Brett Phillips

[JimR]

Somehow I missed the news he is in the KC system now. I worked the Express game last night (exciting comeback win after being down 8-1), and saw him play for Omaha. Hard to believe he was the cause of so much angst at the time of The Trade. He is hitting .226 and looks very ordinary in the OF. Great speed.

He did something last night I had never seen. He hit a dribbler up the first baseline which Jones, the first baseman, fielded on the line about 30 feet from the bag and waited on the line for the tag on Phillips. Rather than jog down the line into the tag, Phillips made a hard right turn, crossed the foul line, entered the dugout, and took his seat.

Looked bush league to me. Mike said he had seen it once before, but I had not. Had is the one we lost, not Phillips.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

That is definitely Bush league.


Back in the early 80s I recall a Cardinals player doing that.   

[HudsonHawk]

Unwritten rule: with no one else on base, you jog into the tag, the first baseman taps you on the hip with the glove.  No stopping, no trying to run a guy over, no hard tags to the face.

[JimR]

Unwritten rule: with no one else on base, you jog into the tag, the first baseman taps you on the hip with the glove.  No stopping, no trying to run a guy over, no hard tags to the face.

The most hilarious thing I ever saw on that play happened in a Brenham game I coached. Rather than jog into the tag, our runner retreated toward the catcher.  Not to be outdone by this foolishness, their first baseman tossed the ball to their catcher, and they proceeded to get the hitter in a rundown between home and first before tagging him out. I was laughing so hard.

[HudsonHawk]

The most hilarious thing I ever saw on that play happened in a Brenham game I coached. Rather than jog into the tag, our runner retreated toward the catcher.  Not to be outdone by this foolishness, their first baseman tossed the ball to their catcher, and they proceeded to get the hitter in a rundown between home and first before tagging him out. I was laughing so hard.

I've never seen a rundown between home and 1B, but I remember once in an Astros game, bases loaded, two outs...strikeout in the dirt, the catcher sees the runner coming home from 3B and gets him in a rundown.  He eventually bobbled the ball and the runner from 3B scored.  I gave him the benefit of the doubt that he knew it was a force at the plate and all he had to do was step on it, but either  a) didn't realize the bases were loaded, or b) didn't realize there were two outs and thought the run could score if he threw to 1B.  I think the catcher was Benito Santiago and the runner at 3B was Casey Candaele, but I'm not positive. 

[austro]

I saw Phillips' name in a Round Rock article the other day and was also surprised that he was no longer in the Milwaukee org. For the record, I was disappointed that we were trading him away, but I was obviously over-valuing him.

[JimR]

I saw Phillips' name in a Round Rock article the other day and was also surprised that he was no longer in the Milwaukee org. For the record, I was disappointed that we were trading him away, but I was obviously over-valuing him.

I think most did. I am lamenting Hader.

[Jacksonian]

I saw Phillips' name in a Round Rock article the other day and was also surprised that he was no longer in the Milwaukee org. For the record, I was disappointed that we were trading him away, but I was obviously over-valuing him.

He was raking at AA at the time of the trade.  Hader was not yet what he is today.

[JimR]

He was raking at AA at the time of the trade.  Hader was not yet what he is today.

The OB official answer.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Domingo Santana is having a nice season and is just now 25.

[JimR]

Domingo Santana is having a nice season and is just now 25.

Yep, but no place for him.

[VirtualBob]

He was raking at AA at the time of the trade.  Hader was not yet what he is today.

Philips was raking but Hader even at the time was the more important loss. I expect the bus ride archives would validate my memory.

[JimR]

Philips was raking but Hader even at the time was the more important loss. I expect the bus ride archives would validate my memory.

Perhaps. I have not tried to research this. Phillips is the one I remember the wailing about.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

Philips was raking but Hader even at the time was the more important loss. I expect the bus ride archives would validate my memory.

This is my memory as well. Luhnow was always particularly excited about Hader.

[Jacksonian]

Philips was raking but Hader even at the time was the more important loss. I expect the bus ride archives would validate my memory.

I too was not happy about losing Hader.  But his ceiling was still a question.  He developed a lot with the Astros and he's showing now what he could have been.  That Gomez deal IMO was the real teacher Luhnow needed to be who he is today.

[JimR]

I too was not happy about losing Hader.  But his ceiling was still a question.  He developed a lot with the Astros and he's showing now what he could have been.  That Gomez deal IMO was the real teacher Luhnow needed to be who he is today.

What folks forget is Gomez was in great demand. He was an All Star with speed and power. He was traded to the Mets before Houston, but medical concerns caused the Mets to cancel the deal. Enter the Astros.

I have no doubt the Bus Ride folks saw Hader’s potential, but the high volume complaints I recall were about Phillips. I doubt anyone then predicted what Hader would become. The Brewers’ GM, recently hired from Houston, no doubt remember Hader well.

[austro]

The Brewers’ GM, recently hired from Houston, no doubt remember Hader well.

I will receive any news about future trades with Baltimore with trepidation.

[toddthebod]

What folks forget is Gomez was in great demand. He was an All Star with speed and power. He was traded to the Mets before Houston, but medical concerns caused the Mets to cancel the deal. Enter the Astros.

I have no doubt the Bus Ride folks saw Hader’s potential, but the high volume complaints I recall were about Phillips. I doubt anyone then predicted what Hader would become. The Brewers’ GM, recently hired from Houston, no doubt remember Hader well.

I was excited about getting Gomez, but we could have gotten Cespedes for so much less.  Cespedes was so good that year.   

[JimR]

I was excited about getting Gomez, but we could have gotten Cespedes for so much less.  Cespedes was so good that year.   

Ah, 20-20 hindsight never is wrong.

[geezerdonk]

The GM that traded Hader away put together the team that won the 2017 World Series.

[Mr. Happy]

The GM that traded Hader away put together the team that won the 2017 World Series.

Thank you.

[Lefty]

I was excited about getting Gomez, but we could have gotten Cespedes for so much less.  Cespedes was so good that year.   

Not sure who the Michael Fulmer equivalent would have been on the Astros, but you're also ignoring the Fiers aspect of that trade.

[JimR]

The GM that traded Hader away put together the team that won the 2017 World Series.

Chances are we know that.

[geezerdonk]

You can't say it too often.

[MusicMan]

Ah, 20-20 hindsight never is wrong.

60% of the time it works every time


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[JimR]

60% of the time it works every time


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At least.

[Duman]

Phillips personality had made him more well known (the viral laughing videos) but Hader's ceiling was higher.  That being said, Phillips slide has surprised me.  Still young only 25 and bat and glove was way ahead of his bat. He hit less than 200 in April & May.  Hit .292 in June. 

I would say 4th or 5th OF type is his best bet at this time.  I would be surprised if he makes it to being an every day player. 

[Duman]

He has had a good month:

Brett Phillips last 38 games:
- .313/.429/.643
- 3 doubles
- 7 triples
- 7 HRs
- 29 strikeouts/23 walks

Considering what he was hitting his first 39 games (.165/.331/.306), this is a great turnaround.