Pat was back. And he got plenty of brotherly love last night in his return to Citizens Bank Park as a member of the opposition.

Burrell was honored before the game with a video montage of his Phils career. He came out of the dugout to a standing ovation that was repeated when he stepped to the plate in the top of the first inning.

Pat went 1 for 3 with an RBI in a game the Phils pulled out in the bottom of the ninth with a 2 run rally.

I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised by how into the game the fans were, but it was still a little shocking to see as many folks still at the game in the bottom of the ninth of an exhibition game in early April. When Jason Donald ripped a single to right to plate Eric Bruntlett, the remaining faithful went nuts. Maybe not October-29-2008-nuts, but nuts nonetheless.

The Phillies own this town right now. Period.

My wife asked me how soon before a Phillie hears it from the fans for some misstep on the field. I told her that, while we can be hard on our heroes, 2009 will be different.

Well, maybe to incumbent Phillies, but not to Pablo Ozuna, who caught some flak from the crowd for dropping a fly ball in shallow right center in the top of the 7th. The wind played tricks with the ball, but that didn’t stop an audible groan/low grade boo to seep from the stands.

I’m very much looking forward to tomorrow night’s home opener. The Phillies are telling fans to get there early. According to their press release, there will be a “very special” first pitch. Any theories on who it will be?

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Phil Sheridan of the Inquirer asks a question I posed a week or so ago – why not give Sunday’s start to Jamie Moyer?