Charlie Manuel essentially just named Dom Brown an everyday corner outfielder
The Phillies don't have any logical option other than making Domonic Brown one of their everyday corner outfielders.
Charlie Manuel essentially just named Dom Brown an everyday corner outfielder
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Really, the Phillies don't have any logical option other than making Domonic Brown one of their everyday corner outfielders. Still, Charlie Manuel has held off on making any official proclamations on his roster. But I'd say he did just that when he told Brown and Ryan Howard to stay home from tonight's night game in Fort Myers. It's a little thing, but Fort Myers is the longest bus trip of the spring, and most players would rather not make it, and this trip is particularly bad because the game is at night, which means the Phillies bus probably won't be getting back to Clearwater until after midnight. It's the kind of trip that Manuel pencils you in for if you have something to prove.
Clearly, Brown does not have anything left to prove. He has been solid on defense, spectacular at the plate, and, again, is the only logical option for opening up the season in left or right field. The way I see it, Manuel essentially confirmed that by allowing him to stay home along with Howard, who would probably share spring co-MVP honors with Brown if the Phillies awarded such a thing.
Making the trip are John Mayberry and Laynce Nix, who figure to rotate in some fashion at the other corner outfield spot until Delmon Young returns, and Darin Ruf, who appears to have found his swing after a tough start but still needs to get more comfortable in the outfield and thus is likely headed to Triple-A. Starting at Brown's natural position of right field is Pete Orr, who has played exactly one inning there in his big league career.
Anyway, that's about as much as I can milk out of today's lineup. Cole Hamels is starting. Mike Stutes and Jeremy Horst are also scheduled to pitch:
- Ben Revere CF
- Pete Orr RF
- Jimmy Rollins SS
- Michael Young 3B
- Laynce Nix LF
- Carlos Ruiz C
- John Mayberry Jr. 1B
- Freddy Galvis 2B
- Cole Hamels LHP
Or maybe, it's to allow Dom & Howard to not have to ride a late bus with an afternoon game tomorrow. They only have to send (I believe) 4 regulars to away games in Spring Training. I think you're right that Charlie's probably going to use Dom at a starting corner OF spot, but don't over-analyze things. There's no need or requirement to send a full lineup down there tonight.— Dave14- Overanalyze things? Its a foregone conclusion that Dom Brown is in the opening day lineup, and its well deserved.— CosmoK
- Do ya really think he earned a spot, Charlie? Cheeses! And once and for all, let's get Rollins out of lead off and down the order. His days of being the gas that runs the Phils is at an end. Maybe that trade to a Bay Area team, where he wanted to end his career anyway, might not be far off.— DelawareRiverRat
- Manuel is not the only one that looks at Rollins as a leadoff guy. Torre had him leading off for the WBC.— Smoothellc
- @DRR is at the top of his game for that post a few minutes ago...— advantasux
- @DRR: there is a lot more to batting leadoff than OBP. Being a good, and fast runner, knowing when to take the extra base, when to steal...Rollins almost never gets thrown out, and he takes the extra base, a lot! He scores from first on a lot of doubles, and second on most singles, he is almost never throw out stealing, these are some of the reasons he is such a good, disruptive lead-off hitter. He also makes the pitcher's sacrifice bunts worthwhile because he is such a good RBI man, for a leadoff hitter. Some day Revere may supplant Rollins. He will have to earn it, before that day comes.— Paul SoTX
- this is a great post....good insight and i cant help but to agree with you completely — Anything_Philly_is4me
- Honestly,
Dom Brown has still very much to prove. Yeah he can blast away in pre-season but so have many others before him, just to see the rest of the season turn to shambles.
Last season, Brown had many struggles in field and even more at the plate. To put him at lead-off to open the season, is a very amateur move. Experience wins. Rollins stays lead off, I'l put $100 american on it. Sorry River Rat
And don't ever disrespect J-Roll, the man shows up when you need him time & time again circa 2001— mmcd85 - also named Hamels as one of the starters— warbiscuit
- They should let the players who travel to Fort Myers, stay overnight and have the next day off to go to Barefeet Beach and the Naples Beaches...LOL.— jim35
- 'yeah, brown will probably be a starter, unless he isn't, in which case he won't be, but when delmonte gets back, which should be this month or next, then brown either will start or not, but since nix is the highest paid we should use him more, in which case brown and delman would platoon, but mayberry he's been lookin good, so maybe platoon him with incarcerate if revere don't work out, and don't forget this whatsisname, mitchell, kid's looked good, he's a comer, so i guess you'd have to say yeah, brown, we should give him a chance...'— bubba church & granny hamner
- Bubba Church is Charlie Manuel.....or he's had one too many pina coladas...lol
DRr....agreed. Is there any player in MLB who has proven he's a starter so far any more than DBown? Not only is he a starter, but right now he's NL MVP. Do you know how much it hurts me to say that when I've ragged on him for only having one tool for the last 3 years? Whatever voo-doo magic was done to resurrect Vada Pinson in DBrown's body, I hope it lasts, and lasts, and lasts. Heck, I'll let them stick the pins in me if the spell keeps working for Dom!— Mark1npt - Paul -- what exactly is an RBI guy?— TheChairman04
- Brown had a good spring and they have no one else. Let's see how he does now that he's got the job. Hopefully he'll do well but I'm not convinced yet. Do it during the season.— Phillies2008WSChamps
- Dom Brown has that look this year like he belongs. That's a great sign.
