Latest news with #BrandonPhillips
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Former MLB All-Star Frazier Wants Little Leaguers To Squish The Bug
Cincinnati Reds' Brandon Phillips (4) celebrates with Reds' Todd Frazier (21) after scoring on a ... More three-run double by Reds' Jay Bruce off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jeff Locke (49) during the first inning a baseball game in Pittsburgh Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. Frazier followed with a two-run home run.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Todd Frazier wants youth baseball players to 'squish the bug' in a couple of different ways. For one, the two-time All-Star third baseman wants hitters to use the squish the bug method while they are in batter's box. He also wants Little Leaguers to squish the bugs that can become a distraction while they are hitting. So, what does squish the bug mean when it comes to hitting? 'Growing up in New Jersey I was taught that your back foot comes through the zone and as you come through it and as your back foot comes through, it turns and you squish the bug. You're going to have more leverage hitting a baseball that way.' Frazier squished his share of bugs during 11 years in the major leagues from 2011-21. He had 1,059 hits and 218 home runs for the Cincinnati Reds (2011-15), Chicago White Sox (2016-17), New York Yankees (2017), New York Mets (2018-20), Texas Rangers (2020) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2021). One of Frazier's most memorable moments was winning the 2015 All-Star Home Run Derby as his home ballpark, Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. Frazier also played for the United States in the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. However, he first burst onto the national scene in 1998 when he helped lead his Toms River East team to the Little World Series championship in South Williamsport, Pa. Thus, it only seems natural that Frazier and Off Mosquito and Tick Repellents are launching a 'Squish the Bug' campaign, an initiative centered around teaching Little Leaguers batting fundamentals and how Off can protect families while outside during the warmer summer months. Part of the campaign includes a limited edition Squish the Bug home plate turf mat designed to teach Little Leaguers the fundamentals of batting. With fonds memories of his Little League days, Frazier enjoys coaching and mentoring young players. Frazier also is part of the broadcast crew for ESPN's coverage of the Little League World Series. 'I have such a blast, and the kids are very receptive to coaching,' Frazier said. 'But you've got to give credit to their parents because they know when you drop your kid off and I'm coaching them, they're letting me be a coach and they're letting me teach their kids not only the rights or wrongs of playing baseball, but the rights and wrongs of life. So, I have a blast. I love seeing the ups and downs and the kids how they get really high one day and then they get really low another day. And I'm trying to find that happy medium.' Frazier didn't have to worry about bugs interrupting his hitting while he was in the major leagues. However, he does remember watching Game 1 of an American League Division Series in 2007 between the New York and then-Indians in Cleveland on television. Midges came off Lake Erie to swarm the ballpark. Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain, trying to protect a 1-0 lead, was so distracted by the insects that he gave up the tying run in the eighth inning. Cleveland went on to win 2-1 in 10 innings to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series that it eventually won in four games. 'They should have had Off that day in Cleveland,' Frazier said with a laugh. 'They would have gotten rid of those bugs.'
The Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald
‘Coppélia' ballet thrills Durban audience
The ballet Coppélia thrilled the audience at the Durban Playhouse on Saturday. The show tells a sweet story about love, fun and magic that everyone can enjoy. Presented by The Playhouse Company, the performance features the talented Cape Town City Ballet, with music by the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra. Kirstél Paterson stars as the lively Swanhilda, Jordan Roelfze plays the charming Franz and Leusson Muniz is Dr Coppélius, the quirky inventor. Conductor Brandon Phillips led the orchestra, adding beautiful music and feeling to every scene. Hannah Ward appeared as Prayer. In some shows, Maryana Pobuta played Swanhilda, Axton Green was Franz, and Caitlin Smith took on Prayer.
Edinburgh Live
02-05-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh passenger's mission to get flights to Mediterranean spot reinstated
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A petition has been launched to reinstate direct flights from Edinburgh to Gibraltar, spurred by a man based in Scotland who told of the "expensive and time consuming" trek he must undertake to visit family in Gibraltar. Brandon Phillips, 27, travels to Gibraltar up to five times per year to visit his parents. He decided to launch the campaign after becoming fed up with hefty £600 travel costs, which he calls "inconvenient" and "financially burdensome". There are currently no direct flights connecting Scotland and Gibraltar, a UK territory located in southern Spain. Scots wishing to travel to the region must catch direct flights from cities such as Manchester or London, or grab a seat on a plane from Scotland to a city nearby Gibraltar, which can be hours away by coach or car. (Image: Supplied) Brandon told Edinburgh Live: "There are no direct flights from Scotland to Gibraltar which is quite strange. My family are [in Gibraltar] and I am in Scotland and it is very hard to make time to see each other." Without direct Scottish flights, he says "You have to plan it very well for it to work." Brandon spoke to Edinburgh Live from Gibraltar where he is currently visiting family. To get there, he and his partner flew from Manchester to Malaga in Spain. They then grabbed a coach to Gibraltar, which takes nearly three hours and costs up around €60 per person. Round trip, Brandon and his partner were left about £600 out of pocket for one visit. He added: "All we want to do is fly from one British territory from another British territory and that should be easy enough to do. A whole part of the UK isn't able to travel to Gibraltar as easy as everyone else." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Scottish travellers run into other roadblocks while attempting to enter Gibraltar. Brandon spoke of hassle when crossing borders between the EU and the UK. He said: "We get stamped when we arrive in Malaga then we get stamped in Gibraltar because we're leaving Spain. On the way back, we get two more stamps. It's four stamp per trip, a whole page in a passport. I have to renew my passport soon because the stamps have filled it up." EasyJet previously operated direct flights from Edinburgh to Gibraltar but now their services run from London Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, and Bristol. British Airways also offers service from English cities like Manchester. Brandon and his partner usually opt for indirect flights from Glasgow to Spain to avoid paying for parking in Manchester. He added: "There's such a huge connection between Scotland and Gibraltar. "It [used to be] easy and affordable [to travel from Scotland to Gibraltar] and we travelled quite a lot to see each other. The flights were always full and busy. I come from an aviation background for RyanAir and British Airways and know what the aviation industry is like, the demand was there." A spokesperson from easyJet said: "We concentrate our efforts on routes that prove most popular with customers, focusing on those with the highest demand. We continue to serve customers in the UK with flights to Gibraltar from London Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, and Bristol." Brandon launched a petition advocating for direct flights from Edinburgh to Gibraltar. If you would like to sign the petition, you can do so here.
