Changing Face

JB Lyric of the Day: "I like mine with...'' No, wait.
"She came down fr...'' Please, anything but that.
"Some people claim..'' Not that, either.
"If I don't die by Thurs..'' Getting closer.
"I spent four lonely days...'' Almost there.

"He died about a month ago/When winter filled the air/ And though I cried, I was so proud/ To love a man so rare/He's somewhere on the ocean now/In a place he oughta be/ One hand on the starboard rail/He's wavin' back at me.''

There. Perfect. Name the tune, win a B. Castellini-signed head of lettuce.
Name 'em all, win a condo at The Banks. Enter soon. Supplies are limited.

Brandon Phillips has a chance to be the most popular Red since... who? If you had to pick a player to build a marketing campaign around, it might be someone who signs every day, poses for photos, smiles brightly and often, does whatever the club asks in the community, says he wants to be a Red for life, intends to establish a charity locally and, oh yeah, hits 30 homeruns, steals 30 bases and should have at least 1 Gold Glove.

He's another guy in what appears to be a growing list of Redlegs who appreciate what they have and who don't wear the star suit. I've spent the last 4 nights talking to half the team on the radio. I know it's February, pressure is low and no media nerd has written/said a bad thing about them yet. But not one guy was anything but gracious. Not one big-timed me, or acted like it was a pain to be there. Very impressive.

Phillips maybe most of all. On the radio, he was candid and funny. Off, he was a one man chamber of commerce. What he needs is for the Reds to start winning. Then the national notice will come. Winning is probably a year away, at least, but you can feel the mood and face of the club changing for the better. B. Phillips is at the head of the new line.