So Long, Pat

I wish you well, sir. Except if we meet again in the World Series, of course. Pat's time in Philadelphia was certainly a journey, full of ups and downs. Through it all, the man has earned my respect.



Pat struggled through some truly atrocious and disappointing seasons during his tenure here. I will always remember sitting in the left field seats of the Vet and yelling at him to "hit your weight" in reference to his batting average (he hit .209 in 2003). I will admit that I was among the many Phillies fans and members of the Philadelphia media who bashed the guy.

Pat, however, persevered through those rough times. And though his numbers were never spectacular, he has consistently put up solid numbers. From '05 through '08 he averaged 31 home runs, 98 RBI's, and 103 walks. And of course there is his last at bat as a Phillie, that booming double off the wall in the deepest part of the ballpark, which led to pinch runner Eric Bruntlett scoring the game-winning, series-clinching run on Pedro Feliz's single.

The thing that has changed my perception of Pat the most was his character. Despite all the bashing the man took during those rough seasons, not once did you hear him complain, and not once did you hear him make an excuse. He just kept working, kept playing, and became a player who contributed to the Phillies' success. He is one of the few Philadelphia athletes who lived in the city, and through his time here has developed an understanding of our city and our fans that few athletes have. He has seen us at our worst, and he has seen us at our best.

For him to have put up with all he did here, never back down or quit, and accomplish what he did here, it is impressive. And to hear him talk now, as a world champion, about what it means to "bring this to these people" is something that I will always remember and appreciate. He will be missed not only on the field, but also off it for that deep understanding and relationship that he has developed with us and our city, for that is a rare and special thing in today's sports world.