After having a few more hours to think about incendiary comments made about the Cardinals by Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa expanded his rebuttal to include a new figure: Reds GM Walt Jocketty.
Monday, Phillips accuse the Cardinals of "bitching and moaning" and called the Cardinals "little bitches, every one of them." Phillips said repeatedly that he "hated" the Cardinals.
In response, La Russa pointed out that Phillips would be in trouble in his own clubhouse because he'd insulted four former Cardinals, Scott Rolen, Jim Edmonds, Russ Springer and Miguel Cairo.
Tuesday afternoon, La Russa added Jocketty to the list.
"Fifteen years ago when I came to St. Louis, the way we compete, besides the Cardinal Way, was to a certain point emphasized by our general manager," La Russa said. "So we tried very hard to follow those (standards) because we thought they were really oustanding and professional. So if (Phillips) is critical, then he's criticizing his present general manager. And some of his current teammates. So we'll see how they handle it...he'll have his problems with his boss and his teammates."
Later, La Russa added, "Walt had a lot to do with what we were wanting to represent, on and off the field. Walt was very outspoken about it. All four of those guys (Rolen, Edmonds, Springer, Cairo) over there were huge. The boss is huger."
And finally, "If he criticizes the way we compete, he's indicting his (Reds) teammates and his present general manager."
Tuesday, Phillips didn't back off his hate-speech comments on the Cardinals, telling reporters:
"People (other than the Cardinals and their fans) respect me for what I said. Those were my comments, and a lot of people feel that way all throughout the league -- many people feel that way.”
Phillips said it was up to the Reds to "show 'em that we're here," meaning the Cardinals.
"We've got to tell them and show them and beat them," Phillips said. "The comments I said yesterday? Those were my comments ... It's time for us to show ‘em we're here to stay, and here to win our division."
Phillips added, "I know we're a better team than them all-around. We've just got to go out there and show them and the city and everybody all over baseball that we’re better than them -- that's what my comments were really all about."
Earlier in the day Jocketty described Phillips' words and actions as "not a smart thing to do." And Jocketty said the Reds would talk to Phillips.
Which they did. But it's not as if Reds manager Dusty Baker instructed Phillips to shut up.
If anything, it sounds as if Phillips received a free pass from the Reds.
"You'd prefer they didn't" pop off, Baker said. "But you can't put muzzles on guys. Everybody refers to freedom of speech, then you say what you say and you get in trouble for it. I talked to him about it. I put a little pressure on him to play better personally. The Cardinals have given him a pretty rough time personally."
Baker added, "A man got to answer for himself. Brandon knew what he was saying. That don't make it right. That was his opinion."
In 50 at-bats against St. Louis this season, Phillips is batting .260 with a .320 slugging percentage.
Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo didn't have an issue with Phillips' flaming.
"Brandon is being Brandon," Arroyo told the Reds' media. "He's a mini-version of T.O. and Ochocinco. He stirs the pot. It's just what he does. Brandon thrives on that. You guys in the media thrive on that."
Apparently the Cardinals thrive on it, too.
Final score Monday: 7-3 St. Louis.
Final score Tuesday: 8-4 St. Louis.
Phillips made the final out in both games.
-Bernie
