Time to sit Phillips

[Brutus]

Assuming he's truly not actually healed from the hand injury, at least indefinitely until he's better.

His OPS is under 300 this month. He's 7-for-51 now. No fielder can earn back enough to justify that kind of production.

I'm not saying bench him. I actually think he's just not healthy. But it's time to let Valaika step in and hit .280 or whatever he'll hit until Phillips is rested. Give him a week off and hopefully he'll be full go before the playoffs.

This is a vacuum of suckitude at the leadoff spot right now. It's become an automatic out, and in many cases, an automatic two outs.

[_Sir_Charles_]

I thought he looked much better tonight. He was really on the ball in terms of squaring it up. A couple of liners at people and a broken bat. The way his hand is hurt, it's something you have to work through. Similar to a twisted ankle. Rest it and it swells and you can't use it at all. He's taken the time off to heal, now he needs to rediscover his groove. Patience...he's showing signs of breaking out of it.

As usual though...some really nice defensive plays out there again.

[Sea Ray]

I don't know why Dusty insists on playing guys like Phillips, Cabrera and Rolen, all of whom are not 100%, when he has adequate replacements sitting on the bench. I hope he knows what he's doing...

[Griffey012]

I don't know why Dusty insists on playing guys like Phillips, Cabrera and Rolen, all of whom are not 100%, when he has adequate replacements sitting on the bench. I hope he knows what he's doing...

I am guessing it is cause we haven't clinched anything yet. I bet once we clinch those guys will get tons of time off.

[corkedbat]

I'd say you'll see most of the regulars see at least one game off over the last two weeks. I think Yonder may even get a start or two for Joey.

[WVRedsFan]

I don't know why Dusty insists on playing guys like Phillips, Cabrera and Rolen, all of whom are not 100%, when he has adequate replacements sitting on the bench. I hope he knows what he's doing...

Phillips is struggling at the plate, but Cabrera is raking. Rolen gets regular respites. Truth is, after watching the subs at second, third and second, we cannot clinch without them on defense. There is no comparison.

Like someone else said, once we have that division championship secured, everyone will get that time off to heal. Another thing is that Phillips is poorly suited for leadoff. I would play Cabrera there for awhile and move Brandon down for awhile. Brandon has such poor plate discipline, and with his injury, is just not doing the job.

Nonetheless, it's hard to be critical with the team on the verge of clinching.

[GAC]

I don't know why Dusty insists on playing guys like Phillips, Cabrera and Rolen, all of whom are not 100%, when he has adequate replacements sitting on the bench. I hope he knows what he's doing...

He has been resting Rolen. He was out of yesterday's lineup, and is day-to-day with stiffness in his upper back and neck. But over his past five games he is hitting .353 (6-for-20). We need him in that lineup as much as possible.

And how do we know that Cabrera and Phillips, when it comes to their physical health aren't 100%? Cabrera went 2 fer 5 in Monday's win with a home run, dbl, two runs scored and an RBI. Yesterday he went 3 fer 4, with three doubles, in the Reds' win. And over the last 7 days the guy has posted a .409 BA .409 OB% .818 SLG% and 1.227 OPS.

Yeah, BP is struggling at the plate but his defense in the field sure hasn't suffered any. I'd have to safely assume that Dusty is aware of BP's current struggles at the plate, and sees it simply as a mild slump that Brandon can work out of. If Dusty thinks its an issue of needing some rest, then looking how Dusty has done so with others on this team, he'd do so with Phillips if he thought that was the problem.

[UKFlounder]

Maybe Dusty isn't confident the replacements on the bench are "adequate" especially for Phillips?

[hebroncougar]

I think he'll rest today, and rest once or twice on the road trip.

[Sea Ray]

And how do we know that Cabrera and Phillips, when it comes to their physical health aren't 100%?

In Cabrera's case he said he was only about 90% in an interview yesterday. He almost threw late to 1B in the 9th inning. He also is not getting to many balls at SS. If Phillips defense is the reason to play him over Valaika then defense should mean playing a healthy Janish over Cabrera. I don't get why one would argue defense in one case and Cabrera's raking at the plate for the other

[Brutus]

He's now 8-for-67 in the month of September with one extra base hit, 5 walks and 13 Ks. He is not doing anything with the bat, and has been an automatic out. They need to sit him for as long as it takes to get him somewhat healthy. He's not doing enough to help.

[muddie]

Valaika was doing well while he was in the line up. Running Phillips out there every day, injured or not, is only prolonging his recovery. Let the guy sit two or three days. He needs to recover mentally and physically from the past two months. Valaika has proven an asset, use him.

[Unassisted]

Why not just move him down in the order? He's doing a great job in the field.

[Brutus]

Why not just move him down in the order? He's doing a great job in the field.

That would be better, but anyone making outs 83% of the time should be sat entirely until they're healed.

[Big Klu]

Valaika was doing well while he was in the line up. Running Phillips out there every day, injured or not, is only prolonging his recovery. Let the guy sit two or three days. He needs to recover mentally and physically from the past two months. Valaika has proven an asset, use him.

I want to see how Phillips hits in Milwaukee. He has done well in the past at Miller Park. But I am not opposed to giving him two or three days off--maybe when the Reds get to San Diego. However, I would prefer to give the starts to Paul Janish over Chris Valaika--Janish will be someone we need in the postseason, so I would want him to get the AB's and the defensive reps.