Future status of Brandon Phillips?

[Lenny Dykstra]

With Griffey coming back do you think Phillips will split time with Freel at 2nd base or is it Phillips job to lose?

[Krunk City King$]

i picked up brandon to plug in for a struggling mark loretta. i got him for his runs and SB potential. but when i was reading up on him, i noticed that the reds loved him even more because of his solid defense.

i think that they said that freel would still be used to give players days off. i hope that phillips keeps the job....or i might have to go and get mark ellis back....cuz i missed out on cuddyer.

[Lenny Dykstra]

WHAT?OKAY.....YEEAHHH.

[AKhomebrewer]

The most important factor in Phillips securing the job full-time over Freel (other than Phillips avoiding a slide back into obscurity) is Lopez having successfully taken over the leadoff spot for the Reds.

That eliminates a guaranteed daily gig for Freel, who has been batting sub-Mendoza against righties anyway. This may relegate Freel to the occasional start v. southpaws while providing rest days to guys at various other positions.

In combination with Womack's departure and Aurilia's DL stint, this bodes quite well for Phillips in the short term — and possibly beyond.