Andy Phillips is The Yankees First Baseman, and That's a good thing.
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by user Ssj3alucard
Andy Phillips is this Yankee team’s version of Rocky Balboa. His whole life is a million-to-one shot.
This past off-season, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman made first base a priority. Jason Giambi’s ailing back and poor defense had reduced him to a designated hitter and the goal was platoon two guys, one from the right, and one from the left, at the position.
More than anything, Cashman knew he needed an improvement defensively over Giambi. So, Cashman brought in Doug Mientkiewicz to sure up the defense and bat from the left side. The right side would be an open competition in spring training between returning part timer Andy Phillips and Rule 5 draft pick Josh Phelps.
Well, at least it was supposed to be.
[1] Phillips had a family emergency to tend to as his mother was involved in a brutal car crash. The accident came just one year after his wife was diagnosed with cancer, and had frequently been away from the team in order to be with her.
In the end, he would miss most of spring training and wind up hitting only .192. Meanwhile, Phelps shined in Florida and manager Joe Torre has no choice but to go with him. Phillips was designated for assignment and every other team in the league had an opportunity to pick him up. No one did.
“There are times you question whether you're ever going to get back here," Phillips said to reporters. "There's a mix of emotions. First, you hope some team picks you up [off waivers]. Then, once I realized I was going to Scranton, I knew I had to work hard.”
Here we are just a few months later and first base has again become a bit of a problem for the Bronx Bombers. Mientkiewicz broke his wrist in a brutal collision with Red Sox third basemen Mike Lowell and will be out until at least mid-August. Phelps struggled at the plate as well as in the field and was designated for assignment and subsequently picked up by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
How did the Yankees fill the void?
They brought back Phillips. After spending his time tearing up Triple-A with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, batting .301 with 11 home runs and 36 RBI, the first basemen is back in the majors and earning praise from his manager once again.
“He went through waivers and every other team passed on him,” said Torre. “Then he goes down there with that resolve that he’s gonna get ready to play in the big leagues, and here he is. I don’t think that there is any greater compliment that he can pay somebody. He’s a very aggressive player. Here he is in a situation where he has had a couple injuries and it’s given him an opportunity that I guarantee he never thought he was going to see at this junction.”
The next challenge for Phillips will be remaining a factor in the Yankee lineup once Mientkiewicz returns from the disabled list, or the Yankees acquire a big name first baseman in a trade. He is 12-for-38 since being called up and his defense has been an improvement over the makeshift unit of first basemen that included banged-up centerfielder Johnny Damon.
However, compared to the battles he’s fought in his life, Phillips’ newest mountain to climb seems like a molehill.
![[1]](http://bp3.blogger.com/_J18d04xB4P0/RpOs5qgA09I/AAAAAAAAABk/64s0rV6yBfs/s1600-h/phillips_84990.jpg){kind=link}