Who's going to lead the '09 parade?

The last time Pat Burrell had a hit, it was the most important hit in his career - a double high off the wall in center field, leading to the winning run in Game 5 of the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Today, Burrell switched sides and became a Ray.

It's a departure that was inevitable and long-anticipated but extremely disappointing for fans like me. Those who stick with their teams and with their players, especially home-grown players, in good times and bad. And there were plenty of bad times through the years, but Burrell didn't complain and kept trying. And that's why he won us all over, despite the times he would freeze on an inside pitch or stare at his bat like he didn't know what it was. He kept playing and battled through the down times, to later be rewarded with one of his torrid hitting sprees.

[I can't believe both our teams lost iconic championship left fielders in recent months, and I'm more upset about Burrell's departure.]

Pat the Bat signed a two-year, $16 million contract to be the Rays designated hitter. Granted, it's hard to imagine that he would have signed that deal with the Phillies, but did they even approach him with any solid numbers? Would he have taken two years, $20 million or $24 million? Do they really think Raul Ibanez - older, below-average fielding Ibanez - is a better deal and a better player? Disappointing all around.

(Also disappointing from a selfish blogger standpoint - the loss of two of our biggest searches: Elvis Burrell and Michelle Fonseca Burrell.)

The Phillies finish spring training with two games against the Rays at Citizens Bank Park. I know it goes against proper ring ceremony protocol, but I think the team should present Burrell with his World Series ring during one of those games. He was the longest-tenured player on the Phils - and as we found out this year, a leader in the clubhouse. He deserves it.

And if the Phillies disagree, well, they can take that bit of advice that Pat offered Terry Francona in spring training a few years ago:


[Photo credits: Reuters, Delawareonline.com]