Phillips re-called to Yankees
Published 12:00 am Friday, July 22, 2005
Making yet another tug at the yo-yo that has become Andy Phillips’s topsy-turvy 2005 season, the New York Yankees called up Demopolis Academy product Phillips to their infield bench Tuesday.
The call-up is Phillips’s fourth of the season after starting the season with–and returning three times to–the triple-A Columbus Clippers. His last stint with the Yankees lasted all of one game before the Yankees decided they would rather use the roster spot on an outfielder and returned Phillips to the minor leagues.
But Phillips has predictably already surpassed that call-up in duration, having been available on the bench for both the Yankees July 19 and 20 games against the Texas Rangers. He did not make an appearance in either game, however.
This time around, Phillips has been called-up to replace injured veteran designated hitter/ outfielder Ruben Sierra, who has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a hamstring injury. Phillips’s chances of remaining the team after Sierra returns–or whether Sierra’s injury could keep him out further–are yet to be determined. The injury occurred Monday as Sierra rounded first.
“It’s a little sore but it’s much better than yesterday,” Sierra told reporters Tuesday. “I think I’ll be OK before two weeks is up.”
While Phillips has batted under .200 in his limited action for the Yankees, he has had plenty of success each of the last two seasons for the Clippers. In 2005 Phillips has hit .313 with 18 home runs and 46 RBIs, good for a .617 slugging percentage, a higher number than his previous season when he was named to the triple-A All-Star team.