By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker has blamed former St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa for the All-Star Game snubs on his second baseman Brandon Phillips and pitcher Johnny Cueto.

"A snub like that looks bad. Johnny and Brandon were at the center of a skirmish between us and the Cardinals," Baker told the Cincinnati Enquirer, referring to the infamous 2010 brawl between the Reds and Cardinals.

"Some of the Cardinals who aren't there anymore are making some of the selections," added Baker.

Cueto was banished for seven games for his role in the bench-clearing brawl while Phillips and Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina was fined.

La Russa, who retired last year after winning the World Series, has been selected to lead the National League in Kansas City later this month. He picked Molina as a back-up catcher in the All-Star Game.

An All-Star the last two seasons for the Reds, Phillips was snubbed by La Russa for Jose Altuve as back-up second baseman. He is hitting .285 with 10 homers and 46 RBIs for Central-leading Reds while Cueto is 9-4 with a 2.26 ERA.

Phillips refused to comment about the snub but his sister Portia, a former third-round pick of the San Antonio Silver Stars in the WNBA Draft, sounded off on Twitter.

"I see that I have great numbers," Cueto said. "I thought the way I pitched this year, I'd have a chance to go to the All-Star Game. I don't know what happened. I don't know if the manager of All-Star Game is (ticked) at me because I went out with one of his girlfriends."

While Cueto and Phillips were overlooked, three other Reds were selected to the All-Star Game - Joey Votto, outfielder Jay Bruce and closer Aroldis Chapman.

Votto said that while it was meaningful to be selected to the All-Star game for the third time, it was difficult for him to enjoy the feat when two worthy teammates were overlooked.

"It's kind of difficult to be overly happy today, considering the two guys I thought were shoo-ins aren't going to be on the team," Votto said. "That's frustrating. I knew I was going to be an All-Star. I was hoping those two guys, the five of us, would go to Kansas City."

 

 

Dusty Baker Blames LaRussa for All-Star Snub of Phillips and Cueto