BP breaks finger bunting, likely out for remainder of the season

by Slyde on Sep 10, 2008 8:43 AM EDT Comment 28 comments

Brandon Phillips was inexplicably bunting last night in the 11th inning with runners on 1st and 3rd. During that event he appears to have broken his right index finger. More from the Enquirer:

Minutes after Brandon Phillips delivered a game-winning single in a 5-4, 11-inning victory over Milwaukee, Phillips learned that he broke his right index finger earlier in the at-bat.

On the first pitch of the at-bat with runners on first and third and two outs, Phillips attempted to bunt for a base hit. He injured the finger on the bunt attempt.

Phillips will fly home to Cincinnati today to be examined by the Reds' medical staff. While no official word has been given, Phillips' season appears to be over. An emotional Phillips sat in his locker, passing on a chance to speak to reporters after the game.

Obviously at this point in the season it doesn't matter that much, but can we at least use this as one more indication of the evils of bunting? For the life of me I cannot figure out he would even be bunting in that situation.

Well, here's hoping for a speedy recovery for Phillips. And here's hoping for some serious at bats to be given to Adam Rosales for once. It's doubtful though as I'm sure Danny Richar will likely get the majority of the playing time at second now. Not that it's a bad thing (it's better than 35-year old Jolbert Cabrera), just that I'd hate to see the window close on Rosales without him actually getting a shot.

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In other news

Dusty doesn’t plan on playing the youngsters too much:

“I’ll use them all in spots and get them a start if I can, but for the integrity of races and the game, you got to go with the best lineup.” Baker said. “I’ll still probably play them a lot more than I played when I came up.”

Expect to see Patterson and Cabrera in the lineup every night from here on out. At least we’ll have little idea about how well the young guys handle the Majors going into Spring. That’ll make things more interesting next year, right?

"You never want to give up a 7-0 lead, in your rival's ballpark, that would put them in first place. Never want to do that." - Ron Darling

by Slyde on Sep 10, 2008 9:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It's the Dodger way.

It's so watery - and yet, there's a smack of ham to it.

by 3 Fast 3 Furious on Sep 10, 2008 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They were pioneers

when it came to integrity of the races.

by ken on Sep 10, 2008 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Will someone send this quote to FJM?

I feel like they could just do a Dusty Baker week. Not dissimilar to Shark Week.

It's so watery - and yet, there's a smack of ham to it.

by 3 Fast 3 Furious on Sep 10, 2008 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

On show now in the Cinicinnati Metro area!

Kentuck Arts Festival: October 18th.
Details at Sinful Savage Tigers

by Man Mountain on Sep 10, 2008 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"integrity of races and the game"

i think i have a new sig

Dusty Baker is dumb.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Sep 10, 2008 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Your current one is still perfectly cromulent.

by Brendanukkah on Sep 10, 2008 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i think the new one

embiggins Dusty just a little more accurately.

"for integrity of races and the game" - Dusty Baker

by Charlie Scrabbles on Sep 10, 2008 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wait a second

What in the world does this quote

"I’ll use them all in spots and get them a start if I can, but for the integrity of races and the game, you got to go with the best lineup." Baker said.

have to do with this statement

Expect to see Patterson and Cabrera in the lineup every night from here on out.

In fact, I think the fact that CoPat (and that wonderous OBP) has batted leadoff the past two days shows that Dusty is trying to throw games to benefit the Flubs.

Often wrong, never uncertain.

by sidnancy on Sep 10, 2008 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"You never want to give up a 7-0 lead, in your rival's ballpark, that would put them in first place. Never want to do that." - Ron Darling

by Slyde on Sep 10, 2008 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

Since I’ve been accused of that before, I’ve claimed your cartoon for my own use.

Often wrong, never uncertain.

by sidnancy on Sep 10, 2008 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

At least he made 20/20

I’m sure he’s disappointed with his performance this year, but much of the dropoff from ‘07 was due to a 25 point BABIP dip (which occurred despite an increase in his line drive rate). Add twenty points of BABIP and his line goes from 261/312/442 to 277/327/458, which is line with last year’s 288/331/485. His BB rate “rebounded” this year (6.5, 4.8, and 6.1% in the last three years) while keeping his K rate the same. Like most of the team his SB/CS suffered under Dusty’s new baserunning philosophy.

Also, I noticed that Fay is on board with the BP-to-SS experiment. It’s now moot but this month would have been an ideal time to try this out.

by ken on Sep 10, 2008 9:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And he could still lead the team in RBI with 78, depending on what Votto (71) does.

It would be the lowest full season team leading total since Barry Larkin led the team with 78 in 1992 (see, they are the same player). Prior to that you have to go all the way back to 1983 when Ron Oester led the team with 58 RBI.

On the positive side, they could have 4 guys top 70 RBI. The Reds have only done that 5 times since 1980 (all since 1998 including each of the last two years – okay, so it’s not that big of a deal).

"You never want to give up a 7-0 lead, in your rival's ballpark, that would put them in first place. Never want to do that." - Ron Darling

by Slyde on Sep 10, 2008 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No Gold Glove, no 30-30, no SS experiment

All because Dusty’s a moron. Haven’t seen anyone in the media calling him out yet either, for what that’s worth.

"My wife ain't never ran and got me no pheasant." - Fistbands

by BK on Sep 10, 2008 10:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

FWIW

I don’t think BP is a natural 30-30 player. I think he is more likely a 20-25 HR hitter who got lucky last season.

"You never want to give up a 7-0 lead, in your rival's ballpark, that would put them in first place. Never want to do that." - Ron Darling

by Slyde on Sep 10, 2008 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, it is pretty unlikely that he would have gotten it anyway

But still, it sucks he’s probably getting screwed out of another Gold Glove by things he can’t control.

"My wife ain't never ran and got me no pheasant." - Fistbands

by BK on Sep 10, 2008 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

you mean like the Gold Glove voters?

"You never want to give up a 7-0 lead, in your rival's ballpark, that would put them in first place. Never want to do that." - Ron Darling

by Slyde on Sep 10, 2008 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and Chase Utley's parents

they created a monster.

"for integrity of races and the game" - Dusty Baker

by Charlie Scrabbles on Sep 10, 2008 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

I was just looking at Justin’s system, which isn’t perfect but it is probably the best we’ve got right now, and it has Utley as 9 runs better defensively than Phillips. That’s surprising, but then I don’t watch Utley on a daily basis. What I’ve seen of him is impressive, but I’m still surprised to see that he is that far ahead of Phillips.

"You never want to give up a 7-0 lead, in your rival's ballpark, that would put them in first place. Never want to do that." - Ron Darling

by Slyde on Sep 10, 2008 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For some context

here are the top 10 defensive 2B in the Majors this season (according to Justin’s system):

Player                   RAR
Scutaro Marco TOR       18.1
Utley Chase PHI         18.1
Ellis Mark OAK          17.3
Kennedy Adam STL        13.2
Polanco Placido DET     11.6
Phillips Brandon CIN     9.4
Fontenot Mike CHN        5.9
Pedroia Dustin L BOS     4.6
Cabrera Asdrubal J CLE   4.6
Burke Chris A ARI        4.3

Phillips is around 10th in total value (depending on if you consider both Mark DeRosa and Mike Fotenot to be 2B). Dan Uggla, Brian Roberts, and Ian Kinsler are all offensive players who move well ahead of him in total value.

"You never want to give up a 7-0 lead, in your rival's ballpark, that would put them in first place. Never want to do that." - Ron Darling

by Slyde on Sep 10, 2008 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think we should sign Mark Ellis as a free agent this offseason

Feel free to jump on that bandwagon if you want, Slyde.

by Brendanukkah on Sep 10, 2008 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm... yes.

Yep, I just realized how dumb that sounds. Let’s find more things to blame Dusty for!

"My wife ain't never ran and got me no pheasant." - Fistbands

by BK on Sep 10, 2008 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

no, but lance made yet another anti dunn blog post this morning

Flamenco strikes back!! Return of Don!

by chandrathan on Sep 10, 2008 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I blame Dusty for:

The Georgian Russian conflict
The Rise of Sarah Palin
The loss of my baseball innocence
The ever worsening economy
The loss of Adam Dunn
For consistently putting together the most nonsensical battingorders in all of MLB.
Mostly I blame Bob.

You can tell your uncle stuff that you could not tell your dad. That is kind of the role of an uncle. I feel very much like a father sometimes but sometimes I feel like a teammate.
Dusty Baker

by Madville on Sep 10, 2008 10:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs