Pat

Burrell

Burrell, who finished his 12-year big-league career with the Giants in 2011, is moving up after serving as a minor league hitting coach in the system last year. He’ll be one of the team’s two hitting coaches, along with returnee Justin Viele. Christenson and Williams are again following Bob Melvin, having worked under him in both Oakland and San Diego.

It’s getting a little embarrassing to continue to refer to Burrell’s play as a slump. Slumps are generally temporary. Burrell is back under the Mendoza line at .194, and has just three RBI since his last homer on June 8. And yet, the Phillies will not send him to Triple-A. ''We have to give Pat the support he needs based on what he’s done in the past,’' Wade said.

Burrell has put off surgery for now, but still could miss the rest of the season.

That’s very good, but Burrell is stuck in a 4-for-31 in his last 10 games.

Burrell will play for Reading again tonight, and could return before the weekend is through. Fairly amazing.

Burrell felt the injury while taking light swings with a fungo bat yesterday, which doesn’t bode well for a return. Surgery would mean a three month recovery period, which would put him in good shape for spring training.

Burrell will hit again today and if all goes well he will head for a rehabilitation stint at double-A Reading tomorrow, manager Larry Bowa said. A couple of weeks ago it seemed that Burrell was done for season and would need surgery on his injured wrist, but if he is able, it looks like he could be back with the Phillies within a week. Don’t write Burrell off just yet.

He’s trying to make it back before the end of the season, but things don’t look promising at the moment.

The Phillies said it’s nothing to be concerned about. Burrell’s 2004 season was supposed to end following lft wrist surgery, but he was able to come back without a procedure and tests after the season detected no serious problems. He’s likely to be fine for spring training.

''When I had him in [1999 at Double-A] Reading he could hit the ball out at any part of the ballpark,’' Thompson said. ''He had great plate coverage. Right now I don’t think he has plate coverage, especially middle away.’' Burrell, awful in 2003, was pretty much an average regular last year. He should keep making progress, whether or not this is the answer.