Loading ...From John Fay:
Dusty Baker was asked about Brandon Phillips failing to break hard from the box on the ball to the wall in the fifth inning of yesterday’s game. Phillips ended up with a single.
“We addressed it,” Baker said. “Overall he’s been running harder.”
What was Phillips’ explanation?
“I didn’t ask him about all that,” Baker said.
The only thing worse than Phillips not hustling (AGAIN) is Baker’s unwillingness to address the issue. If I were the GM of this team, this is an issue that I would have to address with my manager.
I’m sure that someone will bring up the fact that Sparky Anderson treated different players differently, but that never had anything to do with their actions and professionalism on the field. This isn’t Phillips first offense, but as far as I can remember, there have never been any consequences for the periodic episodes.
The players Sparky treated differently will never be confused for BP.
Hopefully however Dusty addressed it with BP and kept it in the clubhouse.
“Overall he’s been running harder.” WTF does that even mean? He’s allowed a certain number of no-hustle plays?
Sparky may have had different rules, but the point of THAT is to actually, you know – motivate guys in different ways. Whatever Dusty is doing with BP isn’t working.
Baker doesn’t throw players under the media bus. Unless there’s an obvious discipline, like a 1-day benching, you’re likely never going to find out how it was actually handled.
And IMO, he’s tried keeping it in the clubhouse, now it’s time to try something else.
And I don’t agree that “overall he’s been running harder.” He would have had to be walking or crawling before in order for his recent performance to be termed “running harder”.
“Overall he’s been running harder.”
either you’re running harder or you are not. Once in a while hustle is not hustle.
It’s a good thing Brandon is not in a slump.
Phillips is fast. He does not hustle. Too many people, especially in the media, confuse speed as hustle.
BP’s struggling and its obvious that he’s getting down on himself. No excuse for not hustling but when your walking around with your head down, things can snowball on you.