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Pat Burrell's game-winning homer yesterday makes this the perfect time to remind you that the resurgent slugger is in the final year of his contract.
And those of you who were so anxious to run him out of town a year or two ago might well get your wish.
According to Philadelphia native Jayson Stark, the highly regarded columnist for ESPN.com, Burrell and the Phillies are far apart on what it would take to bring the leftfielder back to Citizens Bank Park.
"We're hearing that the Phillies' extension conversation with Burrell's agent, Greg Genske, was short and not real sweet," Stark wrote the other day.
"It's hard to envision the Phillies offering more than two years and around $20 million to Burrell. And that's not even close to what Burrell and Genske have in mind."
Burrell, who enters the all-star break with 23 homers and 57 RBIs, is on a pace for 39 and 96.
The Phillies' No. 1 draft pick in 1998 has 241 career home runs - one more than Roberto Clemente and one less than Roy Campanella.
More Stark on Phils. According to Stark, the Phillies made a serious run at CC Sabathia before he went to Milwaukee last week, offering more bodies than did the Brewers.
But what Stark had to say next is more fascinating.
"The buzz in Philadelphia is that GM Pat Gillick has convinced ownership to take on a big contract if the right starting pitcher falls into their zip code," Stark wrote. "We're not sure how hard that was, but even the most skeptical members of a conservative ownership group can't help but see that the Phillies aren't going anywhere without a high-impact starter."
No surprise. The day Brett Favre announced his "retirement" last winter, a guy who should know said he'd be back.
Troy Aikman, forced to retire by concussions, pointed out that Favre was in good health.
Aikman pointed out that athletes who are forced to retire by injuries can accept that they can't play anymore.
Players as competitive as Favre, who are in good health, rarely retire and just walk away.
The urge to compete is just too great.
for staff writer Don McKee at
or by e-mail at dmckee@phillynews.com.
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