NEWSLETTER
Given that the Cincinnati Reds are in the National League Central – and particularly because they are leading the NL Central – you’ll not hear me doting on them too much this year. But when a player does something awesome, we’ve all got to recognize. And Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips did something awesome.
On Monday, Phillips told Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News:
“I hate the Cardinals. All they do is bitch and moan about everything, all of them, they’re little bitches, all of ‘em. I really hate the Cardinals. Compared to the Cardinals, I love the Chicago Cubs. Let me make this clear: I hate the Cardinals.”
Nicely done, Brandon. I think we can all relate.
This, of course, led to a LaRussa-like retort from Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa – you know, one where he acts like he’s above it, and then subsequently enters the fray. He said, “We win the right way and we lose the right way. We’ve received a lot of compliments over the years that when we lose we tip our caps and when we win we keep our mouths shut. That’s my comment.”
But then he said, “I don’t think that will go over well in his own clubhouse. Phillips is ripping his teammates — Scott Rolen, Miguel Cairo, Russ Springer, Jim Edmonds — all the ex-Cardinals over there. He isn’t talking about this year. He is talking about the way we’ve always played and those guys are old Cardinals. Tell him he’s ripping his own teammates because they are all old Cardinals.”
Of course, all of this spirited volleying was ignored by the clubs, who are playing this week, and everyone had a good time. They are, after all, professionals.
I’m just kidding. They brawled.
Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina started jawing at Phillips when Phillips first came to bat, and it was on. Benches cleared, Johnny Cueto kicked, Scott Rolen went after former teammate Chris Carpenter, both managers were ejected.
The Cubs may be miserable this year, but at least we can all enjoy moments like this.
