An apology to "Pat the Pat"

I don't remember where I first read it, but since I did, a name that has endured in the McCormack household has been "Pat the Pat." We have come to accept all that he is and all that he isn't. We don't boo him, and truly pull for him more than, or at least as much as, we do any other member of the team.

As we've seen the likes of Rolen, Abreu, Bell, Millwood and every other misplaced, miserable and/or under-achieving player come and go over the last few years, and as we hold onto hope both this year and for years to come, mainly because of guys like Howard, Utley, Rollins and Hamels, through it all, we've had our Pat.

He is our Pat, Phillies Phans, for better or for worse. And his second half has been much easier to love.

And it has been as much our Pat's doing that we are on the cusp of the playoffs as September approaches its end as any other member of the squad.

While his at-bat theme implies, “we kick him when he's up, we kick him when he's down", give him a hand and give him a break.

So forgive us, Pat...and we will try and forgive you for this...



and then we are even.

-posted by Ren McCormack