Comeback for Pat Burrell may be key to Rays' season

What single player is most key to the Rays' 2010 success?

There are lots of answers.

Assuming health, stars Carl Crawford, Evan Longoria and Carlos Peña are obviously all integral.

From there, you could make a case for RHP Rafael Soriano, the $7 million-a-year closer they unexpectedly brought in. For CF B.J. Upton, who has the potential to be a differencemaker. For RHP Jeff Niemann or LHP David Price or, actually, any of the starters in a young rotation that must perform.

What about Pat Burrell?

The biggest disappointment in a downer of a 2009 season, Burrell's return to form could have a huge impact.

This was the guy, after all, who averaged .262 with 31 homers and 99 RBIs over the previous four seasons in Philly. And as bad as he was last year (.221. 14, 64), it may be going a bit far to think he's just done at age 33.

Word is that Burrell has been working out extensively at the Athletes' Performance Institute in Arizona, specifically strengthening his back, and is in tremendous shape. That's one reason to think he could rebound.

Factor in an increased comfort level with the adjustments to the DH role and AL game. Add in — $9 million salary or not — his pride. And there's this: The previous two times he was at the end of a contract, he came up pretty big — .282 with 37 homers and 116 RBIs in 2002, .250 with 33 homers and 86 RBIs in 2008.


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(tampabay.com)
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