photo via sixers.com

Here’s a sampling of recent/active threads from the PSC Sixers message board, along with the first post of each.  Click the thread title to get the latest news and updates and to participate in the discussion:

Thread: GDT_ Lakers v. Sixers- 2/6

[Editor's note: check out the PSC Sixers-Lakers gameday thread to get play-by-play recap and reaction to Monday night's big win.]

Thread: What does this team have to do to contend?

Phillies President David Montgomery went on with Anthony Gargano and Glen MacNow to announce that the Phillies will now be broadcasting games on SportsRadio 94WIP FM.

It’s really just a logical jump.  The Phils could already be heard in a limited capacity on 610 WIP AM as well as on their sister station 1210 AM (which will continue to broadcast the games as well).  So now that WIP moved up in the world it makes sense to bring the Phils with them.

That said, it really will be pretty cool to hear the Phillies in FM when you have to be away from your HD.  And the juice that will come with the Phillies on FM will help WIP continue to pull away from 97.5 The Fanatic in the sports radio on FM war.

WIP will now have an on-site studio at Citizens Bank Park, with Gargano and Macnow planning to broadcast from the ballpark on most game days, which will include on field activities like interviews and such pre-game.

The first Phillies broadcast on 94WIP FM will be a spring training game on March 3 against the Yankees. 

The one drawback is that it means less Rob Ellis on the air for half the year.  Hopefully he can pick up more day shifts and WIP can use their usual gaggle of part-time jabronies to kill time before and after games.

Click here to comment and discuss on the PSC Phillies message board forum…  Want to comment but not yet a PSC member?  Click here to register!

This image is a kick to the gut of all Eagles fans (photo: Getty Images)

Here’s a sampling of what’s being talked about right now on the PSC Eagles message board.  Click the thread title to get the latest news and updates and to participate in the discussion:

Thread: didinger – vick a bigger problem than reid

[Editor's note: check out the article by Spike Eskin regarding Ray Didinger's comments on Vick - and then the blatantly insensitive yet humorous comments that follow.]

Thread: when is it our turn?!

PSC Poll: when do the eagles win a super bowl?

Thread: Superbowl XLVI – Patriots vs Giants Feb. 5th, 6:30 PM

[Editor's note: check out PSC's rolling Giants-Patriots Super Bowl discussion thread.  It's puke-worthy.]

Thread: So What Would You Rather Have Now?

Thread: Is this Giants team the worst ever to win a super bowl?

Thread: Does Goodell institute an NFL rule change moving forward?

Thread: 2012 NFL Offseason Thread

This thread is for all the NFL offseason transactions (cuts, trades, injuries, firings, etc.).

Thread: PSU Football/College Football Thread.

[Editor's note: check out PSC's rolling discussion thread of all things Penn State.]

Click here for more threads on the PSC Eagles message board forum…  Want to comment but not yet a PSC member?  Click here to register!

WE BOOED SANTA: Eagles blog

11. Brian Goodwin, CF, Washington – Goodwin was one of Washington’s last chances to splurge in the draft with the new draft spending rules now in place. He hasn’t made his pro debut yet, but he’s a potential five tool player in center with plus or better speed and a good arm. His great bat speed will allow him to hit for a solid average and become an above average home run hitter. Even though he was a college bat, Goodwin is expected to start 2012 in low-A.

12. Brandon Nimmo, OF, New York – Wyoming isn’t exactly a hotbed for baseball, but that didn’t stop Nimmo from being selected 13th overall in the 2011 draft. He’s not as raw as one might expect of someone who didn’t play high school baseball. He’s a really good contact hitter but doesn’t generate much loft in his swing as of now. He could always add strength to his frame to improve power. He’s really athletic and should cover plenty of ground in center at Citi Field. Nimmo could start 2012 in low-A.

13. Jesse Biddle, LHSP, Philadelphia – If Biddle cleans up his command, he should become an above average starting pitcher. He’ll need to pump up his fastball velocity a little more again too. Biddle should start 2012 in high-A.

14. Alex Meyer, RHP, Washington – Meyer’s stuff is as good as anyone’s, but his basketball body (6’9, 220) works against him. He frequently has mechanical issues like a lot of tall pitchers, and it took a few seasons at Kentucky to get his BB/9 down to 4.10, and he still needs to get better. His fastball has touched 100 in the past, but if he can’t develop his changeup more and harness his fastball and slider, his future may be in the bullpen. Like Goodwin, Meyer was a college player but is still a bit raw. He could start in low-A.

15. Sebastian Valle, C, Philadelphia – Valle is pretty toolsy as far as catchers go, and behind the plate they’re starting to come through in the games. He should be a good defensive catcher, and if he develops better pitch selection, he could hit for some really good power. Valle should start 2012 in AA.

16. Matt Purke, LHP, Washington – Purke could have been a top five pick in the 2011 draft, but a shoulder injury and deteriorated stuff really damaged his stock. The Nationals paid him a hefty sum hoping he can get it back, but it’s far from a guarantee. If he’s ever healthy again, he’ll have a 92-94 MPH fastball with a plus slider. He could start in high-A, but it’s possible he joins fellow 2011 draftees Goodwin and Meyer in low-A.

17. Jeurys Familia, RHP, New York – Familia had a breakout season in his second stint in the Florida State League where he was quickly promoted after six dominant starts. His fastball has mid 90′s velocity and movement, but his secondary pitches still need a lot of work. He may not throw enough strikes to remain in the rotation. Familia should start 2012 in AAA.

18. Jonathan Pettibone, RHSP, Philadelphia – Pettibone might not have the great stuff as some of the other pitchers on the list, but he makes up for it with really good command and a feel for pitching. He does have the stuff to improve his strikeout rate, and that’ll make it more likely for him to reach his ceiling as a #3 starter. Pettibone should start 2012 in AA.

19. Phillippe Aumont, RHRP, Philadelphia – I flipped Aumont and Pettibone from my previous rankings because I felt like it. Because of injuries and command issues, there’s still some risk that could keep him from reaching his potential. He should make his debut at some point in 2012. Aumont should start 2012 in AAA.

20. Marcell Ozuna, RF, Miami – Ozuna is like Anthony Hewitt had his tools translated to baseball better. Ozuna has hit over 20 home runs in consecutive seasons, very impressive considering he only played in 74 games in 2010. He strikes out a lot and still has to improve pitch recognition, but he’s managed to hit in the .260′s in his career. He has a great arm and is a solid athlete. Ozuna should start 2012 in high-A.

21. Jose Fernandez, RHSP, Miami – This Cuban refugee played high school baseball in Florida. He has a big frame and the velocity to show for it. He has a deep arsenal with three developing secondary pitches. He’ll have to improve his command, but his athleticism should allow him to overcome any mechanical difficulties. Fernandez could start 2012 in low-A.

22. Freddy Galvis, SS, Philadelphia – Galvis will return to AAA to build on the improvements he made last season. If he continues to hit well, there shouldn’t be anything that stops him from being a quality shortstop. Whether or not that’s with the Phillies is the only question. Galvis should start 2012 in AAA.

23. J.T. Realmuto, C, Miami – Realmuto has a nice all-around set of skills. He has a great arm behind the plate and better athleticism than most catchers, and that should translate to improved receiving ability behind the plate. He needs to improve his pitch selection, but he could be a solid contact and power hitter. Realmuto should start 2012 in high-A.

24. Jennry Mejia, RHP, New York -Although Mejia doesn’t qualify for Rookie of the Year anymore, he still qualifies for prospect lists. He got a long taste in the majors as the Mets bungled his development, and Tommy John surgery in 2011 set him back even more. His mid 90′s fastball has nice movement, and his changeup is good too. If he develops his curveball, he could be a starter, but it’s possible that with his injuries and command troubles he moves to the bullpen. It’s not out of the question that Mejia starts 2012 in extended spring training to continue to rehab.

25. Cesar Puello, RF, New York – Puello is yet another young, toolsy Mets prospect. Those guys haven’t been panning out for them lately though. He has nice bat speed that should generate a good batting average and some power, and he has the arm to play right field. That power isn’t there yet though, and if his plate approach doesn’t improve, he might not be able to realize his potential. Puello should start 2012 in AA.

Click here for Part 1: The Top Ten…

Click here to Comment and Discuss on the PSC Phillies message board forum…  Want to comment but not yet a PSC member?  Click here to register!

Scott Grauer writes for PSC and Bus Leagues Baseball – check him out!  Scott also regularly updated the PSC 2011 Minor League Thread with player stats, game results, and more, and will be doing the same for the PSC 2012 Minor League Thread as well…

photo via Sixers.com

Here’s a sampling of recent/active threads from the PSC Sixers message board, along with the first post of each.  Click the thread title to get the latest news and updates and to participate in the discussion:

Thread: GDT 2/3/12 Sixers vs. Miami Heat 7pm

[Editor's note: check out the PSC Sixers-Heat gameday thread to get play-by-play recap and reaction to Friday's game.]

Thread: GDT 2/1/12 Sixers vs. Chicago Bulls 7pm

[Editor's note: check out the PSC Sixers-Bulls gameday thread to get play-by-play recap and reaction to Wednesday's game.]

Thread: Sixers have contacted the Knicks about Amare

to see if Amare Stoudemire is available.

Thread: Is Iguodala an all-star?

Thread: Sixers Standings/Playoff watch 2011/2012

with the shortened season, it’s never too early to keep an eye out.  reminder that division winners are guaranteed at least a 1-4 seed.

Thread: Benefit of the Hawes/Vucevic injuries

Now that we’ve gone over the Phillies organization’s top 30 prospects, it’s time to see how they stack up against the rest of the division. The Phillies have had a stranglehold on the NL East for the past five seasons, but the gap may be shrinking. While the Mets are rebuilding, the other three rivals are making strides. Miami is throwing money around moving into their new stadium, and Atlanta and Washington have built from within and are looking to build around their young cores. Who ranks first?

1. Washington – Even after the big Gio Gonzalez trade that saw Washington trade away two major league pitchers, a near-major league ready catcher and a younger pitcher with great potential, the Nationals still have some pieces to build around. Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon are a great duo that could hit in the middle of the order, and their recent big spending in the draft has given them depth in the lower levels. This is an organization that is very close to competing for the playoffs and being a serious handful.

2. Atlanta – From the majors down to the upper minors, the Braves have a lot of pitching depth. Most of their rotation is already set with veterans Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens, and Brandon Beachy and Mike Minor just graduated from prospect status during 2011. Their prospect trio of Julio Teheran, Arodys Vizcaino and Randall Delgado are all pretty much major league ready, but the Braves don’t have much room for all of these pitchers. Those are great players to have, but they need offense badly, and they have no potential middle of the order bats.

3. New York – A last place finish is all but guaranteed for the Mets in 2012, and their farm system still needs a lot of work too. They’re led by Zack Wheeler and Matt Harvey, two pitchers with great stuff, although Wheeler needs to find a way to harness it. Brandon Nimmo is their top position player prospect, and he’s not even close to being ready. They offer a couple near major league ready relievers and a few quintessential Mets prospects that have great tools but haven’t put it together yet. They need to develop more bats, but it could take a while.

4. Philadelphia – It’s close between the Phillies and Mets, and I’d give the edge to the Mets for now because Wheeler and Harvey are both better than Trevor May. Once again, they’re essentially barren in the upper levels now that Dom Brown has lost prospect status, and fans are looking to the lower levels for players to break out. Until that happens, they can’t be ranked too highly, but there is potential here.

5. Miami – Their M.O. has been to develop some talent, have some success and then trade those players away when the costs start going up. Lately, they’ve struggled on the player development side, and they haven’t really come close to making the playoffs. With the new stadium, they’ve changed approaches and made big free agent splashes. That’s good for them because they have very little in the upper minors and only a few lottery tickets in the levels below.

The Prospect Rankings

1. Bryce Harper, RF, Washington – This choice wasn’t particularly difficult. I think it would be a bit premature to have him in the Opening Day lineup, but he will debut sometime in 2012. For the first time in his life, Harper struggled in AA before a hamstring injury shortened his season, but he bounced back to have a strong Arizona Fall League campaign. He could become the preeminent slugger of his time. Harper should start 2012 in AAA.

2. Julio Teheran, RHSP, Atlanta – Because of injuries, Teheran was rushed to the majors in 2011 and wasn’t effective at all. He’s not the best pitching prospect in baseball anymore because of the strides Matt Moore made, but he’s still one of a handful of minor league pitchers that could become an ace. He combines very good stuff with great command and a mature approach beyond his years. He’ll have a shot to earn a spot with the Braves in spring training. Teheran should start 2012 in AAA.

3. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Washington – He was still taken 6th overall, but Rendon has the potential to be the steal of the 2011 draft. A couple injuries and a weak supporting cast at Rice hampered his junior season, and the teams picking ahead of Washington chose to go in a different direction. He could have been the first overall pick, and he should be a safe bet to be a very good major leaguer, as far as prospects go. He can play great defense at third, but if the Nationals experiment with him at second base, it probably won’t work out. Rendon could start 2012 in high-A, but it’s possible that they’re even more aggressive with him.

4. Arodys Vizcaino, RHP, Atlanta – Vizcaino is a pitcher that the Yankees let get away. He was the big catch in the Javier Vazquez trade even though he hadn’t pitched in a full season league at the time of the trade. He threw in the mid 90′s as a reliever with the Braves and has a great curveball, and he could pitch in a major league rotation if he can shake injury concerns and continue to develop his changeup. If not, he can stick with his great fastball and curveball combo in the late innings. Vizcaino should start 2012 in AAA to have a chance to pitch in the rotation.

5. Randall Delgado, RHSP, Atlanta – Like Teheran, Delgado reached the majors sooner than the Braves probably hoped because of injuries. He managed to hold his own in seven starts in the majors. His curveball may be his best pitch, but he hardly threw it in his stint in the big leagues. His fastball velocity is similar to Teheran’s, but he doesn’t command it as well yet. Delgado should start 2012 in AAA, but he may have the inside track over Minor to make the Braves rotation.

6. Zack Wheeler, RHSP, New York – The Braves and Phillies were not willing to part with their best prospects to rent Carlos Beltran, but the Giants decided to gamble and trade the former top 10 pick. He’s had command issues in his young career, but in his brief time in the Mets organization in 2011, he threw a lot of strikes. His mid 90′s fastball helps him generate groundballs, and his curveball gets him a lot of strikeouts. His changeup and command could develop to be average, and that’s a nice package if he can continue to improve his durability. Wheeler should start 2012 in AA.

7. Matt Harvey, RHSP, New York – Harvey was one of the most heralded pitchers in the country when he arrived at North Carolina, but in his first two seasons he couldn’t throw strikes. He improved enough in his junior year to get picked in the top 10, but it’s still possible his command limits him to a late inning relief role. He had 156 strikeouts in just 135.2 innings across two levels last year, and in 2012 he’ll try to improve his changeup to complement his lively fastball and hard slider. Harvey could start 2012 in AAA even though he was uneven to finish the season in AA.

8. Christian Yelich, LF, Miami – It’s been said that if the Marlinsdidn’t pick Yelich four picks ahead of the Phillies, they would’ve taken him instead of Jesse Biddle. After one year as a professional, it’s easy to see why. After struggling a bit in the first couple weeks of the season, Yelich slowly became one of the South Atlantic League’s best hitters. At 6’4 and 189 pounds, he has a smooth swing and a lot of power projection. He stole 32 bases while only being caught five times, and it’s still possible that he does this as a center fielder. Yelich should start 2012 in high-A.

9. Trevor May, RHSP, Philadelphia – I don’t think May is too far behind the Mets duo a couple spaces up, and some may have them in a different order. Wheeler has better stuff, and Harvey has the benefit of having experience at a higher level. All of them share command problems, and May may have an edge on Harvey in terms of likelihood of remaining in the rotation. May should start 2012 in AA.

10. Andrelton Simmons, SS, Atlanta – If Galvis had a little more size and better tools, he would be Simmons. He’s a smooth fielder with a great arm whose fastball touched 98 MPH as an amateur. He’s a good contact hitter but won’t have more than gap power. He doesn’t walk much, but he also has low strikeout totals. If he improves his baserunning, he’ll be able to take better advantage of his speed. Simmons should start 2012 in AA.

Click here for Part 2: 16-25…

Click here to Comment and Discuss on the PSC Phillies message board forum…  Want to comment but not yet a PSC member?  Click here to register!

Scott Grauer writes for PSC and Bus Leagues Baseball – check him out!  Scott also regularly updated the PSC 2011 Minor League Thread with player stats, game results, and more, and will be doing the same for the PSC 2012 Minor League Thread as well…

Ilya Bryzgalov makes a save vs. the Jets (photo: P.Bereswill)

Here’s a sampling of some recent/active threads from the PSC Flyers message board, including the first post of each.  Click the thread title to get the latest news and updates and to participate in the discussion:

Thread: GDT – 1/31 Flyers vs Largest Concentration of Black People in Canada, 7pm

[Editor's note: check out PSC's Flyers-Jets gameday thread to get a recap and play-by-play reaction to Tuesday's game.]

Thread: GDT: NHL All-Star Weekend Draft/Skillz/Game

Thread: Flyers News/Updates/Rumors

[Editor's note:  check out PSC's rolling thread for miscellaneous Flyers news, rumors, and info.]

Thread: Around the league (non-Flyers) games/updates/news thread

[Editor's note: PSC's rolling news/update/other games GDTs discussion thread]

New Phillies reliever Chad Qualls

Here’s a sampling of recent/active threads from the PSC Phillies message board, along with the first post of each.  Click the thread title to get the latest news and updates and to participate in the discussion:

Thread: Phillies signed Chad Qualls

Yuck

Thread: Hunter Pence on the Offense

Thread: How long until Pence is traded? UPDATE: Signs 1-year, $10.4 million deal for 2012

[Editor's note: Hunter Pence discussion, updated with one-year contract info, avoiding arbitration.]

Thread: Pat the Bat coming home?

Thread: Philly Sports Villains

anyone see this on csn last night? I saw a minute or two but I don’t think it was the real list. it was just bob ford and jody mac listing their biggest villains. for the record, ford picked the soviet red army team and jody mac picked red auerbach and the celtics. they said on WIP that kotite was 20th. I never found him a villain so much as a bumbling idiot. Braman on the other hand… I go:

Thread: Rosenthal Article on Hamels

This quote doesn’t make sense considering the contracts they gave Lee and Howard.

Thread: 2012 MLB Offseason Transactions (The Hot Stove Thread)

[Editor's note: check out PSC's 300+ page rolling MLB offseason transactions, news, rumors, and discussion thread.]

Thread: 2012 Countdown to Opening Day Thread

Annual tradition.

Thread: 2012 Phillies Minor League Thread

[Editor's note: PSC's annual rolling Phillies minor league thread, updated daily in-season with news, info, game notes, and more, including the work of PSC's own Scott Grauer.]

Click here for more threads on the PSC Phillies message board forum…  Want to comment but not yet a PSC member?  Click here to register!

Pat Burrell leads the Phillies 2008 World Series parade

The word going around baseball today was that longtime Phillie and two time world champion Pat Burrell was going to retire from baseball. The former number one pick in the draft has cited his oft injured foot as keeping him from playing at a high level and over a long 162 game season. Foot problems have long bothered the slugging outfielder. They first struck him when he was with the Phillies and were so bad at one point that doctors were actually wondering how Burrell was able to actually play through an entire season. After playing through several seasons since the problem first appeared it now looks like the damage done is finally taking it’s toll.

If Burrell does in fact retire as the rumors say, it will end a career that had some up and downs but was also a very good career in the end. While it is safe to say his numbers did not live up to the hype of being the first pick in a draft he none the less put up enough numbers to be in the top ten of number one over all picks in recent memory. Many people put insane expectations on being that number one overall, thinking the player should be either a 40 home run a year monster or a perennial 20 game winner. In baseball with so many picks, then so many levels to actually reach the majors, it often does not work out that way. Burrell’s numbers as I said still hold their own. He has nothing to hang his head over, at least not from on the baseball field. Pat Burrell played nine seasons in Philadelphia and in that time he hit .257/.367/.485 with 252 doubles, 251 home runs, and 827 RBIs. Not elite numbers but good enough to be in the top ten of the all time Phillies lists in quite a few categories.

Pat came up in the 2000 season and was thrust into the starting lineup as a firstbaseman when incumbent Rico Brogna suffered an injury and finished 4th in the Rookie of the Year voting after hitting 18 home runs and knocking in 79 in just 111 games with a respectable .822 OPS. His 2001 was also very respectable helping Larry Bowa and the Phillies turn around their mediocrity into respectability. Then in 2002 he broke out. Hitting .282 with 37 home runs and 116 RBIs and His .920 OPS gave a lot of hope that the Phillies finally had a stud player to build the team around since the Phillies had to trade the disgruntled face of their franchise Scott Rolen during the season.

Things looked very bright going into 2003 and then the wheels fell off. Burrell had the worst year of his career, slumping to hitting .209/.309/.404 with just 21 home runs. Several factors helped contribute to the year. Many pointed to his active night life of staying out all hours and partying as a big factor, pressure from his belief that he had to carry the team since he was now the marquee player, playing through some injuries, and there was also clubhouse strife involving him and manager Larry Bowa. Bowa’s abrasive win at all costs and strict style was one of the reasons Scott Rolen wanted out. A year later it was starting to wear thin on several more players and Burrell got involved in noted clubhouse rabble rouser Tyler Houston’s attempted “player revolt”, which lead to Tyler Houston’s release. Some how through this lost year the Phillies fans, who are noted to be very harsh at times on players, still gave Burrell tremendous support. I still remember the fans giving him standing ovations after his hitting doubles to this day. A far cry from the vulture persona ESPN and various fishwrappers in other cities like to label on the city and it’s fans.

The next year Burrell found out that he did not have to carry the team, the Phillies had signed Jim Thome to do that with his broad shoulders. He responded by having a better year, but was still playing through his injuries and the year, while respectable, was not what everyone expected of a former number one overall pick.

After these two seasons Burrell took a step back towards being an important cog for the Phillies. Despite some animosity from many fans that had lost all hope that he would ever be a productive player, Burrell turned his career around. His value can not be argued as he became more comfortable being one piece of the larger puzzle instead of the centerpiece and he began putting up very good numbers complimenting players like Jim Thome, Bobby Abreu, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, and Chase Utley. Pat also began taking more walks, which helped offset his strikeout numbers.

Pat also settled down in his personal life around this time, getting married, and breaking the hearts of many female Phillies fans that he made moon eyed in his many years playing in the city. Stability helped him grow as a player. He was also relatively healthy although his foot never truly did heal but he was able to play though it with less pain and concentrate on his game. His range and speed was never anything but below average but his play in leftfield actually improved to a respectable level through his hard work and he was able to use his strong arm more effectively. He also spent a lot of time working with Charlie Manuel on his hitting. This was a new Pat Burrell who was not just resting on his laurels, he was trying to get better and help his team and it’s fans.

2007 rolled around and Pat was in his 8th season and had never tasted the playoffs. Thanks to a monster year by Ryan Howard, a MVP year by Jimmy Rollins and career years by guys like Aaron Rowand and Greg Dobbs and good pitching by Jamie Moyer and Cole Hamels the Phillies made the playoffs for the first time since 1993. Burrell was a very big part of it, hitting .256/.400/.502 with 30 home runs. He had his 2nd +.900 OPS season. Lack of playoff experience and some bad pitching helped the Phillies get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by the Rockies, but the team was finally back in the playoffs and they were hungry.

2008 rolled around and Hall of Fame GM Pat Gillick made several changes. He added Brad Lidge, Pedro Feliz, Geoff Jenkins, So Taguchi, Chad Durbin, Rudy Seanez, and Joe Blanton, Matt Stairs, and Scott Eyre in late season deals. While most of the names did not put up huge numbers, each one was an important piece to the team. Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth both took huge steps forward during the season and combined with Burrell to give the Phillies one of the better outfields production wise in the entire league. Like the previous year, this team never said die and turned around a deficit to win the NL East for the second straight time from the more favored Mets.

The playoffs rolled around once again, but unlike the last season, these Phillies were now playoff hardened. They blew through both a very good Milwaukee team and a Joe Torre lead Dodgers team that was favored by many to represent the NL in the World Series. Burrell made big contributions in both series, homering twice in the clinching game 4 against the Brewers and game 1 against the Dodgers, hitting .333 against them and the Phillies were in the World Series.

The World Series was an offensive nightmare for Burrell as he only had one hit. That hit however turned out to be the biggest of his career. Bottom of the 7th and the game tied at 3 after raingate, Pat launched a double off of JP Howell. Naturally Charlie pinch ran Eric Bruntlett and then Pedro Feliz knocked him in. The rest is history as Brad Lidge locked down the game in the 9th and the Phillies were World Champions again. While he struggled through the World Series his double at a key time will always be a huge part of Phillies history. It would be the last hit of his Phillies career.

At the parade the Phillies gave the soon to be free agent the place of honor riding on the Clydesdale at the front. It was a sign of what many people suspected. The Phillies were not bringing Pat Burrell back. It was a sad moment for many as the Phillies went out and signed Raul Ibanez and Pat was forced to go elsewhere.

Pat signed with the defeated AL Champions Tampa Bay Rays and became their DH due to Carl Crawford, BJ Upton, and Ben Zobrist manning their outfield positions. He was never happy there, did not like DHing, did not like how alien their clubhouse was, and honestly he missed the close nit clubhouse he had with all of his teammates back in Philadelphia. Rumor had it that he and Carl Crawford actually had an altercation, which has been denied but the denials were not very strong and the rumors persist to this day.

He began 2010 with the Rays again but was very ineffective and the Rays released him. There was some hope by some that the Phillies were going to bring him back but he ended up with the San Francisco Giants and he gave their offense a big boost hitting 18 homers and having a .872 OPS in 96 games. He managed to homer against Atlanta in the playoffs but once again did not play well. Despite this he managed to get his 2nd Championship ring, getting some revenge by ousting the more heavily favored Phillies along the way.

2011 was an injury plagued season as both he and the Giants offense had struggles and Burrell was spent a lot of time on the disabled list during the campaign. These injuries are what has lead him to evaluate his career and seems to have made up his mind that it is time to retire.

It is a sad end for a player who experienced several highs with all of us Phillies fans. He never did live up to what he was supposed to be on paper, but he honestly did have a good career here and the Phillies seem to be ready to provide one last honor for him. Ruben Amaro was quoted as saying that the Phillies are looking into signing Pat Burrell to one more contract, a 24 hour one. Pat Burrell will then be able to retire as a Philadelphia Phillie, as he should because it is right. It is right for many reasons because no matter what anyone can say about Pat Burrell, he IS a Philadelphia Phillie and he did contribute a lot to help give us one of the best eras of Phillies baseball in history. Only one more honor remains and that will be coming soon. Pat the Bat will one day be a part of the Wall of Fame at Citizen’s Bank Park.

Click here to Comment and Discuss on the PSC Phillies message board forum…  Want to comment but not yet a PSC member?  Click here to register!

Barry Jeffrey Jr. writes ”The Crow’s Nest” column for PSC.

The Eagles will retain defensive coordinator Juan Castillo

Here’s a sampling of what’s being talked about right now on the PSC Eagles message board.  Click the thread title to get the latest news and updates and to participate in the discussion:

Thread: Todd Bowles hired as DB Coach; Juan to Remain as DC

Thread: Has Andy EVER Won A Game He Wasn’t Supposed To?

Forgetting the fact that I can’t even come up with a regular season game against a non-NFC East opponent that he shouldn’t have won but did, I’m going to run through the playoffs because it’s easier.  MORE….

Thread: 2012 NFL Draft – LB prospects.

[Editor's note: check out PSC's rolling Linebacker prospects discussion thread.]

Thread: Superbowl XLVI – Patriots vs Giants Feb. 5th, 6:30 PM

[Editor's note: PSC's rolling Super Bowl discussion thread.]

Thread: Pick the Super Bowl with the spread

[POLL]

Thread: The Peyton Manning Saga

Thread: 2012 NFL Offseason Thread

This thread is for all the NFL offseason transactions (cuts, trades, injuries, firings, etc.).

Thread: PSU Football/College Football Thread.

[Editor's note: check out PSC's rolling discussion thread of all things Penn State.]

Thread: Joe Paterno has Passed Away

[Editor's note: ongoing discussion regarding the death of Joe Paterno, his legacy, and his disgrace.]

Click here for more threads on the PSC Eagles message board forum…  Want to comment but not yet a PSC member?  Click here to register!

WE BOOED SANTA: Eagles blog