Reds sign Andy Phillips to minor league deal

by BubbaFan on Jan 4, 2008 8:15 PM EST

They've grabbed another former Yankee. The Reds signed Andy Phillips to a minor league contract.

Andy's always been one of my favorites. Like Bubba Crosby, he hit a home run in his first at-bat as a Yankee. He's also a great singer. One of his claims to fame is that he sung the Star-Spangled Banner before a Staten Island Yankees game once, when the singer didn't show up.

He was a shortstop for Alabama, but his glove wasn't that great. The Yankees moved him down the defensive spectrum until he landed at first base.

He's also known for his personal trials. He and his wife Bethany were excited at her first pregnancy...only to have it turn cancerous. Andy even thought of quitting baseball to be with her, but she pointed out that if he quit, she would lose her health insurance. (She's fine now.)

Then last year, he lost his spot on the roster when his mother's car was t-boned by an 18-wheeler. He left spring training to be with her, and lost his job to Josh Phelps.

He got another chance after Phelps was DFA'd, and did very well. Not well enough for the Yankees, though. He was DFA'd before the Rule 5 draft.

Also signed by the Reds to minor deals with spring training invites: righthander Jim Brower, infielders Jolbert Cabrera and Andy Green, and lefthander Adam Pettyjohn. And outfielder Jeff Fiorentino was claimed off waivers from Baltimore.

UPDATE: Baseball America has finally updated their minor league transactions:

Cincinnati Reds
Signed: RHP Dan Denham, LHP Chris Michalak, LHP Luca Panerati, LHP Adam Pettyjohn, LHP Matteo Pizziconi, 1B Kevin Barker, 1B Andy Phillips, 2B Andrew Green, 3B Jolbert Cabrera
Released: RHP Thomas Pauly, 2B Billy Rojo
The Reds signed two players from Italy, Panerati and Pizziconi, and it is the former who has the higher ceiling. The 6-foot-1, 156-pound Panerati, who turned 18 in December, pitched for Italy in the World Cup in Taiwan, the highlight coming when he struck out Cardinals top prospect Colby Rasmus. Panerati had struggled a year earlier against Team USA at the IBAF World Junior Championship in Cuba. He was named the top pitcher at the European Junior Championships when he was 17, pitching 12 1/3 scoreless innings with 14 strikeouts. Panerati’s fastball currently tops out at 86 mph with some life, and the pitch should gain velocity as his frame fills out. His go-to pitch is his changeup, which sits in the mid-70s and tails away from righthanders. He also throws a curveball. Pizziconi turned 18 in October, and at 6-foot-2 and 165 pounds he is another slender Italian lefthander. His delivery has some deception and his fastball tops out in the high-80s, but his secondary stuff is rudimentary.

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Comments

Browers' Baaack!

most exciting news about the Reds all year.

by jacob brumfield on Jan 4, 2008 8:49 PM EST reply actions

I saw Brower start for the Red's

at a Buisness man special in 2001.

The Dusty path to the World Series!

by justin0070000 on Jan 4, 2008 9:56 PM EST up reply actions

Phillips is an all right pickup.

He's worth a shot as a right-handed-hitting 1B. I've always liked Fiorentino. Unfortunatley, the Orioles rushed him to the big leagues as a fill-in and it has hurt his development. If he was a little stronger defensively in CF he would be a very nice acquisition. As a corner OF, maybe not so much. Still, he's worth a shot.

We Are ... Marshall!

by Thundering Turtle on Jan 4, 2008 9:47 PM EST reply actions

You don't suppose,

and it's a stretch, that the Phillips signing and Fiorentino claim are a prelude to a trade involving Votto, do you?

Phillips and Hatteberg platoon at 1B. Fiorentino comes off the bench.

Nawwwww.

We Are ... Marshall!

by Thundering Turtle on Jan 4, 2008 9:58 PM EST reply actions

Andy Phillips

He's not a good platoon candidate because his splits are reversed.

The knock on Andy is that he's a tweener. Glove not good enough for anything but 1B, bat not good enough for 1B.

I do think that if he got a fair chance, he could be very good at the plate. Not Big Papi good, but good. The odd thing about Andy is that his splits reverse when he's called up to the big leagues. He's right-handed, and has hit lefties better than righties throughout his minor league career. But in the big leagues, his splits are reversed.

The first year, I thought it was a fluke. But he was DFA'd, cleared waivers, and ended up on Scranton. Where he smoked the southpaws. Then he was called up again, and once again, his splits reversed.

I suspect it's the scouting. They've found a hole in his swing against lefties. If he figures it out, and his splits return to anything like his minor league norm, his numbers will be very respectable.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Jan 4, 2008 10:16 PM EST up reply actions

I'm very excited about this move!!1!

Andy Phillips Fansite Because he's Andy Phillips damn it!

by AndyFan on Jan 4, 2008 10:24 PM EST reply actions

Some other minor league transactions...

Miguel Perez (Reds minor league catcher) was signed by Pittsburgh. Matt DeSalvo, recently released by the Yankees, signed with Atlanta. (Some hoped the Reds would sign him, remembering him from his Marietta College days.)

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Jan 4, 2008 10:37 PM EST reply actions

The Pirates also signed

Elmer Dessens. The Jays signed Bubba Nelson.

We Are ... Marshall!

by Thundering Turtle on Jan 5, 2008 12:19 AM EST up reply actions

i grew up just outside marietta

and was in high school when Matt was at MC. he was a local news demigod. i never saw him pitch, but my buddy did and was reportedly in tears. i would have loved to see the Reds pick him up, seems like just the kind of signing this team should be making. i guess Michalak will suffice.

is it April yet?

by Charlie Scrabbles on Jan 5, 2008 4:37 AM EST up reply actions

What is it about Yankees fans

having marginal players websites?

(No offense, just find it strange. Though the timing of the posts...BubbaFan? Do you like Andy, too?)

2008 NL Central Champs!

by Daedalus on Jan 4, 2008 10:38 PM EST reply actions

It's because...

...even Yankees fans like to root for the underdog. :-)

Plus, there's a lot of frustration, because the kids just don't get a chance. They get called up, but they don't get to play. (At least that's how it was with Torre as manager. Maybe it will be different with Girardi.)

I like Andy, but I'm not AndyFan. It's possible that it's someone who posts at my blog, though.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Jan 4, 2008 10:53 PM EST up reply actions

On second thought...

...having looked at the link, it's probably someone from this blog.

It's not a real fan link. Just a generic page at one of those generic baseball sites. I'm sure a real Andy Phillips fan would be able to come up with a better link.

Sometimes I get the feeling people are mocking me...

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Jan 5, 2008 9:11 AM EST up reply actions

Smart money is on...

Fat Vegas Alan for this one. The Menace is also a suspect.

I think it was FVA in the study with the alter-ego.

By the way, I never mock anyone. No. Never.

At least it wasn't Grady Little.

by Paul Householder on Jan 5, 2008 2:22 PM EST up reply actions

Hmmm....

Sounds like a confession to me.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Jan 5, 2008 2:57 PM EST up reply actions

Truly, not I...

As I said, Menace in the hall with the alter-ego.

At least it wasn't Grady Little.

by Paul Householder on Jan 6, 2008 12:19 AM EST up reply actions

confession time

Um... yeah. That was me. I guess I'm getting predictable. I wanted to really flesh it out and provide a lot of information about Andy... but BF beat me to it.

And it wasn't meant in a bad mocking way. I've been searching the transaction logs fearing the day when Bubba moves away. Let's hug it out!

by Red Menace on Jan 6, 2008 3:03 AM EST up reply actions

also

Yeah, I found that page with .2 minutes of googling. If I had more time I would have created a fake Andyfan page, but you know, I'm busy. Busy with my... stuff.

by Red Menace on Jan 6, 2008 3:05 AM EST up reply actions

And it all would have worked...

If it hadn't been for those meddling kids!

I think it's actually too bad that you confessed right away. You could have really fleshed out the site slowly (and probably hilariously, I might add) over the course of several months.

Furthermore, I actually think it's not that you're predictable but rather that a number of us have been here for several seasons, and if you spend a lot of time writing each other, you start to become familiar with everyone's style.

At least it wasn't Grady Little.

by Paul Householder on Jan 6, 2008 6:42 PM EST up reply actions

LOL

You had me going for awhile.

I thought it might be someone from my blog, because I do have a small but fervent group of Andy Phillips fans there. I think they hang around because they know I won't laugh at them and ask them why they aren't Jeter fans instead... ;-)

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Jan 7, 2008 6:03 PM EST up reply actions

Never.

"He's no good to me dead."

by BobbaFan on Jan 7, 2008 9:11 AM EST up reply actions

and how come

the dan post doesn't accept comments? it was only posted two days ago.

2008 NL Central Champs!

by Daedalus on Jan 4, 2008 10:52 PM EST reply actions

AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO NOTICED THIS

Signed: RHP Dan Denham, LHP Chris Michalak, LHP Luca Panerati, LHP Adam Pettyjohn, LHP Matteo Pizziconi, 1B Kevin Barker, 1B Andy Phillips, 2B Andrew Green, 3B Jolbert Cabrera

WHAT THE HELL LIFE AIN'T RIGHT.

by Geki on Jan 4, 2008 11:27 PM EST reply actions

The Red's already have Tom Shearn

So they had an old guy to pitch in AAA. I don't think they need two old guys in AAA. I can understand keeeping one of the two around, because they can fill a minor league role. It probably isn't a bad idea to have a hard working veteren in AAA for his presence. I just don't see why they need two. Hopfully neither see the Big Leagues this season, much less the rotation.

The Dusty path to the World Series!

by justin0070000 on Jan 5, 2008 10:59 AM EST up reply actions

THEY WILL.

And we all know they will. Any time the Reds put a guy like Chris Michalak or DeWayne Wise in the organization, you know we're gonna see them in the majors at some point. It makes me wanna cry.

by Geki on Jan 5, 2008 2:15 PM EST up reply actions

Shearn wouldn't bother me

he could be useful as the 13th pitcher. He would give Cincinnati a swing man, hopfully he would only pitch in mop up roles. I would be against giving that assingment to any young pitcher, because Cueto or Bailey would learn much more in AAA then they would mopping for the Reds.

Plus I think he earns a second look after last year, he was servicable after the call up. But I think the Red's are in trouble if he is considered for the rotation.

The Dusty path to the World Series!

by justin0070000 on Jan 5, 2008 2:57 PM EST up reply actions

yes...

he's got the best pickoff move in all of baseball

Marty may have a shirt on, but Billy Beane just ripped his off and is squeezing his nipples. - Brendan's ukkah

by boobs on Jan 5, 2008 2:33 PM EST up reply actions

But how can that be?

If his fastball is only in the 60s, his throw to first cannot be any faster...

At least it wasn't Grady Little.

by Paul Householder on Jan 5, 2008 9:20 PM EST up reply actions

come on now

he broke 70 once.

I never actually saw him pitch, i was working every night he pitched, then I went to Cuba, and didn't get FSN down there. What was his velocity?

The Dusty path to the World Series!

by justin0070000 on Jan 5, 2008 10:22 PM EST up reply actions

as i recall, his fastball was in the low 80s

his curveball was long and loping though, usually in the mid to high 60s. of course, my memory is pretty well shot, so if any of you remember otherwise please interject.

is it April yet?

by Charlie Scrabbles on Jan 5, 2008 10:40 PM EST up reply actions

slower then Shearn i guess is my question

I think in order to be effective a pitcher has to atleast through about 88. Anything less then that leaves him very very little room for error.

The Dusty path to the World Series!

by justin0070000 on Jan 5, 2008 10:56 PM EST up reply actions

Farney is the expert

I checked back on prior posts. His fastball tops out at 80-82.

At least it wasn't Grady Little.

by Paul Householder on Jan 6, 2008 12:16 AM EST up reply actions

phillips and phillips in the infield?

too much Phillips for one city?

where did i leave my phillips screwdriver?

"Herein is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us" -1 John 4:10

by shortstopv2 on Jan 5, 2008 2:33 AM EST reply actions

if they play them at the same time

you'll be drinking screwdrivers. Someone mentioned about this setting up a Votto move. I think it is a precursor to trading Hatteberg.

Hope Springs Eternal! Go Reds

by Caleb on Jan 5, 2008 8:44 AM EST up reply actions

Just need to sign

Craig Wilson now.

At least it wasn't Grady Little.

by Paul Householder on Jan 5, 2008 2:20 PM EST up reply actions

he was the fat one right?

is it April yet?

by Charlie Scrabbles on Jan 5, 2008 6:52 PM EST up reply actions

In 2006

The Yanks had Craig Wilson and Andy Phillips platooned at 1B.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Jan 5, 2008 9:35 PM EST up reply actions

Cincinnati likes uniformly named athletes

Hence why the Bengals are filled with nothing but Johnsons.

/putting on my Jason Kidd hat

by Brendanukkah on Jan 6, 2008 1:41 AM EST up reply actions

one more question

heard the fish signed cantu, any insight on why he was released?

"Herein is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us" -1 John 4:10

by shortstopv2 on Jan 5, 2008 2:35 AM EST reply actions

Cantu

Cantu asked for more money than the Reds were willing to give him, and they didn't want go to arbitration.

Maybe Cantu overestimated his value. (A lot of the talking heads expected him to get a lot more than he got.) Or maybe he just didn't want to stay in Cincinnati. He'll have a good chance to be a starter with the Marlins. With the Reds, unless someone was traded or injured, he was a backup or platoon guy.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Jan 5, 2008 6:19 AM EST up reply actions

by the way,

i just notticed that kerns now plays for waahington. when ddi that haoppen and why? Thanks! alot.

Marty may have a shirt on, but Billy Beane just ripped his off and is squeezing his nipples. - Brendan's ukkah

by boobs on Jan 5, 2008 2:32 PM EST up reply actions

End of Thomas Pauly

I see the Reds finally gave up on Pauly. Pauly is one of the central characters of "The Last Best League" by Jim Collins. Collins followed a Cape Code League team for one summer to write this book. Pauly was a pitcher on that team. He comes off very poorly in the book. Very self-centered and a narcissistic, even for a stud Ivy League athlete.

It is a good book. I'd recommend it.

Rock Chalk Talk for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on Jan 5, 2008 1:34 PM EST reply actions

part of the Red's lost generation

Put him in with Grueller and Howington.

The Dusty path to the World Series!

by justin0070000 on Jan 5, 2008 2:53 PM EST up reply actions

Insurance, and depth

Denham, Michalak and Pettyjohn are most likely arms to fillout the Spring Training roster and maybe fodder for AAA; emergency starters for the ML if somebody suddenly gets hurt, without calling up a genuine prospect and using up an option or messing with his development.

Who will be in the Riverbats' starting rotation next spring? Cueto could very well be with the Big Club, so who else fills out that rotation?

Panerati and Pizziconi will likely show up in Low A or High A if they stick with the organization based on their age and experience. Promising, but a ways away.

Phillips, Barker, Green and Cabrera are bodies to go to split squad games, and maybe one of them sticks as a utitily player, and maybe one accepts a AAA assignment. Cabrera was a good ute man with the Indians some years ago.

Sometimes, I think you guys take this all a little bit too seriously. Wayne or someone else in the organization says something silly and flattering about a AAAA player like these guys are, because that's just baseball etiquette, and you all think that one of them is gonna replace Adam Dunn or Brandon Philips.

Yogi Berra said: "predictions are tough, especially when they are about the future".

by Lonesome George on Jan 5, 2008 2:13 PM EST reply actions

seriously

Michalak could easily replace Dunn.

by Brian B on Jan 5, 2008 6:13 PM EST up reply actions

Actually

Denham was with the Reds A level team (Dayton) last year, and was nothing to write home about. Maybe he was out of the organization and now they got him back. Could replace Bailey, now that HIS stock has fallen so much. Heh.

Yogi Berra said: "predictions are tough, especially when they are about the future".

by Lonesome George on Jan 5, 2008 10:50 PM EST up reply actions

Fiorentino

He is the key to all this news. If the guy wasn't rushed by Baltimore he could have been pretty solid. Do not just think this guy was signed for AAA depth. He will prove he can hit and get a shot to be the Reds fourth OF. To give Bruce more time to season in AAA.

by kennythered on Jan 5, 2008 2:14 PM EST reply actions

For what it's worth,

The Mets picked up OF Angel Pagan from the Cubs for a pair of minor leaguers -- AA/AAA OF Corey Coles and A-ball RHP Ryan Meyers.

Right after Dusty was hired, I predicted the Reds would wind up with Pagan. Shows what I know.

We Are ... Marshall!

by Thundering Turtle on Jan 5, 2008 3:54 PM EST reply actions

Jolbert Cabrera

Where do I know his name and why do I have a REALLY good feeling about signing him?

Reds: WS Champs 2008... and every year after...

by crolfer on Jan 5, 2008 4:10 PM EST reply actions

35-year-old IF from Colombia.

Originally signed in 1990 with Montreal. Played in the bigs 1998-part of 2002 with Cleveland. Spent 02-03 with the Dodgers. Last appears in the majors in 04 with Seattle.

Was traded twice, neither time for anyone of any consequence.

We Are ... Marshall!

by Thundering Turtle on Jan 5, 2008 5:16 PM EST up reply actions

He then threw himself in the Seine

after wrestling with the conundrum of civic duty vs. moral responsibility.

by Man Mountain on Jan 5, 2008 7:17 PM EST up reply actions

This might be of interest to you.

Brendan's Mom is now posting on the Babies 'R' Us website (just do a ctrl-F for "Brendan's Mom").

I will leave to your collective imagination what that might look like.

At least it wasn't Grady Little.

by Paul Householder on Jan 6, 2008 12:24 AM EST up reply actions

My mother hates other people's infants

She trashes the car seat product, says it doesn't work, and gives it one star. Then she says, "Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend it to a friend."

My mother is eviler than manservant Hecubus.

by Brendanukkah on Jan 6, 2008 1:44 AM EST up reply actions

That's EvILLLLLL!

I've always said their aren't enough KITH references on this site.

I'm not superstitious...but I am a little stitious.

by Slyde on Jan 6, 2008 10:11 AM EST up reply actions

You haven't always said that

there was that period where you said there should be more Prisoner references, by hook or by crook.

by Man Mountain on Jan 6, 2008 1:36 PM EST up reply actions

That's true

and I also had my Mr. Belvedere phase, but it seemed so obvious too me that Mr. B. would be quoted on a baseball site. It has Bob Uecker on it. It's practically a show about baseball, metaphorically.

I'm not superstitious...but I am a little stitious.

by Slyde on Jan 7, 2008 9:16 AM EST up reply actions

Heh.

My daughter thought I was rather disturbed when I started snickering about the Mighty-Tite carseat seat-belt tensioner.

"What's so funny?" she asked.

I did not want to explain.

At least it wasn't Grady Little.

by Paul Householder on Jan 6, 2008 6:45 PM EST up reply actions

This thread has done a lot

to remind me how great this site is...

during baseball season :-)

Put in a quarter...Turn out the lights...Magic Fingers makes ya feel alright!

by chandrathan on Jan 6, 2008 11:34 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe

you have a good feeling because you read it wrong.

by Lakeman on Jan 7, 2008 9:19 AM EST up reply actions

This has nothing to do with anything

but Baseball Reference is having a free trial of their Play Index database for the next week. For those not familiar with Play Index, it is the query system that let you find out that Adam Dunn is tied with Ralph Kiner for most seasons of 40 HR, 100 runs, 100 RBI, and 100 Walks by age 27. And he ranks behind only Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Jim Thome, Lou Gehrig, Frank Thomas, Ralph Kiner, Jimmie Foxx for the number of times reaching all of those levels in one season during a career.

I'm telling you about this because I think it is one of the coolest additions to the baseball world in the past couple of years (along with the GameDay Pitch Tracker). Try it out, and if you like what you see, throw down a little money to help Sean Forman, and people like him, to keep developing tools like this for the general baseball community. And if you can't afford the yearly subscription, perhaps you can sponsor a player page. Buck Coats is still available for a mere $10.

I'm not superstitious...but I am a little stitious.

by Slyde on Jan 7, 2008 1:05 PM EST reply actions

Dammit, NOW he gets a cool nickname

"Ten Buck Coats."

by Brendanukkah on Jan 7, 2008 2:08 PM EST up reply actions

If anyone's wondering...

Bubba Crosby's page is not available. I had to wait a long time to pry it away from Pete's Pizza.

I did like the message Pete used to have:

I love the way Bubba hustles, plays tremendous defense and brings some spark to the Yankees. He's made the team 2 spring trainings in a row and Joe still never gives him a chance. I'll take him over Melkie Cabrera any day. Go Bubba!

Even if he can't spell "Melky"...

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Jan 7, 2008 6:00 PM EST up reply actions

I guess Bubba couldn't spell Melky either

by Man Mountain on Jan 7, 2008 6:41 PM EST up reply actions

ha

this is a quality comment

Marty may have a shirt on, but Billy Beane just ripped his off and is squeezing his nipples. - Brendan's ukkah

by boobs on Jan 7, 2008 11:06 PM EST up reply actions

you people

and your spelling, and command of the english language, and giving your readers the idea that you graduated high school, and that you weren't in special classes.

The Dusty path to the World Series!

by justin0070000 on Jan 8, 2008 11:18 AM EST up reply actions

I was in special classes

by Man Mountain on Jan 8, 2008 11:48 AM EST up reply actions

Hey Man Mountain...

..Do you accept email fom fellow Red Reporters or can I just fire some kid-lit questions at you right here in front of God and everyone?

"Breakfast, broke it fast. She was in my English class. Asked for notes, rocked my boat. Jenifa..."

by Fat Vegas Alan on Jan 8, 2008 3:14 PM EST up reply actions

I'll put up my email this afternoon for a few

by Man Mountain on Jan 8, 2008 3:27 PM EST up reply actions

Got it.

Thanks.

Talk at ya soon.

"Breakfast, broke it fast. She was in my English class. Asked for notes, rocked my boat. Jenifa..."

by Fat Vegas Alan on Jan 8, 2008 3:31 PM EST up reply actions

So does everyone have

Coack K's sketches for his new World of Warcraft character?

by Man Mountain on Jan 8, 2008 3:41 PM EST up reply actions

I thought it was his..

..Krzyzewskavatar.

"Breakfast, broke it fast. She was in my English class. Asked for notes, rocked my boat. Jenifa..."

by Fat Vegas Alan on Jan 8, 2008 3:43 PM EST up reply actions

And eaux yeah..

..Congrats to you and your vicarious Bengal bretheren on getting your metaphorical paws on that crystal football last night.

"Breakfast, broke it fast. She was in my English class. Asked for notes, rocked my boat. Jenifa..."

by Fat Vegas Alan on Jan 8, 2008 3:46 PM EST up reply actions

What is it about Bubba

at almost every message board involving baseball i am a member of, there is a Bubba Fan. Now I realize that it is a small sample size of the Beat Writer's blogs, netsports.com, and here, but still. Why not feel this way about say Corey Hart?

The Dusty path to the World Series!

by justin0070000 on Jan 7, 2008 7:47 PM EST up reply actions

Corey Hart is a dweeb

He wears his sunglasses at night.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Jan 7, 2008 7:53 PM EST up reply actions

Feldman on Deal

The other Corey was on Deal or No Deal the other night. He walked in with his sunglasses and a cast on his hand. Then gave some really bad advice on what case to pick.. I really hate that show. The actual game portion is good, but the antics and gobs of commercials make it only watchable with a DVR.

-Wake me when it is aught eight.

by snohio on Jan 9, 2008 10:17 AM EST up reply actions