OK, so it wasn't exactly Fredo betraying Michael... In fact, I gotta admit I'd rather have it be Pat Burrell doing in the Phillies than any of his new teammates. It's hard to see the guy who led our victory parade struggling with his new team, even while his replacement—Raul Ibanez—has been tearing it up for the Phillies.
Pat's homer last night was only his second since Elvis rode the Budweiser truck, and even though the Phils lost (again), I find myself hoping today that it was the beginning of a turnaround for the Bat. Sure, I'd have preferred he did it against any other team, but it was oddly good to see Pat make a pitcher pay for a terrible mistake, even though that pitcher was a Phillie. Hopefully it will be a reminder to pitchers everywhere about the whereabouts of certain wheelhouses.
Pat's homer and subsequent RBIs are probably also a little easier to stomach today because of the very plain fact that there was just no chance the Phillies were going to win last night. Blanton pitched an outstanding game, notching 10 strikeouts, but the offense was limp once again. A glance at the score scrolling along the bottom line shows that the Phils got their asses kicked, but the game was actually pretty tight most of the way—a pitchers' duel that somehow ended 7-1.
The bullpen couldn't keep it together, and the Rays had some late luck with soft flares falling safely or grounders dribbling too slowly to allow for a play (at least a play at second; they coulda had PTB at first...). Again though, none of that matters when you score one friggin run.
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