JAWS and the 2024 Hall of Fame Ballot: Brandon Phillips

The next article is a part of Jay Jaffe’s ongoing have a look at the candidates on the BBWAA 2024 Corridor of Fame poll. For an in depth introduction to this yr’s poll, and different candidates within the sequence, use the device above; an introduction to JAWS will be discovered here. For a tentative schedule, see here. All WAR figures discuss with the Baseball-Reference model except in any other case indicated.

Although he carried himself with a decidedly trendy swagger, Brandon Phillips styled himself as a throwback, a lot in order that he wound up on the heart of a battle over old style/new faculty pondering inside baseball’s tradition battle, pitted in opposition to teammate Joey Votto. If the flashy, free-swinging Phillips wasn’t everyone’s thought of the best second baseman of the post-Moneyball period, his mixture of energy and above-average baserunning and protection made him a useful and entertaining participant. In a 17-year main league profession that took some time to get off the bottom, Phillips received 4 Gold Gloves, made three All-Star groups and — together with Votto and Corridor of Famer Scott Rolen — helped the Reds to 3 playoff appearances in a four-season span.

Brandon Emil Phillips was born on June 28, 1981 in Raleigh, North Carolina, into a really aggressive household. His mother and father, James and Lue Phillips, have been each athletes at Shaw College, a Raleigh-based traditionally Black college. James performed soccer and baseball earlier than happening to work as a gross sales consultant for the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Firm, whereas his mom performed basketball. Jamil Phillips (b. 1975), the oldest of James and Lue’s 4 kids, performed collegiate baseball at Johnson County (Kansas) Group Faculty and Southern College earlier than being drafted by the Rangers as an outfielder within the thirty fourth spherical in 1993. P.J. Phillips (b. 1986) was a second-round choose by the Angels out of Redan Excessive Faculty in 2005 and spent 5 seasons within the Angels’ group, one within the Reds’ group, and 4 in unbiased leagues earlier than changing into an indy-league supervisor. Porsha Phillips (b. 1988) performed basketball at Louisiana State and the College of Georgia earlier than spending the 2011 season with the WNBA’s San Antonio Stars.

The Phillips kids have been raised in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Rising up, Brandon rooted for the Braves, served as a batboy through the 1996 Summer time Olympics in Atlanta, and starred in baseball, soccer, and basketball at Redan Excessive Faculty. He signed a letter of intent to pursue the diamond/gridiron combo on the College of Georgia, however when the Expos picked him within the second spherical of the 1999 draft, he selected to signal for a $607,00 bonus. He started his skilled profession with the group’s Gulf Coast League affiliate that summer time, taking part in shortstop and hitting .290/.358/.408 with one homer and 12 steals in 47 video games. Transferring as much as A-level Cape Concern in 2000, he hit a modest .242/.306/.378 with 11 homers and 23 steals; Baseball America referred to as him, “A superior athlete who makes dazzling performs… probably the most dynamic infield prospect within the league by a large margin.” The publication famous his pop and his being named the circuit’s greatest defensive shortstop in a midseason ballot of managers, but in addition expressed concern about his propensity to strike out (97 instances, an 18.1% fee).

Phillips break up his 2001 season between Excessive-A Jupiter and Double-A Harrisburg, hitting a mixed .292/.372/.440 with 11 homer and 30 steals. He drew raves from Baseball America for his improved strike zone judgment, arm energy, and drive to enhance, and cracked the publication’s High 100 Prospects listing at no. 20 the next spring. He had simply moved up from Harrisburg to Triple-A Ottawa when on June 27, 2002, he was traded to Cleveland within the Bartolo Colon blockbuster, together with lefty Cliff Lee, outfielder Grady Sizemore, and first baseman Lee Stevens. He completed his minor league season at Triple-A Buffalo, hitting a mixed .302/.348/.479 with 18 homers and 14 steals at his three stops. He performed 11 video games at second base in Buffalo in deference to Omar Vizquel’s presence at shortstop.

Cleveland referred to as up the 21-year-old Phillips as soon as the minor league season ended. On September 13, he made his main league debut, getting into a sport in opposition to the Twins within the sixth inning to interchange Vizquel, with second baseman John McDonald transferring to shortstop. He struck out in opposition to Tony Fiore in his lone plate look that night time. Three days later, in his third sport, he collected his first hit, a single off the Crimson Sox’s Frank Castillo. In all, he batted .258/.343/.419 in 36 plate appearances.

Transferring as much as no. 7 on BA’s High 100 for 2003, Phillips drew comparisons to a trio of future Corridor of Famers:

“Phillips is a premier athlete who tasks as an all-star at both middle-infield place. As a shortstop, Phillips has drawn comparisons to a younger Barry Larkin or Derek Jeter. Hitting out of a Jeff Bagwell-style crouch, Phillips has the bat velocity and athletic talent to be a top-of-the-order hitter… Phillips additionally has a charisma that stamps him as a particular participant. His confidence and aptitude typically annoy opponents. However he enjoys taking part in the sport and doesn’t disguise it.”

He opened the 2003 season as Cleveland’s second baseman, however whereas he linked for his first main league homer off the White Sox’s Jon Garland on April 9, he struggled mightily. He was despatched again to Buffalo on the All-Star break, didn’t return till late August, and completed the season batting an abysmal .208/.242/.311 (48 OPS+) with six homers in 393 PA. “He went from can’t miss to did, and no person is aware of if the spatula has but been made that may scrape him up from final season’s epic tumble from the heights of prospectdom,” wrote Baseball Prospectus in its 2004 annual. “His failures have been worsened by Phillips’s fame as a showboat; there’s a skinny line between being charismatic and being a nuisance.” Ouch.

Phillips spent almost all the 2004 and ’05 seasons in Buffalo, taking part in primarily shortstop whereas Ronnie Belliard earned All-Star honors as Cleveland’s second baseman alongside Vizquel. Phillips performed simply 12 main league video games in these two seasons, throughout which he went simply 4-for-31. His second stint was in July 2005, as Cleveland showcased him as a possible commerce candidate, however no person was keen to satisfy common supervisor Mark Shapiro’s excessive asking worth. Out of choices within the spring of 2006, he was traded to the Reds for a participant to be named later (righty reliever Jeff Stevens, a 2005 draftee) on April 7. The Reds already had Rich Aurilia, Ryan Freel, and Tony Womack vying for time at second base, however to GM Wayne Krivsky, the 25-year-old Phillips was too large a expertise to go up. “My scouting instincts kicked in just a little bit… we didn’t have this sort of athletic man,” Krivsky told MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon in 2020. “[Phillips] was extra defensive-oriented on the time, they usually weren’t certain how a lot he was going to hit. However he had Gold Glove potential at second base.”

In Cincinnati, Phillips acquired to play every single day. His .276/.324/.427 line equated to only an 88 OPS+, and with -8 DRS, he completed with simply 0.5 WAR, however his 17 homers and 25 steals in 27 makes an attempt hinted on the degree of pleasure he might present. In 2007, he broke out, not solely hitting .288/.331/.485 (105 OPS+) however changing into simply the second second baseman to succeed in 30 homers and 30 steals in the identical season (he had 32 of the latter) after Alfonso Soriano, who had achieved it thrice. He completed with 4.0 WAR, tops among the many group’s place gamers. That very same yr, his father opened the Phillips Baseball Heart in Pine Lake, Georgia.

Simply earlier than the 2008 season started, Phillips signed a four-year, $27 million extension. That yr, Dusty Baker took over because the supervisor, inheriting a 72-90 group. The Reds didn’t do significantly better in both 2008 (74-88) or ’09 (78-84), and Phillips backslid a bit from his breakout, with 21 homers, 23 steals, a 94 OPS+ and three.0 WAR within the former yr and 20 homers, 25 steals, a 103 OPS+ and a couple of.8 WAR within the latter. He did win his first Gold Glove in 2008, although his 13 DRS and 12.2 UZR each trailed Chase Utley (30 DRS, 18.3 UZR). His season ended on September 10 when within the eleventh inning of a sport in opposition to the Brewers, he fractured his proper index finger whereas making an attempt to bunt, simply earlier than driving in what would show to be the profitable run.

Bolstered by an MVP-winning season from Votto, a full season from 2009 deadline acquisition Rolen, and the emergence of starters Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake, the Reds jumped to 91-71 and received the NL Central. Phillips parlayed robust protection (10 DRS) and strong offense (18 HR 16 SB, 102 OPS+) into 3.9 WAR in addition to his first All-Star marketing campaign and his second Gold Glove, although once more his metrics have been a beat or two behind Utley’s. Within the Division Sequence in opposition to the Phillies, Phillips went 4-for-12, with three of his hits (a single, double and homer) coming off Roy Oswalt, however the Reds have been swept.

Although he totaled simply 18 homers and 14 steals, the 30-year-old Phillips had the very best offensive season of his profession in 2011, hitting .300/.353/.457 for a 118 OPS+. All however the slugging share would endure as profession highs, as would his 4.9 WAR. He made his second All-Star group and received his third Gold Glove, this time with metrics pretty much as good or higher than Utley’s. The Reds, nevertheless, sank to 79-83.

The Reds picked up Phillips’ $12 million possibility for 2012, then in April reworked it into the primary yr of a six-year, $72.5 million extension with a number of the cash deferred. With the rotation’s entrance 5 — Cueto, Mat Latos, Homer Bailey, Bronson Arroyo, and Leake — accounting for all however one of many group’s begins, the Reds rebounded to 97-75 with one other NL Central title in 2012. Phillips turned in a 4.0 WAR season regardless of slipping to .281/.321/.429 (99 OPS+) and lacking out on each the All-Star group and the Gold Glove. Within the Division Sequence opener in opposition to the Giants, he drove in three of the Reds’ 5 runs through a two-run homer off Matt Cain and a ninth-inning single off Santiago Casilla, and he collected two doubles and drove in a single run within the group’s 9-0 rout in Recreation 2. However whereas he collected hits in every of the following three video games whereas driving in three of the Reds’ eight runs, they dropped all three and have been eradicated.

Phillips received his ultimate Gold Glove and was elected to start out the All-Star Recreation for the one time in his profession in 2013. He hit .261/.310/.396 (94 OPS+) with 18 homers (his fourth straight season with precisely that many) and a career-high 103 RBI. In doing so, he turned the rare post-1960 expansion era player to complete with a sub-100 OPS+ whereas driving in 100 runs and was simply the fourth inside that timeframe to drive in 100 runs whereas slugging beneath .400; just one participant has achieved it since:

Often batting cleanup, Phillips’s complete was helped immensely by leadoff hitter Shin-Soo Choo strolling 112 instances and posting a .423 OPB, and third hitter Votto strolling a league-high 135 instances with a .435 OBP; to his credit score, Phillips did hit a career-best .338/.404/.469 (133 wRC+) with runners in scoring place. That Votto was so selective however was a lot much less prolific in driving in runs than Phillips opened the primary baseman up for criticism in some quarters, and never for the final time. As for Phillips, together with his protection descending to about common, he completed with 1.7 WAR, his lowest complete since his first season as a Crimson. Even so, he helped the Reds win 90 video games and declare a Wild Card berth, however he went 0-for-4 because the group misplaced the NL Wild Card Recreation to the Pirates.

Phillips spent three extra seasons in Cincinnati, with usually diminishing returns, hitting a mixed .285/.319/.396 (94 OPS+) whereas averaging 10 homers, 13 steals, -7 DRS, and 1.1 WAR. After avoiding the injured listing from 2009–13, he missed 39 days in ’14 attributable to surgical procedure to restore a torn ligament in his left thumb, suffered whereas diving for a ball. As his manufacturing waned, the contrasts between his method and that of Votto (who was on his technique to a 143-walk, 174 OPS+ season) resurfaced in a reactionary 2015 USA At this time piece by Bob Nightengale:

“I don’t do this MLB Community on-base share (stuff),” Phillips informed USA TODAY Sports activities. “I believe that’s messing up baseball. I believe folks now are simply apprehensive about getting paid and worrying about on-base share as a substitute of simply profitable the sport.

“That’s the brand new factor now. I really feel like all of those stats and all of those geeks upstairs, they’re messing up baseball, they’re simply altering the sport. It’s all about on-base share. When you don’t get on base, then you definitely suck. That’s mainly what they’re saying. Individuals don’t care about RBI or scoring runs, it’s all about getting on base.”

All that was lacking from Phillips’ prolonged rant was a GIF of Abe Simpson yelling at a cloud.

After the 2015 season — at 2.2 WAR and a 97 OPS+, the very best of these three — the Reds and Nationals agreed on a commerce that will reunite Phillips with Baker in Washington. Phillips used the leverage of his 10-and-5 rights to request an extension past the 2 years and $27 million remaining on his contract, however the Nationals wouldn’t chew, so he blocked the commerce. With Phillips coming off a a lot much less productive 2016 (94 OPS+, -15 DRS, 0.1 WAR) and the Reds pushing into rebuilding mode, the group tried to deal him to Atlanta — the place Phillips owned a house — in November of that yr. Once more he used his 10-and-5 rights to block a deal, however in February, he relented and accepted a commerce to the rebuilding Braves, who felt better urgency after free agent acquisition Sean Rodríguez was injured in a automotive crash. The Reds despatched $13 million of Phillips’ $14 million remaining wage to Atlanta whereas the Braves parted with pitching prospects Andrew McKirahan and Carlos Portuondo and (as a participant to be named later) infielder Kevin Franklin. The Braves facilitated the commerce by agreeing to honor Phillips’ 12-team restricted no-trade clause that had been outmoded by his 10-and-5 rights, and by including a $500,000 task bonus if he was traded once more.

Phillips hit a strong .291/.329/.423 (96 OPS) with 1.0 WAR for the Braves, who coincidentally had signed Colon as a free agent. Phillips reached a few key milestones whereas suiting up for Atlanta. On April 11 in opposition to the Marlins, he stole the 2 hundredth base of his profession, and on Might 22 in opposition to the Pirates, he hit his 2 hundredth profession homer, a solo shot off Gerrit Cole.

At first of August, Phillips moved to 3rd base, a place he’d by no means performed within the majors, when the group recalled 20-year-old prospect Ozzie Albies to play second. In a waiver deal on the finish of the month, Phillips was traded to the Angels in change for catcher Tony Sanchez. He hit for only a 74 OPS+ in September whereas the Angels, who had been only one sport out of a Wild Card spot when he was acquired, went simply 11-17 the remainder of the best way and missed the playoffs.

A free agent for the primary time after the 2017 season, the 36-year-old Phillips didn’t discover a deal to his liking in time for the season to start out, however on June 27, 2018, he signed with the Crimson Sox. He performed 44 video games for the group’s minor league associates and hit nicely, however didn’t get recalled till September 5. He homered off the Braves’ A.J. Minter in his first sport again, and whereas he went simply 3-for-23 in 9 video games, he did get a World Series ring for his hassle.

That was Phillips’ final main league stint, however he saved the candle burning. He performed 4 video games for the Vallejo Admirals of the unbiased Pacific Affiliation, managed by youthful brother P.J. Phillips, then signed with the Diablos Rojos del Mexico of the Mexican League, for whom he performed 36 video games. Throughout the 2020 season, he performed eight video games for the Baseball Brilliance of the Yinzer Baseball Confederacy, one of many pop-up unbiased leagues that proliferated when the COVID-19 pandemic worn out the minor league season, then joined the Lexington Legends for his or her Battle of the Bourbon Trail exhibition sequence. That winter, the 40-year-old Phillips turned a co-owner of the Legends as they joined the Atlantic League, and in 2021 he made historical past as “the primary ever Atlantic League participant to be on the roster for a group that he co-owns.” He performed 54 video games for the Legends in 2021 and one other 40 in ’22.

The press release touting Phillips’ participant/proprietor position additionally referred to him as a “future MLB Corridor of Famer,” however he received’t be going to Cooperstown in that capability; at this writing he has but to obtain a single vote from among the many 160 printed within the Poll Tracker. He has left his mark on the sport, nevertheless, as one in all 9 gamers to document 2,000 hits, 200 homers, and 200 steals:

Six of these gamers are within the Corridor of Fame, and a seventh, Rollins, is on the poll. Even because the low man of the bunch when it comes to OPS+ and WAR, Phillips is in spectacular firm, testifying to the talents and aptitude that he delivered to the sport.