Phillips Out of Lineup Again For Medical Reasons

Brandon Phillips was in the original lineup Saturday but was scratched.

He wasn't even written into Sunday's lineup.

Dusty Baker consulted with the Reds' medical staff and Walt Jocketty.  The consensus was that Phillips should sit a couple more days.


"Brandon's not going to go today.  I'm not sure exactly when. It's not very pleasant to tell him he's not in the lineup. He's getting better though.  He's getting real, real, real close."

Why was Phillips pulled yesterday?

"It wasn't him.  We had a meeting with our medical staff and Walt.  I'm a manager not a doctor.  Through much discussion we decided it would be better medically because of the potential repercussions if he did hurt it seriously and the amount of time he could be out.  I hope to not use him to pinch hit today but he will be available, hopefully, in a two out situation that he doesn't have to beat out a double play.  Hopefully, he doesn't top one and have to run which ends up happening all the time."

"Joey's progressing.  He's going on the road trip with us.  He's right on schedule.  He's hitting, fielding some around the bases.  He's throwing.  The real test is going to be running, cutting and sliding.  He's not quite at that point yet.  He's not here today.  I gave him off today.  He's been working around the clock, trying to get ready.  Sometimes you can over work.  You need to let your body rest.  If he's here, he's going to work.  He's probably working where he is anyway."

About the Pirates being upset about the hit by pitch on Princeton grad, Josh Harrison, Baker said..

"Damn that one yesterday was a hit by pitch.  The one with McCutchen, I can understand him being upset.  I really can.  Even though I told you it was unintentional, I can still understand them being upset.  Yesterday it was god dang.   I didn't like the warning either.  You never like a warning early in the game.  But that wasn't even a hit.  That was a graze.  Yeah he was pitching inside and almost turned into it and it was a graze at 86."

Scott Rolen scored the winning run off a high chopper that Todd Frazier hit. Losing pitcher Jared Hughes fielded the ball but couldn't get a good grip on it.  Hughes took out his frustrations when Dioner Navarro hit a  one-hopper to Hughes.  Hughes shoved Navarro with the tag.  Baker too exception to it.

"That thing with Navarro was a bully move.  Yeah, Navarro's this tall (shoulder high).  At that point it's like ok man, just keep winning," Baker said.

Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle was not upset by the pitch that hit Harrison.  Hurdle was upset about the warning that went to both benches.


"We're going to throw inside.  I know they're going to.  How can you not? In this ballpark, how can you not?  This as hitter friendly ballpark as there is in the big leagues.  You got to pitch inside.  I don't anticipate anything being different today."

Did not being able to pitch inside help you out on the two home runs?

"I don't know about that.  I can't answer that.  I know the wind helped us.  Those weren't home runs anywhere but here.  There are a lot of balls that aren't homers anywhere but here.  I've seen them for years.  So, you have to keep the ball down.  No grounders ever left the ballpark.  I still think they're guy continued to pitch inside.  I know J Mac continued to pitch inside.  You got to pitch inside unless you can hit a gnat in the ass with your fastball, you have to pitch inside.  You have to use both sides of the plate."