He's staying back on the ball and seeing it longer.

He's not jumping out at pitches and becoming off-balance when he swings.

His pitch selection is better.

He's trying to use the whole field more.

He's healthy.

He wants to stay in Philadelphia beyond this season.

He smells big free-agent dollars.

He's a happy newlywed.

Burrell downplayed this confluence of factors as he sat in front of his locker the other day.

"To be honest, when people write stories about it and analyze it, they make more of it than it really is," the 31-year-old Phillies leftfielder said. "What it comes down to, simply, is confidence. Confidence can take you a long way, especially in this game."

Burrell's confidence slipped late in 2006 and again in the first half of 2007. During both periods, he sat out games as manager Charlie Manuel looked for a hot bat.

Something clicked for Burrell around July 1 last season. He started taking better swings and getting better results. His body language at the plate changed. He began to look, as Richie Ashburn used to say, hitterish. As good as Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard were last season, Burrell might have been the team's MVP in July and August.

Burrell tailed off some in September but has come out strong in the new season, "hitting two, three, four balls a night hard, making consistent contact and having fun," Manuel said.

Burrell hit .326 in 28 games in the first month. He set a team record for RBIs in April with 25. Entering last night, he led the National League in batting average with runners in scoring position (.480), was tied for second in RBIs (30) and walks (26), and was tied for third in homers (9). He ranked third in on-base percentage (.459) and fourth in slugging (.689).

From July 1 through May 4, Burrell ranked third in the majors with an OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of 1.070 among players with over 400 plate appearances. Only Chipper Jones, at 1.079, and Albert Pujols, at 1.071, were better.

Burrell's contributions helped the Phillies deal with injuries to Rollins and Shane Victorino as well as an early-season slump by Howard and have their first winning April since 2003.

"He's been great," assistant general manager Ruben Amaro said.

Impressive numbers

On his way to those strong totals, though, Burrell occasionally frustrated team officials with lulls in production. Those spells led the Phils to discuss trading Burrell and stirred second thoughts about the decision to give him a six-year, $50 million contract before the 2003 season. The contract expires at season's end.

"Last summer, I said I wasn't sure if it was worth it, that we'll have to see how it finishes out," Amaro said. "If he continues this type of production, it will have been worth it."

Yogi Berra famously said that 90 percent of baseball is half-mental. Burrell might agree. As he said, you can search for reasons behind the roll he is on, but the No. 1 reason is confidence. Physically, he said, he doesn't feel much different than he did in the first half of last season. Mentally, though, he feels on top of the world. He even looks happier. Late last season, he began playing with an exuberance he had rarely shown. Part of that came from being in a pennant race, part from playing so well.

"I don't care who you are, if you're not playing well, it's hard to enjoy yourself," Burrell said. "We're all human. You need to be loose and relaxed to play well. If you're not getting results, you won't be loose and relaxed.

"If you're getting into periods when you are getting good results, taking good swings, hitting well, it makes it easier to carry things over to the next day. That's really the way it's been for me since the all-star break."

Physical adjustments

In Burrell's case, success led to confidence, and it all started in July, when he hit .435 and slugged .768 with six homers and 22 RBIs in 24 games.

That production started with physical adjustments at the plate.

For years, instructors talked to Burrell about the importance of staying back on pitches. Committing too early caused him to fly open with his left shoulder and made him vulnerable to off-speed pitches on the outside corner.

People told Burrell: Stay back. Recognize the pitch and trust your hands. Use the whole field as you did in college and in the minor leagues.

Burrell seems to have made these adjustments, even if data provided by Stats Inc. show that he's pulling the ball more than he did last year. Hitting coach Milt Thompson said he was seeing a willingness to hit the ball to the opposite field, and believes that has helped Burrell's overall swing.

"The biggest thing is he's not consciously trying to pull everything," said one rival scout, a veteran Burrell observer. "He's continued what he started the second half of last season. He looks like he's trying to use the whole field. You don't know how long it will last, but he's definitely become a more complete hitter. He's more intelligent. He got himself out a lot early in his career."

Burrell conceded that he was staying back better on pitches. That allows him to see the ball longer and reach pitches on the outside part of the plate.

"That's the only difference. I'm staying back better," he said. "It's hard to explain. Hitting is a feel. It's the difference between knowing you're going to have a good at-bat and hoping you're going to have a good at-bat."

In the past, Burrell often looked content with a walk in RBI situations. While it's good to take walks, it is also nice to look to drive the ball in RBI situations. The more confident Burrell seems to be doing that.

Feeling healthy

Amaro said Burrell was fully recovered from a right-foot problem that required surgery in 2005.

"I don't know if he'd admit it, but I think he feels healthier," Amaro said. "That has allowed him to feel more comfortable with his stance and approach. He can have a wider base, and that has helped him stay on the ball."

"He's matured," Manuel said. "He's gotten older. He's found out what's best for him. The greatest hitting coach you can have is yourself. Learn your swing. Know what you hit good. Improve your mechanics. Sometimes it takes a long time."

Manuel has seen something else come out of Burrell's maturity: better preparation for games, more video study of opposing pitchers.

"He always worked hard and always wanted to do good," Manuel said. "I just think his preparation has improved."

The scout who has long watched Burrell added this observation: "I'd think the knowledge of a big payday if he has a good year has helped."

The scout believes there will be a healthy market for Burrell over the winter, but Burrell, who is not the fleetest defender, might have more opportunities in the American League.

"He wants to play for a long time," Manuel said. "He looks at it and says, 'If I improve, I'll stay in the game, be a survivor, and make good money.' There's nothing wrong with that."

Burrell, who loves playing in Philadelphia and would like to re-sign here, shot down the money-as-motivation angle.

"The motivation is the playoffs," he said. "We got a taste of it last year, and we know we're close. I don't worry about that other stuff. This is a good time to be a Phillie. We have a great team, and the city believes in us."

Amaro said it was too early to say whether the team would look to re-sign Burrell. Over the winter, it looked doubtful that the team would go that way. Now?

"We have to let it play out," Amaro said. "We're conscious that he's a free agent. We know he likes it here, and we like him. But this is not the first time in the history of the game or this franchise that a player has reached free agency. We'll deal with it at the appropriate time."

Burrell admits to having one personal motivation: making his first all-star team.

"I'd be lying if I said that wasn't something I wanted to do," he said. "I just have to keep playing, stay healthy, and see what happens."