Byline: ANDY CALL
Bob Wickman wasn't about to let this potentially historic baseball moment pass unnoticed.
The veteran Cleveland Indians relief pitcher was seated at a table in the home clubhouse at Chain of Lakes Park when rookie second baseman Brandon Phillips went skipping by. Phillips was about to play his first-ever spring-training game with the Indians. He almost made it, too.
Then Wickman spied him. ``Hey!,'' Wickman bellowed. Phillips turned around slowly, wondering what trespass of rookie etiquette he had committed this time. ``Hey, good luck, Franchise,'' Wickman said with a grin.
Phillips smiled back, tucked his glove under his arm and completed his exit.
The 21-year-old infielder from Georgia might not yet be The Franchise.
But make no mistake about it; Brandon Phillips is special. Nearly everyone who has seen Phillips progress through the minor leagues projects big-league stardom at some point in his future. He has been compared to All-Star shortstops Barry Larkin and Derek Jeter at 21.
``I don't want to be just a good player,'' Phillips said. ``I want to be a star. I want to be like A-Rod (Texas Rangers All-Star Alex Rodriguez). I want people to come see the Cleveland Indians play and to see me play.''
People have been coming to see Phillips play in minor-league stadiums since Montreal picked him in the second round of the 1999 draft. He almost immediately was labeled a can't-miss prospect and was the cornerstone of the trade last June 27 that sent pitcher Bartolo Colon to the Expos and brought to Cleveland Phillips, left-hander Cliff Lee and outfielder Grady Sizemore.
``I'm glad people think highly of me,'' Phillips said. ``I don't blame them.''
What does Phillips do well? Just about everything. He has the quick feet and accurate arm of the best defensive players. He can hit for both average and power. He doesn't steal a lot of bases but can motor from first base to third on a single, and have time to clean his fingernails before the throw arrives from the outfield.
The label Phillips carries is ``athlete.'' Some players shy away from that tag, fearing it means they have no particular baseball skill that stands out. Phillips does not agree.
``I don't look at that as a bad label,'' Phillips said. ``I am an athlete. I played all the sports. I think it means I can do what I have to do, wherever they put me, and play the game right.''
The University of Georgia thought enough of Phillips' athletic ability to sign him to an NCAA letter-of-intent for both basketball and baseball prior to his being drafted.
That athletic ability also allowed the Indians to put Phillips at second base during the Arizona Fall League, the winter instructional program and during spring training. He won the starting job in Florida this spring.
``It's surprised me how well he has adjusted to second base,'' shortstop Omar Vizquel said. ``It will be a learning process for him. He moves around pretty well. He's going to be good.''
Phillips said he benefited from having Vizquel as a double-play partner during the spring.
``If I do play shortstop down the road, then I can say I played with a future Hall of Famer,'' Phillips said.
Making the transition to a big-league clubhouse also might be difficult for some, especially to those with naturally outgoing personalities. Rookies with as much talent as Phillips have to walk a fine line between confidence and cockiness.
``Mostly, I'm keeping to myself,'' Phillips said. ``I'm here to prove I'm ready, to have fun and to play my game. I'm not here to disrespect anybody. I understand I'm a rookie. I know my space. As every day goes by, I feel like I fit in more. But I'm not just here to talk. I'm here to produce.''
Phillips plays with a joy and enthusiasm that minor-league fans loved. As Indians fans get to know him, they could embrace his style. He might become a fan favorite and fill the void left by the departure of most of the players who fueled Cleveland's six division titles from 1995-2001.
``If I wasn't enjoying myself out there,'' Phillips said, ``I wouldn't be Brandon Phillips.''
(Andy Call is the Indians beat writer for The Repository in Canton.)
CAPTION(S):
Rookie Brandon Phillips is eager to prove he's ready for the big leagues.
