Red Reposter - 4/30/09
by Charlie Scrabbles on Apr 30, 2009 5:00 PM EDT
in News
52 comments
- This is a strange one. I dont normally just cut-and-paste from an article, but I think this kinda thing warrants bending the rules a bit. Here is what Brandon Phillips had to say in the clubhouse before yesterday's game:
“I’ve been reading up on what you all say (write) and it’s funny stuff,” Phillips told the beat writers. “I’m not doing your jobs, but I’ll tell you-all one thing. You know what the funny thing is? I love you guys and I have nothing but respect for all you guys. But you know ever since you-all been writing about me not hittting, we haven’t been winning?
You-all know that? So you see, I hear a lot of people on my team and they’re worried about me. They’re worried about me and Edwin Encarnacion, instead of worrying about the team. I’m going to hit. That’s how confident I am. That’s the type of player I am.
“At the beginning, everything was flowing, everything was about the team,” he continued. “It was all about winning. First thing you know, everybody is writing about Phillips not hitting and Edwin not hitting. Everybody started paying attention to me and everybody started paying attention to Edwin and everybody lost focus about winning.
“I think we should start again writing about the Reds winning instead of writing about two players,” he added. “You should do that. But I love reading all your articles. I read them all the time. They make me laugh. But it’s real, all the stuff you write. You guys do a great job, especially Hal - you do a great job (Well, thanks, Brandon).
“We were winning, but ever since you guys have been calling people out on the team, worrying about me instead of worrying about the team winning. You can write whatever you want about me. It don’t bother me. Me and Hal talked a couple of times last year about what he wrote, but it is a matter of respect. I respect him and what he does.
“You can write anything you want about the bad things, just make sure you don’t write it real big, make it the big issue. We have a young team and they read that and they starting asking, ‘Brandon, you OK? Brandon, you OK?’ There is no point in people asking me if I’m OK because we’re winning and I’m a happy man. It’s all about us winning, because I AM going to produce and I am going to hit. I’m just happy it happened to me instead of one of the younger guys who is new to the team. I tell them, ‘Don’t read the papers,’ because it gets to their heads. In my case, I laugh about it, because I’ve been through.”
I'm not sure how to react to this. BP doesnt like it when the media criticizes him. Or at least, he doesnt like it when a big issue is made of it. It is ok to criticize him, but it is not ok to make a big deal out of it. He thinks it is incongruous for the media to talk all about the team when they are winning, but only about individual performances when the team is losing. At least, I think that is what he saying here. I hope Im not interpreting it wrong.
I think the weirdest thing is that Hal seems ok with all of this. He says, "I loved it. It was quite a journalistic journey. I love it. Brandon Phillips as my Perry White, Clark Kent’s editor. But don’t ever, Brandon, ask me to put on those red and blue Superman tights. I’m not sure I follow his logic, but he believes it and as he said about me, “I respect him and I respect what he says.”
BP has had his tiffs with the media before (notably the ordeal with Josh Hamilton getting too much attention, and the time he hit two home runs and wouldnt talk because no one would talk to him when he was struggling). So I guess I kinda expected Hal to tell him to sit down and let him do his job. I think it is a good thing that he didnt though.
- Hal also tells us he is just as excited about Rosales' performance last night as he is about Volquez's. Being the stat-nerd stick-in-the-mud that I am, here are their WPA scores from last night: Volquez - .524 Rosales - .038
- I find it very troubling that the Reds did not find Encarnacion's bone-chipped wrist earlier.
- RedlegsRundown provides us with a link to The Onion's story on Chipper Jones.
- Jinaz has started Tweeting.
- I cant hear this stuff anymore.
- ZiPS has been updated to reflect the first month's worth of the season. Our very own Willy Taveras shows up on the leaderboard, projecting 45 steals. Joey Votto's updated projection: .301/.370/.520, 27 HRs, 42 2Bs.
- SI's Ted Keith has the Reds at 14th in his power rankings this week.
- orex121 tells us Ryan Freel is unhappy in Baltimore. I guess B-More is less embracing of scrappiness than Cincinnasty.
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I think I see what he's saying...
it’s almost like B.P. is saying, “Look, I consider you media guys to be a part of the team. We all want the team to win, and your part in that is to focus on the good stuff. By helping the players stay positive-focused and confident, you help the team win.” That is absolutely what you would expect your front office to do — Phillips is just saying the media should participate also.
Now, there’s another very legitimate point of view that says, “The job of the media is to uncover the cold, unvarnished truth, and let the people decide what to think.” When it comes to Important Things, I’m in this camp. But when it’s sports, I can almost see the value in what BP is preaching.
A-Roid
Man, he really comes across as a dickhead in that article. All the money he makes, and he’s a lousy tipper?
Except when he’s tipping pitches. That’s a terrible thing to do to your pitcher. Besides, there’s no such thing as an insurmountable lead. It ain’t over until the last out is recorded.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
Not just that...
trading pitch tipping. That is slimy.
Though it’s not unheard of, obviously. One of the chapters in Freakonomics dealt with sumo wrestlers throwing matches. I don’t recall the exact details, but they all play some number of matches, and just need to win more than half of them. Guys who have already met that threshold tend either not to try as hard or to throw the matches they don’t need. I guess ARod is just formalizing that.
Let me write out a formal proof for you.
Still sleazy
What about the pitcher?
If the game is really lopsided, there’s probably some kid or journeyman on the mound, just trying to stick in the big leagues. And A-Rod, who doesn’t have to worry about that, no matter his batting average, is tipping pitches?
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
Oh, I agree.
It’s one thing to throw your own matches or games or whatever, but to intentionally hurt a teammate to help someone else out—with the expectation that they’ll do the same for you, no less!—is completely sleazy.
If there were actually information on who he was working with, I’m sure someone could go back and see if there’s any evidence of this. Hrmmm…
Let me write out a formal proof for you.
Yeah, of all the stuff in that article, and there is a LOT
The tipping pitches thing pisses me off the most. At least with the other stuff it can be argued that he was helping his team and being a winner, even if dishonestly.
The tipping pitches thing is just purely, simply, and disgustingly selfish. Who knows if it’s really true, apparently Selena Roberts claimed other stuff that was disputed. If it is, though, I’ll be rooting so hard against this guy breaking any sort of records ever.
Isn't there a slanket somewhere you should be filling with your farts?
Not only is he a terrible person for that
but if I was Todd Coffey, I’d be outraged. He worked hard for that nickname, dammit!
"I can eat mayonnaise with a spoon." - Jeff Brantley
by BK on Apr 30, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions
In all fairness to A-Rod
I’d much rather take doughnuts to the face than needles to the ass.
tellin' tales of drunkenness and cruelty
by Colin Auscapee on Apr 30, 2009 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Hows about a twisty glazed to the ass?
Wear something sexy to my funeral.
by Pops Daniels on Apr 30, 2009 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions
is that a standing offer?
tellin' tales of drunkenness and cruelty
by Colin Auscapee on Apr 30, 2009 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, you sho' nuff won't be sittin' for a while afterward.
Wear something sexy to my funeral.
by Pops Daniels on Apr 30, 2009 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions
you better come with that week-old
coz that soft shit sure ain’t getting it
tellin' tales of drunkenness and cruelty
by Colin Auscapee on Apr 30, 2009 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Good deal
The Reds need a committed catcher.
Wear something sexy to my funeral.
by Pops Daniels on Apr 30, 2009 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I really have no frame of reference
but I would like to think my signing up for RR has ushered in a golden era of anal humor round here.
tellin' tales of drunkenness and cruelty
by Colin Auscapee on Apr 30, 2009 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions
huh huh
“round”. like a butt. huh huh.
Consider the Eskimos.
by Charlie Scrabbles on Apr 30, 2009 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Actually
it’s best if you at least bend over.
by fourrunhomer on May 1, 2009 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Just Brandon being Brandon
I take this as his way of telling the writers ‘Please lay off..I’m gonna be fine…but hey I don’t want to piss you guys off…"
No big deal, not for a high level gold glove pro athlete anyway, a lot of guys would have blown this into a confrontation, BP didn’t, he even made Hal laugh (but then so would a Zebra fart).
I want to be there when a trailer full of coffins slams into a an ambulance full of terminally ill Bolivians. Or when the Reds win a WS..whichever comes first....
I think I sort of fundamentally agree with BP
even if not for exactly the same reasons. Look. I mean, our team is playing more or less .500 ball. How many times do we really need to go over how bad it is BP and Edwin are hitting badly? Anyone could tell you that. I mean, these guys get press passes and salary – the least they could offer me is quirky clubhouse anecdote or an opinion that took more than a 1st grade intelligence to produce.
Everybody's a jerk. You. Me. This jerk.
That's true
and that’s an interesting point, bbjones. I hadn’t thought of it that way. On the other hand, I think you might be giving BP too much credit. Based on his history, he seems really sensitive and only wants attention for the good stuff, not bad. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind a bunch of individual articles about himself if he were playing like Votto.
Isn't there a slanket somewhere you should be filling with your farts?
I wonder
C. Trent used to complain that BP hated talking to the print guys. Even when he was playing well. He loved the TV guys, but wouldn’t give the print guys the time of day.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
BP probably just could not deal with C-Trenchmouth
I’m mean brandon’s all blingy and cool and has a very personable side to him,
C-Trent…well
This guy makes up with perseverance and intelligence for what he lacks in style and personality.
I want to be there when a trailer full of coffins slams into a an ambulance full of terminally ill Bolivians. Or when the Reds win a WS..whichever comes first....
C. Trent = tool
I’m in the minority on this, but he annoys the crap out of me. He thinks that since he is the only one who has ever heard of some obscure band, that he knows music. Then, you listen to a cut from said obscure band, and it sounds like two 15 year olds taking a broom and hitting a garbage can for 3 minutes while high.
That, and if someone doesn’t give him an interview, he labels them a jerk. And he dresses like a 60 year old woman.
/end anti-ctrent rant
Envy our past......Fear our future
i dont many 60 year old women
who can pull off the denim shirt look.
Consider the Eskimos.
by Charlie Scrabbles on May 1, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions
I like B.P. and I think he is trying to be a team-first player,(whatever that really means)
but I think he needs to develop a little thicker skin. It is providential that he plays in Cincy instead of New York City, because Lupica et al would destroy BP if he made those comments to the NYC media. Maybe this will ignite him though, and give him the mythical ‘us against the world’ attitude that prevails almost every sports team. However, I do not really think it is a big deal what he said really. It obviously bothers him that he is struggling and perhaps Dusty will tell him it is better just to think those thoughts about the media than actually say them. Handling players and media and the interaction of the two is a his strength, right?
Wait a minute...
Sports Illustrated writer Selena Roberts, who broke the story that A-Rod flunked a steroid screening in 2003, reveals fellow Bombers nicknamed the third baseman “B—-h T—s” in 2005.
That was after he put on 15pounds in the off-season and seemed to develop round pectorals, a condition called gynecomastia that can be caused by anabolic steroids, she writes.
Let me write out a formal proof for you.
Louisville game banged
They’ll make up tomorrow, by playing a doubleheader.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
And yet another homer at Yankee Stadium
They said it broke a record previously held by GABP.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
i would guess
most home runs for the first x number of games at a new park
tellin' tales of drunkenness and cruelty
by Colin Auscapee on Apr 30, 2009 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions
exceedingly
tellin' tales of drunkenness and cruelty
by Colin Auscapee on Apr 30, 2009 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions
in the first 7 games
or something like that.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
I sometimes wonder if the Reds fan base is negative because of the beat writers' focus
or the other way around.
Guess it could be both.
Phone's ringing, Dude.
I think it's mainly just because of the losing.
Let me write out a formal proof for you.
by Gray on Apr 30, 2009 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
And oddly I think this might be a part of BP's muddled message.
He’s reminding us that this a different team than in the recent past and the early results are different as well- the team is winning.
When I read between the lines I see Phillips saying less about the media and their coverage of the Reds than I see him positioning himself as a leader of a young team. I’m not saying that I think he’s the right guy to assume that role but I’d bet that Dusty has talked to his Gold Glove 30/30 All Star about it and I bet this is a small part of them continuing the whole ‘changing of the guard’ theme we’ve heard so much about.
Again and again Phillips tells the reporters how much he loves and respects them and he evidently never raised his voice or pointed a finger while he held court here. So I’m gonna give him the benefit of the doubt. As awkwardly as it all reads, I would bet that BP thinks that he was pretty smooth here and the fact that Hal comes away with a big smile on his face tells me that this was intended to be much more of a ‘charm offensive’ than any kind of a bitch session. Now, I do think it’s kind of silly for BP to believe that the Reds might play better if everyone just learned to like the quotable clean-up hitter and thought more happy thoughts.
And it’s probably also silly to think that Jay Bruce might give two Tostitos about whether or not what he reads in the Dayton Daily News is true or not. But I’ve never been a young impressionable major league baseball player trying to find my way in an organization and the team’s new spokesman has. And if we’re to believe a lot of what has been written, Phillips didn’t do know what to make of it all at the time and he ended up worse off (for a time) because of it.
So anyway, here’s to our small-market sage and our small-market scribe. They ain’t Jordan and Halberstam but they’ve given Cincinnati Reds blogs one of the juicier topics were gonna get to snark about.
"I wanna listen to Elephants Gerald."
by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 30, 2009 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions
What Alan said
I don’t think Dusty wants BP hitting cleanup just because he’s a righty, not that I agree with it. While the quotes are odd, this isn’t the first time he’s taken on the press, and it won’t be the last. At least it makes for entertaining theatre (I’m easily amused).
BP
I think its odd that he basically says “all these young guys can’t handle it like i can”. .. he’s 27…Votto is 25, E5 is 26 (in Domican years), rosales is 25. I can’t be the only one that considers him a “young red”. I think his rantings pretty much prove he is too young, immature, and thin skinned to be a leader.
I read these writers, and their criticism isn’t that bad. Of course he likes Hal, Hal would write a column about how gentle and polite his mugger was. Most of the criticism is valid. He swings at the first pitch too much, over swings, doesn’t walk, shows no plate discipline, hasn’t changed his approach at all to try to get out of his slump, and hasn’t improved one bit since he got the chance to play full time. (which that’s probably coaching as much as him). He basically admitted to that by saying i’ll play my way out of it.
We get it Brandon, your swing is great, the pitchers have just been missing your bat too much.
The real problem is that he isn’t a 4 hitter, he isn’t a team player, and he isn’t a natural leader. Unfortunately that’s all Dusty is asking him to do. Instead of treating him like a gold glove with any hitting at all as a bonus. I have NO problem at all with him playing everyday, playing a fantastic second base, hitting 6th, having terrible at bats, swinging for the fence and being the president and CEO of the BP fan club.
by dusty's Brain on May 1, 2009 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions
he may be 27...
but he’s been in the bigs since ‘02. We talk a lot about how age isn’t as important as maturity, and I think that having 6 years behind his back and a whole lot of drama will help him a lot with the people who have 2 years or less (a huge chunk of the team). I’m very ok with Brandon being a team leader…I agree with FVA that he’s being more mature here.
Ali Boombaye
Let us talk bowling
Tonight was the last match series for the Thurs. Nite Men’s league at Madison Bowl…I’m sure all RRs are aware of this…
The Crispy Comets had to take 3 out of 4 tonight to remain in 5th place…which is important because the league payout gets progressively lower from 1st all the way to 12th.
And yes we did..came down to the 10th frame of the last game and we [prevailed…
Mads (the RR bowling representative) was tired from a long day at work and struggled mightily
Game 1. a score of 166 – only one bud lite
Game 2. a score of 172 – another bud light and a Jack and Coke
Game 3. a score of 196 – a bud Ice, another jack and coke and a Gin and Tonic
So although I didn’t set the world on fire..I do believe that I represented RR at an acceptable level. I was very scrappy and several times flung my body into the path of bowlers in the adjacent lane in hopes of distracting their play…Well enough about me…actually no…there was no Red’s game tonight so our collective victory was at the lanes..I could feel the ‘energy’ coming from each and every RRer as I stood at the approach…
We would have done better but this guy is our anchor..
I want to be there when a trailer full of coffins slams into a an ambulance full of terminally ill Bolivians. Or when the Reds win a WS..whichever comes first....
attaboy
I’m trying to get tHan, BK, and Slyde to join your league with me next season. Team name?
Big Bag of Dicks.
Think classy and you’ll be classy!
"I've actually never had a drink before, tonight I might try it out. We'll see."
—Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, on turning 21
We have three man teams
So the Big Bag of dicks could be tHan, BK, and Slyde…
we may be losing our anchor bowler next year, if you joined we’d change the name of the team to:
The Limping Boners
We could all buy Skull Balls
I want to be there when a trailer full of coffins slams into a an ambulance full of terminally ill Bolivians. Or when the Reds win a WS..whichever comes first....
If you drink enough you can get the same semi-deranged low energy buzz that mono provides
I want to be there when a trailer full of coffins slams into a an ambulance full of terminally ill Bolivians. Or when the Reds win a WS..whichever comes first....
Maybe this really isn't about BP
It certainly sounds like Brandon’s got a little bit of an ego, but honestly, I think he’s stepping up as a captain and defending EdE without making it sound like he can’t handle the pressure from the press. It’s pretty obvious that EdE’s the type of guy who gets frustrated when he’s not performing very well.
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