Lou hates Steve Phillips too

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->ESPN baseball analyst Steve Phillips might want to steer clear of Lou Piniella when the Cubs play Milwaukee on an April 12 ESPN telecast.

Piniella was fuming over a remark Phillips made recently on Chet Coppock's WMVP-AM 1000 radio show. Asked about Kosuke Fukudome's rookie season, Phillips criticized Piniella's handling of the Japanese outfielder.

"My view is Lou doesn't have a great deal of patience for assimilation into culture, assimilation into the team," Phillips said. "He is just not the most patient guy around, and he tends to verbalize his frustrations in an angry way. I think that may have affected Fukudome a little bit."

Piniella played Fukudome in 150 games and gave him 501 at-bats, sticking with the right fielder despite his struggles before sitting him for a brief stretch in September. Fukudome then started the first two playoff games before Piniella sat him in Game 3.

"I don't have much respect for Steve Phillips," Piniella said after hearing the comment Monday. "Let him be around a little more and see what transpires before he makes assumptions. I've lost total respect for this guy. If he had something to say, let him say it to me."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Scarey]

NICE!

[jeffy]

Lou was more than patient with Fuk. There were times last season when I would've been happy to see him sent down to the minors, but Lou kept giving him chances. Philips is just flapping his gums like usual.

[liner]

i was listening to the show, actually, and i couldn't believe he was saying that shit on chicago radio

[rok]

If Phillips ever stopped constantly saying dumb things, I doubt he'd be able to get a real job in the media ever.

[Destined]

He's Hawk without the bias and the angst. Just pure stupidity, followed by too many flashbacks to a failed baseball career.