Pat Burrell to the Mets?

By Ed Condran | Special to amNewYork

5:22 PM EDT, July 8, 2008

It never hurts to kill two birds with one baseball. The Mets have a gaping hole in left field and a certified killer of all that is orange and blue is in his walk year.

Veteran Phillies left fielder Pat Burrell's six-year $50 million contract expires after this season. The potential first time All-Star, Burrell is among the five final-vote candidates, has been All-World against the Mets since hitting the big leagues in 2000.

Burrell, 31, has 240 career home runs -- 42 against the Mets, most of any active player. The strapping member of the University of Miami Hall of Fame also has 104 career RBIs against the Mets.

Why is Burrell so productive against the Amazin's?

"I'm not sure," Burrell said. "I don't hit for high average against the Mets."

Burrell is hitting .250 lifetime against the Mets, but when there are runners in scoring position or a big situation, he has been inordinately successful against them.

"I try to come up in big situations no matter who I'm playing," Burrell said. "But I can't say why [he is so productive against the Mets]."

Mets closer Billy Wagner said the reason is simple.

"Pat just sees the ball so well against this team," said Wagner, a former Phillie."He just really hits well when he plays the Mets. You have to give credit to Pat. He's a heck of a hitter."

But could Wagner, who reportedly does not get along with Burrell, co-exist with the strapping slugger?

"Sure I could," Wagner said. "All the talk about Pat and I has been blown way out of proportion. You guys (the media) made half of it up anyway. Pat and I are friends. The last series [in mid-April at Philadelphia] we talked but I said, 'We better do this in private or we'll give them something to write about.' Pat would do very well in New York. If you can play in Philadelphia, you can play anywhere. If anybody knows that, it's me. That would be great if he did come here. Give us Pat and Chipper Jones next year."

Burrell, who has been dubbed the mayor of Center City, the hub of Philadelphia nightlife, would acclimate to the post-game party options in Manhattan, according to Wagner. "Pat loves the city," Wagner said with a chuckle. "He would have a good time in New York."

But would "Pat the Bat," who reportedly utilized his no-trade clause in 2006 even though Phillies fans booed him mercilessly while he was struggling, leave the City of Brotherly Love for the Big City?

"The future's uncertain," Burrell said. "All I can say is that I've really enjoyed my time with this organization. They've treated me really well and I'm just trying to play the best ball I can."

Entering last night, Burrell was batting .279 with 22 home runs and 54 RBIs. His OBP was .409 and his slugging percentage at .586.

"I think that shows I don't just show up against the Mets," Burrell said. "I try to do my best against everyone."

Trivilialty

Statistical Met Killers

5 active major leaguers who statistically play better against the Mets.

1. Endy Chavez, OF, Mets OPS differential: +.204 (career .686, .890 vs. Mets)

Fortunately for the Mets, Chavez's most memorable moment came as a Met, Cardinals when he robbed Scott Rolen of a two-run homer and doubled Jim Edmonds off first base to preserve a 1-1 tie in Game 7 of the 2006 National League Championship Series against the St. Louis.

2. Derek Jeter, SS, Yankees OPS differential: +.190 (career 1.040,.850 vs. Mets)

Jeter's solo shot at the top of the sixth in Game 5 of the 2000 World Series tied the score at 2-2; the Yankees went on to win the game 4-2 and the series, and Jeter was the Most Valuable Player.

3. Alex Gonzalez, SS, Cincinnati Reds OPS differential: +.131 (career .694, .825 vs. Mets)

On Sept. 9, 2003, as a member of the Marlins, Gonzalez hit a two-out, two-RBI triple in the top of the ninth inning to break a 1-1 tie and beat the Mets 3-1 at Shea.

4. Orlando Cabrera, SS, Chicago White Sox OPS differential: +.85 (career: .724, .809 vs. Mets)

Cabrera helped the Mets realize how much they needed to get rid of struggling closer Armando Benitez when, on April 13, 2003, Cabrera (then an Expo) hit a game-tying solo homer off of Benitez in the bottom of the ninth for a 1-1 tie. The Expos went on to win 2-1 in the 10th inning.

5. Pat Burrell, OF, Philadelphia Phillies OPS differential: +.72 (career .849, .921 vs. Mets)

It's not fair to only pick one moment for Burrell, who has broken Mets fans' hearts countless times. Last Aug. 30, Burrell blasted two home runs to help the host Phillies devastate the Mets, 11-10, during the Amazin's historic collapse. One of his shots was off Billy Wagner in the bottom of the ninth.

Note: These Mets killers have at least 100 career plate appearances and at least a .350 on-base average or .400 slugging percentage against the Mets. OPS is a combination of each player's on-base average plus their slugging percentage.