Without Burrell and now Stairs, there is a void in Phily

Written by Mike Mariano | 09 December 2009

When the Ruben Amaro Jr. came out to say that Matt Stairs only be receiving a minor league deal, it marked the end of an era.  Pat Burrell and then Matt Stairs, combined to play a role in the Phillies clubhouse that is one of the most beloved jobs in all of baseball: the man's man.  Baseball is the only American sport where out of shape men can compete at the professional level.  These beer bellied ballplayers are what makes baseball the American Pastime.  There's always been a fan connection to baseball that football and basketball don't have because they can relate so easily to some of their favorite players.  Guys like Pat & Matt (whoa, never saying it that way again) don't have six-pack abs or 4.4 forty yard dash times, they're just like the rest of us.  They're exactly what the rest of us would look like if we could just get to the gym a few more times a week... right?

Well wrong, but the point remains, the Pat Burrell's and Matt Stairs' of the world become fan favorites because they manage to perform with the best athletes in the world while giving the appearance of guys that you'd throw back a few beers and watch football with.  Speaking of beers, the amount of jokes made about Burrell or Stairs being drunk on the field have been endless during their respective times in Philly and that only makes them more likeable.

Sadly, there's a void now that those great men have moved on and no one to fill it in sight.  Also how many other guys league wide can even fill that void?  Nick Swisher remains the only true prospect out there.  Jim Thome might work at this stage in his career.  Otherwise, I'm at a loss.  There's only one answer for the Phillies.

Greg Dobbs.

It's time for Dobbsy to step up and be the man we all need him to be.  I don't know if he can do it, but he's our only hope at this point.