Dan Uggla had 3 errors in the All-Star game. Last season, Brandon Phillips had just 8 errors in 433 attempts, had a 30/30 season, and was denied not just the All-Star game, but even a Gold Glove, as he was beat out by Arizona's Orlando Hudson, who had 10 errors in 387 attempts. Despite being denied attention and well-deserved accolades, something teammate Aaron Harang has dealt with for years, Brandon Phillips seems like he couldn't care less. I mean obviously he'd love to be recognized in the All-Star game, but turning this Cincinnati Reds team around is #1 on his list. It's no secret that professional baseball has become a popularity contest, I'm just as sick of hearing this as everyone else, but it sucks seeing probably the best all-around second baseman in the game (obviously a biased opinion) not get recognized for his achievements. We all saw what happened to Dan Uggla the other night. Sure, you can blame nerves and maybe some of those balls were a little tricky to play, but Uggla was in the All-Star game because he can hit home runs, and that's all. Don't get me wrong, I like Dan Uggla (compared to my unjustified contempt for Chase Utley), but an All-Star should excel in all facets of the game, something I naively took to be pretty obvious all my life.
One other thing about the All-Star game that I couldn't quite figure out came in the 6th inning. With the clinic Josh Hamilton put on at the derby, followed by essentially non-stop coverage of his 28-homer round, his struggles with drugs, and how he came to be a Texas Ranger, THEY DIDNT PUT VOLQUEZ IN TO FACE HIM, even after he put a briefcase on home plate during Hamilton's historic round (I assume that was a reference to the trade?). Basically all I'm saying is that Volquez v. Hamilton would result in a week of media frenzy, something the All-Star game seems determined to stir up anyway. I understand Chris Berman isn't managing the teams, but give me a break. Arguably the best hitter in baseball facing arguably the best pitcher in baseball were traded for one another and when given the chance to see them face each other in the All-Star game of all places, you pass it up.
Anyway, the Reds and their fans are optimistic heading into the second half that begins tonight at home against the Mets. Simply hoping Harang turns it around and Hairston stays off the DL doesn't cut it anymore. These things, along with plenty others, need to happen if the Reds want to end up .500 or better.
5 comments:
I will maintain that Dan Uggla far and away deserved to be at the all star game more than Brandon Phillips. Uggla wasn't in the all star game because he can hit home runs. He was there because he can hit for average, he gets on base at a very high clip and he is slugging .600+. As for All Stars should excel in all facets of the game.... if thats the case Brandon Phillips still shouldn't have gone because he really struggles getting on base because the dude never walks, which leads to him leading the league in outs made.
I warned you it was a biased opinion, but when it comes to second basemen and shortstops, I place more value on the glove than the bat. Being able to hit is icing on the cake, and Phillips proved that last year with his 30/30 season. Sure, he's an impatient hitter who has some problems getting on base, but any second basemen with a range in the field as good as Brandon's who can hit 30 homers and swipe 30 bases earns a spot on my all-star team, or more relevantly, my fantasy team, as I'd trade my current Jeff Kent for Phillips in a heartbeat.
Screw the average and the base on balls, Phillips is a clutch hitter who gets on when he needs to get on and makes plays that dan uggla dreams about making. I love dan uggla, i think he's a solid second baseman, but brandon phillips goes beyond solid AND he's fun to watch! dan uggla makes some ok plays but he's not diving and jumping making plays which is what the media is all about which is why i don't get why they couldn't just put phillips in there. Also, when uggla was diving, at least in the all-star game, he was missing the ball and it was hitting off of his glove. COME ON! that quite possibly was the loss of the NL's chance. Yeah, i'm no pro baseball player but this is a blog and when it comes to second base there's no one more fun to watch as a clutch hitter who swings on every first pitch and is hilarious as he rounds the bases to watch. THE GUY WAS JOKING AROUND WITH A MAJOR LEAGUE PITCHER ON THE OPPOSITE TEAM WHILE THE GAME WAS GOING ON! you want entertainment with almost no errors and some clutch hitting......brandon phillips is there and will always be there. dan uggla is just not as fun as the other all-stars to watch and that is what the all-star game is all about. it's having fun playing with the best and brandon phillips is the best
http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080718&content_id=3147955&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin
Brandon Phillips is 'clutch'? Could have fooled me.
2008 OPS is .786.
OPS with risp - .766.
OPS with runners on - .775
OPS with no one one - .795
Phillips is a better hitter when no one is on than when guys are on. Thats not clutch. He also hits right handed pitching just a tad bit better than I do. He shouldn't start against right handers. His OPS against right handers is an atrocious .655 this year. Yeah, his defense keeps him in the game against righties, but having him in the cleanup spot against right handers is a terrible idea... but we have a genius managing our team so I wouldn't expect him to do something that was actually smart.
I still hate Dusty Baker.
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