Well, the Yankees game was ugly. With Wang on the mound, many fans were hoping for a win, but it turned into a blowout victory for the Mets. Ugh. I don't know what's wrong with the Yanks. No A-Rod and no Posada hurts, but still...they've been really horrible lately. Very depressing. It was never like this when Bubba was on the roster. ;-)
The Reds won tonight, sweeping the Indians. The Redlegs are really on a roll, with the bats finally starting to heat up. Paul Janish was 3 for 3 with a walk.
Andy Phillips was 0 for 2 with a walk and a HBP tonight. The Bats played Indianapolis, and former Yankees Craig Wilson, Kevin Thompson, and TJ Beam were all in the game. KT continued his torrid hitting, going 2 for 4. Craig Wilson was 0 for 4 with a RBI. TJ Beam came in when the starting pitcher left with an injury. He pitched three innings, giving up only one hit and striking out four. His ERA is a very respectable 1.91. Louisville prevailed though, 5-3.
Yesterday's Bats game was a slugfest. Andy Phillips was 2 for 4 with a triple. Craig Wilson was 3 for 4 with two home runs. (!) Kevin Thompson came in as a late-inning sub as was 1 for 2 with a stolen base. When the dust settled, it was Bats 7, Indians 9 (thank the Bats' bullpen for the loss).
The Louisville Courier-Journal has a short article about Andy today:
Phillips trying to make it back to big leagues
Louisville Bats infielder Andy Phillips bolted the New York Yankees' organization in December, in part because they designated him for the minor leagues.
Yet after being one of the Cincinnati Reds' final roster cuts out of spring training, Phillips finds himself back in Triple-A. It's perplexing, especially since the Reds are in sore need of right-handed hitters.
Phillips has remained cool while trying to get back to the big leagues. He said he doesn't regret leaving the Yankees.
"I've been down this road so many times before where you're in Triple-A," he said. "You have to go out and play and perform that balance between not paying attention to what's going on and going out and doing your thing. I'm a firm believer in you control what you can control."
The Yankees moved Phillips off their 40-man roster last December to make room for catcher Jose Molina. Phillips, who was on the Yankees' opening day roster in 2005 and 2006, was coming off his best season in the majors, hitting .292 in 61 games with New York before being injured in September.
"In '06 I was there all year and didn't have a good year numbers-wise, yet I was able to keep a job," Phillips said. "Last year I go out and have by far the best year of my career and find myself looking for a job. It just tells you the craziness of this job."
Phillips is making a strong case to join the parent club. His recent 17-game hitting streak is the longest in the International League this season. It was the Bats' longest since Joey Votto had a 17-game streak last season.
It's not really that perplexing. They don't have room on the roster for another first baseman. Unless the Reds trade Hatteberg, they don't have room for Andy.
That said...they really should trade Hatteberg, if they can. He's not happy warming the bench behind Joey Votto. And it's just ridiculous to carry two left-handed first basemen. Three, really, if you count Javier Valentin. He's a switch-hitter, but is so much better from the left side that everyone considers him a lefty. He was supposed to be the backup catcher, but Bako has done so well that Valentin has become the third catcher - and occasional third left-handed first baseman.
