Ryan Howard carried the team through August and early September and has been ice cold since. Chase Utley was cold in August and heated up in mid-September. Jimmy Rollins has been white-hot in September and sparking the offense. Shane Victorino's been the second-biggest key in September, getting on behind Rollins and letting the middle of the order try to make things happen.

Pat Burrell checked into the party tonight. This is why playing him as much as he's been played lately is the correct move - if he had heated up earlier, this team would have won the wild card by now. If he stays hot and they get into the playoffs, they should go far. But I think giving Burrell playing time was crucial - Conine and Delucci haven't been getting it done, and Burrell has the most upside of the three.

For this team to be successful now and next year, they need a big right-handed bat in the lineup, hitting fifth. This offseason, they need to take a long look and see whether Pat Burrell is that guy. The last few years have indicated that he isn't, but he's shown flashes, just never for a full season (at least since 2002). He's been right around 30-100 for most of his career, and that's hard to replace.

I think I'd move him for pitching, but I'll take Burrell over the bag of baseballs that they'll likely end up trading him for.