Phillips prepared for upcoming season, WBC
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
One of, if not the most, fan-friendly players in MLB, Brandon Phillips is currently preparing for the upcoming 2013 season, but last week he took some time off for the annual Cincinnati Reds Caravan event at the WBEX-1490 AM/WCHO-1250 AM radio station in Chillicothe.
Last season, the Reds had a season that will be remembered for years to come. They won 97 games and won two playoff games, but in the NLDS, the Reds lost three straight games at Great American Ball Park to have their season ended by eventual World Series Champion San Francisco, who trailed the Reds 2-0 when they landed in Cincinnati.
But last season is just a memory, as the Reds are sure to be refocused, and that was evident when Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips spoke about the upcoming season.
"Well, the goals are basically to get further than we got last year," Phillips told The Highland County Press. "That's the No. 1 thing we need to do. Personally, I can't set goals yet because I don't know yet what my role is going to be on the team.
"When it comes to the team, everybody's goal is to be in the World Series, but I feel we just need to focus on getting to the second round and go from there."
Last season, the Reds won the NL Central crown for the second time in Phillips' tenure on the team, as they also won the NL crown in 2010, but each time, the Reds failed to make it past the divisional round.
"We had a great season, but the thing is, though … you don't win the playoff games during the season," Phillips said. "You try to get to the playoffs during the season. During the season, we were great, not many injuries, people stepped up and it was a beautiful thing.
"Then we got to the playoffs, and it was a totally different atmosphere and the situation was different. The season overall was great, we had a great season, it just didn't end the way we wanted to."
Phillips, who placed in the Top 3 last season for the Reds by batting .281 with 86 runs and 77 RBIs, also spoke about playing in the World Baseball Classic this March for the first time. Phillips also hit 18 home runs.
For his career, Phillips has three Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, a Silver Slugger award in '11 and two All-Star Game appearances. As for Team USA, in the '09 WBC they made it to the semifinals of the preseason event, falling to eventual champion Japan.
This is the first time Phillips will play for Team USA in the WBC.
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"I'm really looking forward to playing in the WBC," he said. "I got a call from Joe Torre, and he asked me if I wanted to do it. I told him I'd love to do it. He told me he wants me to be his starting second baseman.
"It will be really nice to have the USA on my chest … the red, white and blue, to play for our country like that. It will be nice to be a part of something like that. One day I can tell my kids, and they can tell their kids, that their daddy played for the USA team."
Back to the upcoming season, Phillips spoke about some of the changes to the '13 lineup, including the addition of left fielder Shin-Soo Choo.
The Reds traded for Choo with the Cleveland Indians this offseason, as the Reds gave up Drew Stubbs and others. Phillips also spoke about third baseman Todd Frazier, who was in the running for NL Rookie of the Year.
"When it comes to Choo, he's a great all-around player and is one of the best players in the game," Phillips said of his new teammate. "We respect him as a player, and he always beat up on us, so I'm looking forward to see what happens.
"We also have Todd Frazier, and he's inked to be our starting third baseman right now. I'm excited to see what he can do for our season, and it's going to be a totally different season and lineup, so you never know what's going to happen."
Phillips also spoke about the pitching of the Reds, including the role of Aroldis Chapman.
"To tell you the truth … that's up to Walt (Jocketty) and Dusty (Baker) to see what they want to do, but if Chapman wants to be a starter, he'll be a starter," Phillips said. "It's all about how he prepares to do his job, and all you can do is respect the decision. Whatever that decision is, it will make the Reds better.
"I really don't know what's going to happen, but all we can do is prepare for spring training and let the manager make the decisions."
Phillips ended by talking about the fans, Twitter and the caravan itself.
"I love doing this caravan … it's all about the fans," he said. "I feel, regardless of what you do on the field, you have to show love to your fans on and off the field.
"I love talking with fans on Twitter (@DatDudeBP). It's amazing, and I do this for them."
Last season, the Reds had a season that will be remembered for years to come. They won 97 games and won two playoff games, but in the NLDS, the Reds lost three straight games at Great American Ball Park to have their season ended by eventual World Series Champion San Francisco, who trailed the Reds 2-0 when they landed in Cincinnati.
But last season is just a memory, as the Reds are sure to be refocused, and that was evident when Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips spoke about the upcoming season.
"Well, the goals are basically to get further than we got last year," Phillips told The Highland County Press. "That's the No. 1 thing we need to do. Personally, I can't set goals yet because I don't know yet what my role is going to be on the team.
"When it comes to the team, everybody's goal is to be in the World Series, but I feel we just need to focus on getting to the second round and go from there."
Last season, the Reds won the NL Central crown for the second time in Phillips' tenure on the team, as they also won the NL crown in 2010, but each time, the Reds failed to make it past the divisional round.
"We had a great season, but the thing is, though … you don't win the playoff games during the season," Phillips said. "You try to get to the playoffs during the season. During the season, we were great, not many injuries, people stepped up and it was a beautiful thing.
"Then we got to the playoffs, and it was a totally different atmosphere and the situation was different. The season overall was great, we had a great season, it just didn't end the way we wanted to."
Phillips, who placed in the Top 3 last season for the Reds by batting .281 with 86 runs and 77 RBIs, also spoke about playing in the World Baseball Classic this March for the first time. Phillips also hit 18 home runs.
For his career, Phillips has three Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, a Silver Slugger award in '11 and two All-Star Game appearances. As for Team USA, in the '09 WBC they made it to the semifinals of the preseason event, falling to eventual champion Japan.
This is the first time Phillips will play for Team USA in the WBC.
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"I'm really looking forward to playing in the WBC," he said. "I got a call from Joe Torre, and he asked me if I wanted to do it. I told him I'd love to do it. He told me he wants me to be his starting second baseman.
"It will be really nice to have the USA on my chest … the red, white and blue, to play for our country like that. It will be nice to be a part of something like that. One day I can tell my kids, and they can tell their kids, that their daddy played for the USA team."
Back to the upcoming season, Phillips spoke about some of the changes to the '13 lineup, including the addition of left fielder Shin-Soo Choo.
The Reds traded for Choo with the Cleveland Indians this offseason, as the Reds gave up Drew Stubbs and others. Phillips also spoke about third baseman Todd Frazier, who was in the running for NL Rookie of the Year.
"When it comes to Choo, he's a great all-around player and is one of the best players in the game," Phillips said of his new teammate. "We respect him as a player, and he always beat up on us, so I'm looking forward to see what happens.
"We also have Todd Frazier, and he's inked to be our starting third baseman right now. I'm excited to see what he can do for our season, and it's going to be a totally different season and lineup, so you never know what's going to happen."
Phillips also spoke about the pitching of the Reds, including the role of Aroldis Chapman.
"To tell you the truth … that's up to Walt (Jocketty) and Dusty (Baker) to see what they want to do, but if Chapman wants to be a starter, he'll be a starter," Phillips said. "It's all about how he prepares to do his job, and all you can do is respect the decision. Whatever that decision is, it will make the Reds better.
"I really don't know what's going to happen, but all we can do is prepare for spring training and let the manager make the decisions."
Phillips ended by talking about the fans, Twitter and the caravan itself.
"I love doing this caravan … it's all about the fans," he said. "I feel, regardless of what you do on the field, you have to show love to your fans on and off the field.
"I love talking with fans on Twitter (@DatDudeBP). It's amazing, and I do this for them."