Let's try not to piss off the sleeping lions, Brandon Phillips

How many times have you been to the zoo, and you've seen some stupid kid or redneck pounding on the glass trying to get an animal's attention. Just last week, I was at the Jacksonville Zoo, and this 50-something year old bumpkin was thumping the glass, trying to get the attention of the Florida Panther that was on display.

Here's a better way to get a big cat's attention - throw the lady in the pen with him.


I'm not sure why Brandon Phillips thought it would be a good idea to piss in the face of a sleeping pit bull, but that's exactly what he did on Friday night, when speaking about his hatred towards the St. Louis Cardinals.

"I'd play against these guys with one leg. We have to beat these guys. I hate the Cardinals. All they do is bitch and moan about everything, all of them, they're little bitches, all of 'em. I really hate the Cardinals. Compared to the Cardinals, I love the Chicago Cubs. Let me make this clear: I hate the Cardinals."

Brandon, you may be a great athlete, and you may have been fired up to take down the Cardinals, but you don't get to talk smack unless you're top dog, and the Reds aren't there yet.

How appropriate that the Reds would go on to get swept at home by the Cardinals. To top it all off, Phillips went 2-for-14 in the series, with just 2 singles, an RBI, and a run scored. Paltry numbers for a guy who thought it was a good idea to run his mouth before a defining series. Now, the Reds find themselves on the outside looking in, once again.

Look, I love the Reds. Sure, they won the World Series in 1990, but I was barely 8 years old, and they have only made the playoffs once since then. I've sat through losing season after losing season since I became a fan in the late 80s. However, what Brandon Phillips did with his mouth was the worst thing he could have done for this team. The Reds are in the midst of a miraculous season. They continue to sneak up on a lot of teams, especially when they quietly go about their business. However, the one thing that Cincinnati has yet to prove is how to own the Cardinals, who now lead the season series 10 games to 5.

The Reds will get one last shot to prove that they can beat the Cardinals, on Labor Weekend in St. Louis. Both teams have relatively weak schedules between now and then, so I expect both teams to be within two games of each other once that series comes calling.

Brandon, take Teddy Rooselvelt's advice: "Speak softly and carry a big stick."