REDS BLOG

No doughnut run for Reds' Brandon Phillips during delay

C. Trent Rosecrans
crosecrans@enquirer.com
Brandon Phillips celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the first inning of Sunday's game against the Mets.

A series of tweets from Brandon Phillips' verified Twitter account promoting the new Krispy Kreme in Anderson Township just minutes before the start of Tuesday's rain-delayed game against the Twins gave the impression that the Reds' second baseman had left Great American Ball Park early to go get doughnuts.

He did not.

Phillips, who was out of the lineup for the second straight day due to injuries to both hands, was in the team's dugout when the game started at 9:11 p.m. following a rain delay of two hours and one minute.

"It was brought to my attention; I didn't anticipate he left. If that were the case, that would have created a real issue," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "I didn't anticipate I'd sit down with Brandon and he'd tell me, 'I went out and had doughnuts.' But, it was out there and I had to follow up on it. I know he's not telling me an untruth. He was here. … I'm sure it looks suspicious, but he was absolutely on site and didn't leave during that rain delay."

Price said Phillips told him the tweets were handled by a third party and he did not personally send them at the time they were published, which would be a violation of Major League Baseball policy.

According to the policy, posted in the clubhouse and elsewhere, "Uniformed personnel, clubhouse staff and equipment staff are prohibited from using cellular phones, including any type of portable or mobile phone, laptop, texting device or similar portable equipment while on the bench, in the bullpens or on the playing field once batting practice has begun; and are prohibited from using such devices in the clubhouse within 30 minutes of the start of the game."

Last month, Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval was suspended by his team for a game after "liking" photos on Instagram during a game, in violation of league rules.

The Reds' game on Tuesday was originally scheduled for 7:10 p.m., but delayed by the threat of rain. Phillips sent a tweet out at 8:21 p.m. complaining about the rain delay, then at 8:33 p.m., just moments before the team announced play would begin at 9:10 p.m., Phillips' account sent a tweet that indicated he had left the ballpark.

That was followed by a picture of cars in traffic at 8:54 p.m.

Phillips was not out on the field with the team for the national anthem.

He then made one more tweet at 9:04 p.m., with a link to an Instagram video of doughnuts being made.

Phillips was on the bench, with the team, when the game began.

Before the game, the Reds' second baseman took infield practice and batting practice. He hurt his left hand swinging the bat in Sunday's loss to the Mets and then hurt his right hand when he tried to block an errant throw later in the same game. Price has said Phillips is day-to-day.