I refuse to believe Phillips is holding up the deal just because he moved his family to Cincinnati or can’t bear the thought of jumping this sinking ship.
But the trade does appear to be on life support, according to multiple reports, and the issue of Phillips' compensation is being cited as the main reason.
Sure, Phillips wants something — like a contract extension from the Nats — for giving up the trade-refusal power he's earned by spending at least 10 years in the major leagues and the most recent five with the same team.
At this point, though, the veteran second baseman should be doing whatever it takes to get himself to D.C., where he could play for former Reds manager Dusty Baker and have a legitimate shot at the postseason.
The Reds are going to lose 90 games again next season. Their recent moves practically assure it. Hard to see Phillips being happy in the middle of that. And we've seen an unhappy Phillips over the years, and it's not pretty. Just ask that Cincinnati Enquirer reporter he berated in 2013.
Maybe the Reds have gotten cold feet. Maybe, after being ridiculed nationally for seemingly getting so little in last week’s Todd Frazier deal, they are asking for prospects the Nationals don’t wish to part with.
That would make a lot more sense.
Luke Kennard can still put up big numbers
Duke freshman Luke Kennard, the former Franklin High School standout, came off the bench for a game- and season-high 24 points in No. 7 Duke’s 77-75 overtime loss to Utah at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
It was a breakout game for Kennard, the two-time winner of the Ohio Mr. Basketball award, who had been averaging a little over 10 points and not quite making the desired impact.
Even legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski had been mildly critical.
"Luke's got to play better," Krzyzewski told The Fayetteville Observer on Tuesday after Kennard missed his first six shots and finished with 11 points in a win over Georgia Southern.
Kennard, who averaged 38 points as a high school senior, had been “lights out” in practice, according to the coach, but it hadn’t been translating to games.
“He potentially can put up big numbers,” Krzyzewski said.
As if on cue, that’s exactly what Kennard did against Utah.
He shot 5-for-9 from the field with two 3-pointers, made 12 of 13 free throws, contributed eight rebounds and scored a four-point play late in overtime to cut the Blue Devils’ deficit to two.
All he didn’t do was win.
Trotwood boxer Pearson suffers first pro loss
Can’t win ‘em all.
Trotwood super-welterweight contender Chris Pearson discovered that Friday night at the Palms Resort and Casino in Las Vegas when he was upset by former prison inmate Eric Walker, who won a unanimous eight-round decision.
It was the first professional loss for Pearson, now 13-1.
His father, Milt Pearson, told Dayton Daily News columnist Tom Archdeacon he expects Chris to fight again in March, although in a post-fight interview Chris said he would prefer a rematch with Walker take place "tomorrow."
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