One of my favorite parts of watching Pat Burrell play baseball is finding those little ways he contributes to help the Phillies win games. These contributions aren’t noticed by your casual fan, but are the lurking variables that true Pat fans appreciate. For instance, these are some Pat Burrell stats that everybody can appreciate. Glorious numbers you’ll find in box scores and game recaps.

• In the final game before the All-Star break, and the Phillies’ first place lead down to .5 games, Pat Burrell hits a game winning 3 run home run in the 8th. This keeps the Phillies in first place and gives Pat his 10th GWBI for the season.
• Since his All-Star snub, Pat has so far reached base safely in every game of the second half.
• Since his massive All-Star snub, Pat has 8 hits, 2 HRs, 5 Rs, 4 W.
• Since his rage inducing All-Star snub, Pat has 3 outfield assists and kept his fielding percentage at 1.000. That is what the statisticians like to call perfection.

Now, we’ve reached the exciting piece, where we show you some lurking variables. Because Pat hasn’t gotten any GWBIs in the 6 second half games, some commoner morons may be out there trying to claim that Pat isn’t contributing. Those commoner morons are morons, and commoners, and not fit to speak of Pat. Let me prove my point.

• On July 22nd, the Phillies rallied for 6 runs in the 9th inning off of the Mets relief pitching for an awe inspiring come-from-behind victory. Why did the Mets turn to their bullpen? Why didn’t the Phillie batter baffling Johan Santana go for the complete game? Pat Burrell, that’s why. Pat hit a double in the 8th inning off Johan, which Mets manager Jerry Manuel has claimed is the reason he called upon his bullpen. The New York press has given ole Jerry a tough time over this, but they should cut him a break. He is clearly just a young, inexperienced manager, because any old salt could tell you that you don’t pull a pitcher just because Burrell rocked him. You’d have to use a minimum of five pitchers a game with that strategy.
• For the past three games, Burrell has risen to the number three spot in the Phillies lineup. He has performed as usual, but the lurking data here is how Ryan Howard has performed. Without Pat to protect him, Ryan is hitting a mere .167 (2 for 12). This clearly demonstrates how Pat’s presence can improve players around him and the team as a whole.