BBTF.org/m/high_school : Brandon Phillips takes himself out to 14-year-old’s ballgame

Monday, May 06, 2013

Parkhouse: Do advanced stats have a place in high school baseball?

(heraldargus.com)

posted 2 weeks ago by Repoz to high school, sabermetrics | 25 comment(s)

Well…it is K8 and not K/9.

I began thinking of this often this week as I was watching local high school teams play the game. Specifically, Michigan City and La Porte.

I became frustrated watching these players, particularly at the plate. In my opinion, too much first-pitch swinging is going on, which flies directly in the face of stats like on-base percentage, who many people - myself included - feel is a greater indicator of batting success than the more popular batting average.

If the ...

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1. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

posted on May 20, 2011 at 05:04 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Brandon Phillips is pretty cool. Sorry Cards fans!

2. The George Sherrill Selection posted on May 20, 2011 at 05:13 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

This is pretty cool. I know nothing else about Phillips but this was a great thing to do.

3. robinred

posted on May 20, 2011 at 05:18 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I thought about posting this. Although I am a Reds' fan, I can see why people don't like Phillips' on-field behavior. But this is a very nice story.

"He had a single and he had two doubles," Phillips said. "He had three runs and three RBIs. He's going to be the next Evan Longoria."

___

4. Yeaarrgghhhh posted on May 20, 2011 at 05:23 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Way to put a ton of pressure on the kid. Jeez...

5. Steve Phillips' Hot Cougar (DrStankus) posted on May 20, 2011 at 05:57 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I like pro baseball players that seem to actually like baseball.

6. Harveys Wallbangers

posted on May 20, 2011 at 06:19 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Brandon Phillips is one of those guys whose numbers indicate a value of substance but his actual value to the Reds is greater than any metric.

He plays with energy at all times. He plays with passion at all times. Phillips will move around the lineup per the needs of the team, won't insist in batting one place versus another and meanwhile the other parts of his game don't miss a beat.

If you don't like Brandon Phillips the ballplayer you do not like baseball. Period.

7. Matt Clement of Alexandria posted on May 20, 2011 at 06:21 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I like pro baseball players that seem to actually like baseball.

Word.

If you don't like Brandon Phillips the ballplayer you do not like baseball. Period.

Indeed.

8. salvomania posted on May 20, 2011 at 06:26 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm a Cardinals fan and I like Brandon Phillips. And I agree with him that the Cardinals and their fans are whiny little b!tches.

9. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit posted on May 20, 2011 at 06:28 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm neither a Cardinal or Red fan but I've always thought Phillips was a punk. This is a really cool story that has me rethinking that attitude.

10. Harveys Wallbangers

posted on May 20, 2011 at 06:32 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Jose:

Brandon is infuriating if you are a fan of the opposition. But he is not a punk.

He's a royal pain in the *ss who finds different ways to help his team beat your team.

11. JuanGone..except1game posted on May 20, 2011 at 06:33 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm a Cardinals fan and I like Brandon Phillips. And I agree with him that the Cardinals and their fans are whiny little b!tches.

Don't forgot to add Eric Wedge to that group of whiney b!tches. I haven't witnessed a baseless grudge on player as bad as Wedge's on Phillips since. Running Phillips out of town because he "didn't carry himself the right way" still angers me to this day.

12. Tim McCarver's Orange Marmalade posted on May 20, 2011 at 06:41 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

CHASS: BRANDON PHILLIPS LIKES TO WATCH YOUNG BOYS

13. Perry posted on May 20, 2011 at 06:43 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm also a Cardinals fan who's always liked Brandon Phillips both on the field and what little I know of him off. I think 99% of the mouthing off he's done about the Cards and St. Louis is tongue-in-cheek and all in good fun.

14. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

posted on May 20, 2011 at 06:50 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

CHASS: BRANDON PHILLIPS LIKES TO WATCH YOUNG BOYS

Ha!

15. Fat Guy in a Little Coat posted on May 20, 2011 at 07:03 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm a Cardinals fan and agree with Perry and salvo.

I started following Brandon on Twitter. He is the only individual I follow (the rest are work-related) and he definitely spices up the page. He also gives away ticket, subsidizes shirts, apparel with personal coupon codes, etc. Seems like a good guy.

His username is "DatDudeBP" if anyone cares.

16. Harveys Wallbangers

posted on May 20, 2011 at 07:10 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

By the way, BBTF needs to have more threads like this one that discuss a particular player versus the assortment of cr*p so common of late.

This is a baseball site for cr*ssakes.

17. phredbird

posted on May 20, 2011 at 07:13 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

i hate to say it, but i've grown to have a grudging admiration for his play, especially after watching him in the first stl - cin series this year.

18. SoSH U at work posted on May 20, 2011 at 07:27 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

By the way, BBTF needs to have more threads like this one that discuss a particular player versus the assortment of cr*p so common of late.

It's too bad he wasn't a wrassler, then there'd be lots of posts.

I always liked Brandon. Now I like him more.

19. Darren

posted on May 20, 2011 at 07:32 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

That's pretty nice. I love that he kept track of the kid's game. I wonder if he was scoring it. I also wonder if people recognized him (it's not like he's Jeter) or if he had to go around saying, "Yes, I'm looking for a teenage boy who I talked to on the Internet."

You'd think more players would realize how awesome doing this sort of thing makes them look.

20. Daunte Vicknabbit! posted on May 20, 2011 at 07:35 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I've liked Brandon ever since MVP baseball 2004, where I would frequently use him as a cheap middle infield option off the bench. My best friend at the time was a huge Mets fan, and I still love to needle him about how he thought Omar could be a good GM after he traded away our beloved video game superstar. Phillips is the kind of player who is overrated by the general public and probably underrated by our spreadsheets and the cold statistics. This story is awesome and I wonder why we don't read more of these.

I heard a good one the other day on the radio in Miami about Chris Coghlan being a huge Ripken fan and trying to get Cals autograph as a kid.

21. chemdoc posted on May 20, 2011 at 07:53 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

CHASS: BRANDON PHILLIPS LIKES TO WATCH YOUNG BOYS

The law is very strick about this kind of stuff...

22. rfloh posted on May 20, 2011 at 08:00 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

19. Darren Posted: May 20, 2011 at 03:32 PM (#3833698)

That's pretty nice. I love that he kept track of the kid's game. I wonder if he was scoring it. I also wonder if people recognized him (it's not like he's Jeter) or if he had to go around saying, "Yes, I'm looking for a teenage boy who I talked to on the Internet."

The article has more details. It is worth reading.

The comments on it are actually worth reading too.

23. Darren

posted on May 20, 2011 at 08:10 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Phillips has been a fan favorite since he was traded to the Reds in 2006 by the Cleveland Indians - not only because of his flashy performance on the field, but because of his willingness to interact with fans at Great American Ball Park.

Does Phillips interact with fans a lot? I think that's great. Remember when the entire state of NY lost its mind because one of the Mets young players (was it Reyes?) high-fived some fans on the way back to the dugout? What is wrong with people that they don't want to see players enjoying themselves and making the game fun for those watching?

24. RJ in TO posted on May 20, 2011 at 08:12 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Remember when the entire state of NY lost its mind because one of the Mets young players (was it Reyes?) high-fived some fans on the way back to the dugout?

That was Lastings Millidge.

25. SoSH U at work posted on May 20, 2011 at 08:16 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Remember when the entire state of NY lost its mind because one of the Mets young players (was it Reyes?) high-fived some fans on the way back to the dugout?

What do you expect? New York's far more buttoned-down and conservative than a place like Cincinnati.

Actually, I think it was mostly Milledge's teammates and the NY media that had a problem with Lasting's effervescence.

26. Darren

posted on May 20, 2011 at 08:26 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Actually, I think it was mostly Milledge's teammates and the NY media that had a problem with Lasting's effervescence.

Listening to FAN, there was definitely a large part of the fanbase who saw it as a grave sin.

27. asdf1234 posted on May 20, 2011 at 09:20 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Nice gesture.

Still a punk.

28. Steve Parris, Je t'aime posted on May 20, 2011 at 09:58 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Does Phillips interact with fans a lot?

Yes. Easily the most fan-friendly player on the Reds. He's a fascinating figure. He can obviously stir the pot as well as anybody, and that's not limited to the Cardinals (Jim Edmonds and iirc Josh Hamilton made statements publicly about not liking BP). And he has a love/hate relationship with the Cincy writers. But that just adds to his entertainment value.

29. UCCF posted on May 20, 2011 at 10:08 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I seem to remember stories about Willie Mays coming out of his apartment to play stickball with the local kids in NYC. And this was after he was already established in the majors.

Stuff like this is cool.

30. Rickey Fredonia Fudge Duckery Precious Twiddle posted on May 20, 2011 at 10:28 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm a Cardinals fan and I like Brandon Phillips. And I agree with him that the Cardinals and their fans are whiny little b!tches.

Yay Brandon Phillips! Boo Cardinals!!

31. Walt Davis posted on May 21, 2011 at 01:38 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Kind to kids, hates the Cardinals -- I like the cut of this young man's jib!

32. bads85 posted on May 21, 2011 at 04:16 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Don't forgot to add Eric Wedge to that group of whiney b!tches. I haven't witnessed a baseless grudge on player as bad as Wedge's on Phillips since. Running Phillips out of town because he "didn't carry himself the right way" still angers me to this day.

The Indians giving up on Phillips was a huge mistake. However, it just wasn't Wedge, although Wedge had a huge boner for Phillips. Phillips pissed off a lot of people, including Murray and Burks. Phillips was a brash young dude way back then (although nothing like Bradley). Shapiro was slipping into character worsip then also.

33. GGC don't think it can get longer than a novella posted on May 21, 2011 at 11:33 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Listening to FAN, there was definitely a large part of the fanbase who saw it as a grave sin.

It's unusual in baseball to high five fans, but it seems pretty common in football; esp at Lambeau Field.

34. Obi One Kenobi Nil

posted on May 21, 2011 at 12:27 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

CHASS: BRANDON PHILLIPS LIKES TO WATCH YOUNG BOYS

Cool, Philips is a Bern fan!

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Monday, May 06, 2013

Parkhouse: Do advanced stats have a place in high school baseball?

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High School Think Factory