Dat Dude Do It True!
Dat Dude Do It True!
by Robb Hoff
July 19, 2012
Cleveland Indians fans may want to turn their heads from this, but one of the best trades in the history of the Cincinnati Reds is the one that landed second baseman Brandon Phillips for a player to be named later, who eventually turned out to be seldom-used Chicago Cubs reliever Jeff Stevens.
On Thursday afternoon, Phillips reminded everyone why that trade ranks up their for the Reds and also once again demonstrated the truly egregious nature of the All-Star snub that Phillips endured this year at the hands of imbecilic fans, probably jealous players and an All-Star manager who is one of the biggest fruitcakes to ever patrol a clubhouse at the big-league level.
Down 6-0, Phillips jerked a three-run homer off Diamondbacks starter Joe Saunders in the bottom of the sixth inning at Great American Ball Park.
One inning later, Phillips plated two more with a double that tied the score before Reds third baseman Todd Frazier singled Phillips home for the game's winning run.
Phillips emerged in this game as the difference maker that his six-year, $72.5M contract suggests that he is.
In other words, Phillips is Dat Dude.
The Reds remarkable comeback puts them alone atop the N.L. Central with a 1/2-game lead over the resting Pirates.
Unfortunately, very few Reds fans saw this stunner because the threat of rain for the day game kept folks like me from walking up to buy tickets. Plus, the game was one of only handful that wasn't televised by the Reds Fox Network.
Fortunately for folks like me who have the Major League Baseball Network, the game was played from the fifth inning on as bonus coverage.
Many thanks to the MLB for that because this was definitely not a finish to miss.
The overpowering exclamation point provided once again by Reds closer Aroldis Chapman was a perfect finish.
The unlikely win capped a split of the four-game series with the visiting Diamondbacks and gives the Reds a much-needed shot of adrenalin as they finish their 10-game homestand with a three-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers.
