All Things Bubba

The Tuscaloosa News has an article about local boy Andy Phillips. It's basically a piece handicapping his chances for the making the Reds roster this year.

A total of 62 players, including Phillips and 21 other non-roster invitees, are expected to be in Cincinnati’s camp with new manager Dusty Baker. Saturday, 33 pitchers and seven catchers will officially report to Ed Smith Stadium, with the first scheduled workout Sunday afternoon after the completion of physicals.

Although Phillips, 30, was primarily a first baseman with the Yankees, who selected him in the seventh round of the 1999 amateur draft, he may not have a chance to land a starting job there with the Reds.

Cincinnati plans to take a long look at rookie Joey Votto, rated the third-best prospect in the Reds organization by Baseball America, will win the job outright during spring training. Last season, he was Triple-A Louisville’s most valuable player and listed among the International League’s leaders in home runs (22, fourth), RBIs (92, second), hits (146, tied for fifth), on-base percentage (.382, seventh) and batting average (.294, tied for 13th).

With the parent club, he hit .321 with four home runs and 17 RBIs in 24 appearances.

The Reds also have left-handed Scott Hatteberg, whose $1.85 million club option was picked up after he batted a career-high .310 in 116 games with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs.

However, Phillips’ versatility could be the key to landing a spot on the opening-day roster, as he can also play third base and the outfield. If so, he might be competing against players like switch-hitter Javier Valentin, utility infielder Juan Castro, and outfielder Craig Wilson.

Right-handed power and pinch-hitting power were sore spots for the Reds last season. Cincinnati was eighth in NL pinch-hitting, but batted just .227 (53-for-233) with five home runs and 29 RBIs.

That last is very true. The Reds really need some righty bats.