Fact: So far, Burrell has been a bust

by raysfaninminnesota on Jun 22, 2009 12:11 AM EDT

This is not intended to be a Burrell bashfest. In fact, signing Burrell was the right decision and will prove to be the right choice in time. But the truth is, so far Burrell has been a bust. And it isn't like this criticism isn't warranted. It isn't the first week of the season or first month of the season, but we are about 10 games away from reaching the midway point. All Burrell has to show for it is a 18 RBIs and 1 home run. Injuries happen and that sure seems why we haven't seen the Pat the Bat that has averaged over 30 HRs in each of his last four seasons. But to say he sucks or criticize this or that is unwarranted unbased and unneeded. All you need to point to is the bottom line. And 5 extra base hits are not going to cut it. Hopefully PtB is healthy enough to put all this behind him and start anew. Now that Upton's coming out of his early season struggles, we can hope PtB does the same.

Now that the Rays are coming home for interleague, Pat can finally get some consistent playing time at DH for the first time since he's been back and off the DL. Hopefully a healthy PtB can make the type of impact in our lineup that everyone envisioned when the Rays signed him. It wouldn't hurt if he hit a few longballs against his former team this week either.

This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

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The fact that Pat has been a bust so far has not really contributed to the team's medoicrity. It's discouraging, but I don't think it's worth screaming about.

"Where we all wait in earnest with pudding in hand for the Upton comet to sail through the roofed skies, so that we may meet Him."

by kericr on Jun 22, 2009 12:18 AM EDT reply actions

when he has the second or third highest salary on the team, it is

the reason for the high expectations are a combination of previous results and salary. While the Rays pitching issues are more of the concern, when your major off-season acquisition is almost non-existent, there is disappointment and really rightfully so.

by raysfaninminnesota on Jun 22, 2009 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions

we have the best offense in the league with Upton's early struggles, Navarro still kinda figuring it out and PtB yet to contribute much

Upton is going to continue to hit good for the rest of the season, Navarro i hope starts to get on a roll, and i think PtB is going to get hot real soon.

God i love this team!

by RaysOfHope on Jun 22, 2009 1:16 AM EDT up reply actions

PtB has been a disappointment.

No denying that

by RaysTheRoof on Jun 22, 2009 1:36 AM EDT reply actions

yes he has, i think he is going to turn it around soon

by RaysOfHope on Jun 22, 2009 1:46 AM EDT up reply actions

How many more of these threads are we going to have?

I think most of us get the idea now. I hope he hits like 30 homers now.

"Doesn't Manny Ramirez look like the monster from Predator??" - Will Farrell as Harry Carey

by Gone Phishing on Jun 22, 2009 6:31 AM EDT reply actions

Great post!

Would read again!

by rglass44 on Jun 22, 2009 8:46 AM EDT reply actions

i do like good humor in the morning

I only wrote this post because others there seems to be very few people who actually are willing to say that Burrell’s been a bust so far. Now maybe more of the frustation have been about personal attacks or wanting to trade for a middle reliever, but the heart of the matter is true. We are just about half way through the season and only have 5 extra base hits to show for it. It’s the same criticism that was being shown to Upton. Maddon stuck with B.J. and if he does the same with Burrell I think this criticism will end shortly. His track record shows what he can do when healthy. And while some fans may not know how to display their criticism thoughtfully or maybe rationally, it doesn’t mean the criticism isn’t true. At 7-8 mil a season the Rays have gotten no return on their money. But there still is plenty of baseball yet to be played.

by raysfaninminnesota on Jun 22, 2009 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions

I would say "He's been a big disappointment."

I hate the term “bust,” and the use of it implies there could be no positive in the future. Either way there is no arguing that Burrell has been bad. He’s been worth $ -.6 million. That’s bad, but if/when he goes on a hot streak it will be great. The offense hasn’t been the problem, so I think a lot of the hate around the Rays community for him is misplaced.

by rglass44 on Jun 22, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't think anyone hates him

Burrell just has performed poorly. Its as simple as that. I don’t think anyone hates Navi either. It is just a matter of calling a spade a spade. When someone is sucking there is no harm in actually saying he is playing like garbage.

by matthan on Jun 22, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions

"Hate" in the sense that people are "hatin" not that the genuinely "hate" him.

by rglass44 on Jun 22, 2009 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions

bust = a complete failure

That’s the definition supplied by Webster’s dictionary, and at this point, it’s hard not to assume that label on his first half of work. However, again, I think we are finally going to see the Burrell we paid big bucks for beginning this week.

by raysfaninminnesota on Jun 22, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Dude, he was out of the lineup for like a month

We’ve played what, like just over two months of baseball? Relax broseph.

by Zach Attack on Jun 22, 2009 12:42 PM EDT reply actions

this line of logic gets old quickly

And at least use Sesame Street math properly. 1+1+1 = 3. We’re close to playing three months of baseball. That equates to just under 50% of the season. When does it become a valid argument? 60%? 70%? The whole season? If that’s the case, why does Colorado have a new manager already?

This has nothing to do with what Burrell could do in the second half of the season. Now that he’s hopefully healthy, his track record indicates things should be a lot better. But right now, looking at the first half of the season he has to be among the biggest disappointments on the Rays through the first 80 games.

by raysfaninminnesota on Jun 22, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

He has been a bust...

I think a lot of posters just don’t see what you are looking for. He obviously has played terribly and hasn’t been worth his payment. So what? What are you looking for beyond that?

It would have been impossible to predict he’d be this bad, at least in the slugging department. He’s getting on base at a fair rate, just not hitting for any power at all.

by tallyray on Jun 22, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

just merely an observation

that many are quick to excuse and even blast people who are criticizing him. Although those who result to personal attacks, etc have it coming. But it’s really just looking at the surprises and disappointments so far this season. As good as Barty’s been, I think Zobrist has to be our biggest surprise offensively. Burrell is on the other side of the fence…so far.

by raysfaninminnesota on Jun 22, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Probably because...

One fanpost wants us to deal him for a middle reliever, which is about the least valuable asset in the league, and the other says he has a huge ego and all this other dumb stuff in it.

Analyzing his performance and saying he’s been unimpressive is one thing, saying “OMG BIG EGO, DEAL HIM FOR A MIDDLE RELIEVER!!” is another.

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 22, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not sure if anyone would take him...

That said, no one could have seen this coming. I think some get defensive because it was a smart move by the Rays and most people feel Burrell is significantly better than this (he has to be).

Coming into the season, I would have said him slugging .450 would have been a down year.

by tallyray on Jun 22, 2009 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions

that's what I said

If someone results to personal attacks, or gives an illogical or irrational reason for doing it, then by all means, there’s probably going to be criticism coming back. But, trading him to free up salary is a lot like what people are saying for Kazmir as well for salary relief. But yes, when his performance is directly related to injury, wanting to trade him makes no sense.

by raysfaninminnesota on Jun 22, 2009 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions

The Rays are gonna make up some major ground

in the second half of the season when Burrell and Upton both turn things around

by rays1234 on Jun 22, 2009 1:27 PM EDT reply actions

Eh

The Rays already lead the majors in runs scored. Even if Upton and Burrell turn it around, it’s pretty reasonable to expect some regression from Zobrist and Bartlett.

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"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Jun 22, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions