Best Cincinnati Reds Ever: Brandon Phillips v. Aroldis Chapman

Second Round Matchup | No. 3 Brandon Phillips v. No. 11 Aroldis Chapman

The next second round matchup in our “Best Red Ever” tournament features a wizard with the leather and baseball’s most intimidating fastball.

Phillips:

Brandon Phillips’ first round win (91 percent) over Pokey Reese in our Best Cincinnati Reds Ever tournament — along with a detailed write-up — can be found here.

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"He has filled the top-of-the-order role, he has hit cleanup as the primary run producer, and he brings the best defense at second base day-in and day-out. Phillips has hit .300, produced a 30-30 season, drove in 100 runs, won Gold Gloves and Silver Slugger Awards. He has been an All-Star and garnered MVP votes, and if not for Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, he’d be the best second baseman in Reds history. Still, he’s at least in the conversation."

Highlights

— ranks 12th in career home runs (186) with the Reds

— ranks ninth in career doubles (290) with the Reds

— ranks 10th in career hits (1,671) with the Reds

— ranks 10th in career runs scored (832) for the Reds

— ranks 10th in career RBIs (814) for the Reds

— four-time Gold Glove award winner

Chapman:

Aroldis Chapman’s upset win in the first round (61 percent) over Reggie Sanders — along with a detailed write-up — can be found here.

"In his six years — the last four as the Reds’ closer — Chapman has a 2.17 ERA, 146 saves, 1.016 WHIP, and 546 strikeouts in just 319 innings. He has consistently been in the conversation for best closer in baseball over the last four years and has dominated the game as much as any closer before him.Chapman did appear to be going the route of the rotation before the 2012 season before a plethora of injuries to the Reds’ bullpen prompted Dusty Baker to slide him into the back end of the pen. From that point forward — due to his dominance and repeated 100+ mph fastballs, his role in the bullpen was accepted as the norm. It’s a shame we’ll probably never get to see what Chapman could have been as a starter — with the Reds or elsewhere — but, even in just six years, he may be the best closer the Reds have ever had."

Highlights

— ranks fourth in career saves (146) for the Reds

— lowest career ERA (2.17) of any Reds pitcher to record at least 50 saves

— lowest career batting average against (.154) of every Reds pitcher to record a save [with at least 3 career innings pitched with the Reds]

— ranks 14th in career appearances (324) with the Reds

— four-time All-Star selection

Next: Find the tournament breakdown here!

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