Happy now?

You asked for something on Pat the Bat, because you are gay for him I presume. Well the goat delivers.

I've long been a Burrell apologist. A better way to say it is that I've long been an apologist for just about every Philly sports figure maligned by the idiotic, yet knowledgeable fan base. McNabb, Andre Iguodala, Jimmy Rollins, David Bell -- the list goes on to include just about every athlete that has played in this town except for Willie Green, Todd Pinkston and the Flyers.

That said, Burrell is a unique case because the fans actually came around to embrace him this year, for a variety of reasons. Was it his renowned swordsmanship? The fact that he absolutely kills Mets' pitching? Ryan Howard's strikeout rate making Burrell's 6-pitch K's seem productive by comparison? The inevitable sucking of Raul Ibanez? Who knows.

What is known is that he is one of the few Philadelphia athletes shown the door who will get a good reception when he comes back through town. The rest of the list: Allen Iverson.

I knew the attitude toward Burrell was shifting this year while sitting in leftfield and the group of drunks behind us began referring to "Burrell shuffle," the slow-footed sluggers' patented foot-scuffle on every pitch that was remotely inside, which often resulted in a ball call from the ump. A far cry from a year or two earlier when his batting stance was openly mocked and derided by others in the section. Although I did enjoy yelling the number of outs at him.