Brandon Phillips lashed out at Cincinnati Reds beat reporter C. Trent Rosecrans on Wednesday in response to the writer questioning the logic behind Phillips’ move in the batting order.
Phillips entered Wednesday 1 for his last 12 with no walks and two strikeouts. The all-star second baseman asked manager Dusty Baker after Tuesday’s loss if he could be moved up from fourth in the lineup, and the manager obliged. Phillips even hinted at the move in a tweet sent after Tuesday’s game:
#WellAlright… After tonight's loss, it was that time to talk to POPS about changing my role! NEED NEW RESULTS ASAP! #ALLREADY
— Brandon Phillips (@DatDudeBP) August 28, 2013
Phillips’ move up to the two-hole led Rosecrans to analyze the move. Rosecrans noted that Phillips has a lower on-base percentage than Todd Frazier, who was the previous two hitter in the lineup.
Reds go from a hitter with a .320 OBP in the 2 hole to one with a .310 OBP
— ctrent (@ctrent) August 28, 2013
Rosecrans also provided a statistical comparison of Phillips’ history batting second compared to how he’s hit in all other spots:
Phillips career slash line: .272/.320/.430. career slash in 2 spot: .277/.320/.424
— ctrent (@ctrent) August 28, 2013
Asked about his move in the lineup, @DatDudeBP said he didn't want to talk about it
— ctrent (@ctrent) August 28, 2013
Rosecrans’ analysis was completely fair, unbiased, and logical. I didn’t think there was anything wrong with it, but it angered Phillips, who went off on the reporter before Wednesday’s game.
Baker said he was staying out of the issue, but it was a clear case of an offended player trying to intimidate a reporter. Phillips comes off looking foolish in this one. The Enquirer wrote a response to the incident and said they hoped Phillips could get over it. It’s sometimes sweet revenge when Phillips hits back at an obnoxious Twitter follower, but name-calling a reporter for no reason is petty and immature.
