a selfish guy that was comfortable playing in front of fans that literally had grown to despise him.

He was Von Hayes minus the upside.

Even after I bucked up for Burrell's No. 5 that day, I still haven't found to courage to actually wear it outside, let alone down to the ballpark.

That is, until today.

After 80s music aficionados elected Corey Hart (the Milwaukee Brewer, not the guy that sang 'Sunglasses at Night') for the final spot on the NL All-Star team on Thursday, I gotta cry foul.

Burrell has seven more homers, a higher on-base percentage and slugging percentage than either Hart or Mets' third baseman David Wright, who also finished ahead of Burrell in fan voting. Combined, Hart and Wright have just six more walks than Burrell alone.

It was as if all of Wisconsin had nothing better to do than sit by its computers and keep clicking on Corey Hart's name while waiting to see if Brett Favre had a bowel movement on Wednesday.

Hart does have a higher batting average (.292 to Burrell's .279), three more RBI and less strikeouts (62 to Burrell's 74), but those wins seem rather nit-picky.

Perhaps it was Hart's glove that helped him rise above. Not.

Burrell and Hart have both played in each of their team's 89 games, but Burrell has 7 outfield assists to Hart's 3. And Burrell has zero errors compared to Hart's 4. Edge: Burrell.

And just for kicks, Burrell carried his team for a month while others in the lineup (Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard) got their respective acts together, and that team has been in first place ever since, albeit tenuous.

If Shaq were the Cubs and Kobe was the Brewers, the Cubs might just ask Milwaukee how their ass tastes.

Burrell deserved better, and it was probably as close His Batness will ever get.