Pat Burrell: An Apology Long Overdue

Dear Pat,

We're sorry.  We're sorry for booing you since you didn't live up to our expectations.  We're sorry for booing during your god-awful season in 2003.  We're sorry for booing when you sat out 40 freaking games in 2004 because of a wrist injury acquired not in a game, but in batting practice.

But you gotta understand, Pat, we boo because we care.  We couldn't bear to see our new superstar struggle after a phenomenal season in 2002, where you hit 37 big flies and drove in 116.   After all, if people don't try to correct something when you're doing it wrong, it means they've given up on you. 

We never gave up on you Pat.  Now we may have been doubtful at times, such as in 2005 when we all wanted to see you go along with Bobby Abreu to New York and see A-Rod in Phillie pinstripes, but you stayed, and we booed some more. 

Well Pat, the only other person in Philly who has gotten more hate than you is a guy named Donovan McNabb.  Quite frankly, we shouldn't boo him either, but that's a story for another day.  Anyways, the point is that you've taken a ton of crap in this town, but you never pulled a Scotty Rolen trade-me-now on us, a Terrell Owens blame-the-superstar-meltdown on us, or even a Billy Wagner go-play-for-the-rival-and-forget loyalty on us. 

So now you've started with a bang in 2008 with a .400 average, four homeruns, 12 RBIs and seven runs scored in 12 games, and if you keep it up, could contend for an MVP. 

Funny thing Pat, you're playing well, and no one's booing.  So we obviously never booed because we hated you, otherwise we'd still be booing.  We boo because we care.  We care about you, and we care about the team.  So do you think you could find it in your heart to forgive all 1.5 million of us in Philadelphia who booed you night in and night out?  Because, after all, only the best get booed.

                                                                       Sincerely,

                                                                                  Philadelphia