Atlanta Braves’ Brandon Phillips feels insulted by old team
Brandon Phillips has never been one to hold his tongue when he has something to say. Today’s return to his previous team provided plenty to talk about.
The Atlanta Braves were able to steal second baseman Brandon Phillips from the Cincinnati Reds a a particular moment of need this Spring.
That John Coppolella was able to do so – for pitchers Andrew McKirahan and Carlos Portundo and only $1 million of his $14 million contract – was seen as a coup for Coppy and the Braves.
Truth is (figuratively speaking)… the Reds all but drove him to the airport to make sure he got on the plane. It wasn’t exactly the first time they’d actively tried to move him.
It’s an understatement to say that Phillips had worn out his welcome along the banks of the Ohio River.
That was actually hard to do, given his on-field performance: he averaged 2.8 fWAR over 11 seasons. 4 Gold Gloves. 3 All-Star nods. By the end of the year, he could be in the top 35 all-time in games played by a second baseman.
It’s possible that the Reds are still comparing Phillips to Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, who graced their fields for 8 seasons as an integral part of the Big Red Machine in the mid-1970’s.
But truth is, in the considerable history of the Cincinnati Reds franchise, Phillips stands as the 4th best performer at the keystone sack that these fans has ever had… and the second best that nearly all had ever actually seen:
- Bid McPhee (1882-1899, 2,135 games): 62.7 WAR
- Joe Morgan (1972-1979, 1154 games): 57.2 WAR
- Heinie Groh (1913-1921, 1211 games): 42.0 WAR
- Brandon Phillips (2006-2016, 1614 games): 31.7 WAR
You might think that with the second-most games played at the position, that might have earned a bit of respect.
That seems to have been the case with the fans, who gave him a lengthy standing ovation as he was introduced tonight.
But maybe not so much the team or the local media.
Heck, for some teams, all of that good work might get your number retired.
That’s not happening here.
Something Had Been in the Works
For the record, the Reds had prepared a review of Phillips’ tenure in Cincinnati, though Phillips declined the opportunity for a specific personal honor.
Not to waste the effort of a few staffers, the team nonetheless presented their video tribute after the top of the first inning. By golly, they were gonna at least try to make it appear that all was cozy between the parties… but Phillips was having none of that.
Friday afternoon, the media wanted some quotes. In fact, it was reported that fifteen of the credentialed media was anxiously milling about in the Braves’ clubhouse… while Phillips was as far away from them as he could get in a media-exclusion zone.
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He really didn’t want to say anything.
But after batting practice, he finally acquiesced.
He didn’t like having to leave – though coming home to Atlanta probably eased that sting a bit. He didn’t like the thought of having to platoon with Jose Peraza… and indeed he’s easily been better than the former Atlanta prospect this season.
Phillips wasn’t asked this, but he probably saw that writing on the wall when the Reds actively pursued getting Peraza from the Dodgers in a curious trade at the end of the 2015 season.
Once the quotes started coming, some of the hurt that Phillips has been holding in escaped.
"“I’m still Mr. Cincinnati, regardless of what anybody say,” Phillips told WLWT-TV and FoxSports Ohio. “I still run this piece [sic]. I’m just here to play this game and get as many wins as I can as possible against the Redlegs.”"
But the biggest thing was this: that the Reds had wasted no time in passing out his #4 to another player.
"“I still can’t believe that No. 4, is… someone is wearing my number,” Phillips told WLWT-TV and FoxSports Ohio. “I think that’s a slap in my face, too. But it is what it is. Man, people have their own opinions and I’m going to have mine.”"
It was at the end of Spring training that the Milwaukee Brewers waived infielder Scooter Gennett. The Reds snapped him up… and assigned him uniform number 4.
That was March 28th. After 11 years as a Red, Phillips had been a Brave for just 44 days.
Unfortunately for the Braves – on top of the annoying outcome – Brandon Phillips was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts for his first game back to Great American Ballpark.
It is said that parting is ‘such sweet sorrow’. Sometimes the reunions are worse.