May 1, 2009

When you see the statistics of eight home runs, 21 runs-batted-in and a batting average of .360 compared to one homer, eight RBIs and an average of .254, it’s really easy to say the former line is much better. 

To identify the names behind these stats, current Philadelphia Phillies left-fielder Raul Ibanez is the former and former Phillies left-fielder and current Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Pat Burrell is the latter.

Ibanez, who was acquired in the off-season as a free agent from the Seattle Mariners, has caused passionate Phillies fans to forget about the man who occupied left-field on a day-to-day basis for almost nine full seasons.  Burrell was a former number one overall pick by the Phillies in the late-1990s and he has been a fan favorite in Philadelphia for most of his time in the City of Brotherly Love. 

After the Phils won the World Series in October 2008, all the baseball fans in Philadelphia knew that Pat Burrell was to be a free agent and there was concern around the city that the Phillies organization would not re-sign him.  During the winter meetings, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. made it clear that he was interested Raul Ibanez.  Of course all the Phillies fans knew was that he played in Seattle, a team that was very rarely seen on televisions in the Philadelphia area, and that he was 36-years old, a whole three years older than Burrell.

Despite all the potential criticism, Amaro knew what a great player Ibanez was and he signed the veteran outfielder to a three-year contract.  As a result, Burrell signed with the team the Phillies beat in the World Series, the Rays, and only received a two-year contract to be mainly a designated hitter.

Burrell made a couple memorable returns to Citizen’s Bank Park in the beginning of the 2009 season with an exhibition game and an emotional World Series ring ceremony.  In the exhibition game as a member of the Rays, Burrell unloaded on a Cole Hamels fastball, reminding Phillies fans of what they would be missing in the upcoming 2009 season.  Then in the ring ceremony, Burrell received the loudest and longest cheer from the Phillies faithful when presented with his championship ring.  Pat’s ovation lasted longer than even current Phillies superstars Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.

But to this writer, it seems like ages ago when Pat Burrell was a member of the Phillies, in the ballpark as a member of the Rays and receiving his championship ring.  Raul Ibanez has made all of the Phillies fans forget that there was any other Phillies player that played left-field in recent years.  The Phils faithful has embraced Ibanez as the great player that he is.  Signs in the stands at Citizen’s Bank Park read “I-BOMB-EZ” and now you can see quite a few fans wearing the number-29 Ibanez jerseys.  And typical to Philadelphia, a new chant that goes “RAOOOOL” and sounds like “BOOOO” is now heard throughout the ballpark every time Ibanez steps to the plate.

There is no doubt that Raul Ibanez has won over Phillies fans with his timely hitting, solid defensive play and his hustle both in the field and on the base paths.  Does anyone in Philadelphia remember the beloved Pat Burrell?  I’m sure there are many who do, but Ibanez is easily causing some fans to forget.

Ari Bluestein's articles can also be found at SportsFanBase.com