It was worse that just saying he hated them. Phillips went on a rant the day before about how the Cards are nothing but a bunch of "whining complainers", referencing an incident that happened last year when pitching coach Dave Duncan accused Reds starter Arroyo of using pine tar on the ball and several complaints the Cards had made that balls used in in the Reds home park were not being sufficiently rubbed up prior to games (them's fighting words- I guess). After declaring his hatred for every every member of the team, Phillips concluded by stating that they were nothing but "a bunch of little b*tches"!

All of which was dutifully reported in the local papers the next morning.

I'm sure we all go on a little rant from time-to-time. Most of us don't do it with a flock of reporters jamming microphones in our face!

What an idiot. Flap jaws to the press about the other team and then go to the plate the next day and tap the catcher's shin guards with your bat. Molina might have saved him from getting plunked but I am pretty sure that was not on his mind.

I will disagree here.. that was all Phillips here.. he can't say all that stuff about the Cards, then come out and try to be friends and tap the catchers shin guards like : what's up".. no way.. good job to Molina for standing up and saying something.

It's traditional for the lead-off batter to do that to both F2 and PU. (okay -- it's a dying tradition. I don't know if what's-his-name usually followed that or not, or if he hit Molina harder than usual, or ...)

You told me it was OK after I bought ya that beer.....;)