Postseason preview: Could the Phillies keep Dom Brown for the NLDS?
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Postseason preview: Could the Phillies keep Dom Brown for the NLDS?
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
UPDATED, 6:!1 p.m. -- Changing it back. Manuel sounded pretty confident in Kendrick as a reliever after today's game.
UPDATED, 2:52 p.m. -- Made a change to the pitching projections after looking at some numbers. David Herndon has held righties to a .206/.241/.294 line with 24 strikeouts and three walks this season. If the postseason started tomorrow, I think Herndon would be on the roster and Kendrick would be out until the NLCS.
Well, we've got nine days to kill. Any ideas?
As evidenced by the lineup for Game 1 of today's doubleheader against the Nationals -- Victorino, Valdez, Mayberry, Pence, Francisco, Kratz, Orr, Martinez, Kendrick -- the final nine days of the regular season are officially meaningless for the Phillies. They locked up homefield advantage throughout the postseason last night, courtesy of a Brewers loss that assured them a tie for the best record in the NL (the Phillies own the tiebreaker).
Which leaves us with nine days to pore through every postseason angle. It's going to be great, like a baker's Hannukah, without the gifts and the candles and the visiting relatives meddling into your personal life.
So, without further ado, let's take our first question. It comes from the guy staring mournfully at the computer screen in his cubicle who is slowly reaching the conclusion that this afternoon's game might be less interesting than actually doing his job.
Does Domonic Brown have any chance at making the NLDS roster?
Sure. I don't know how big of a chance. But when you start to examine the Phillies' personnel situation, you realize that the possibility has to be discussed. Charlie Manuel said yesterday that he anticipates taking 10 pitchers, which would leave him with seven bench players to go with his eight regulars, which is the set-up they took into last year's NLDS.
Here's how an early projection of the roster looks:
Regulars (8): Jimmy Rollins SS, Shane Victorino CF, Chase Utley 2B, Ryan Howard 1B, Hunter Pence RF, Raul Ibanez LF, Placido Polanco 3B, Carlos Ruiz C
Starters (4): Roy Halladay RHP, Cliff Lee LHP, Cole Hamels LHP, Roy Oswalt RHP
RH Relievers (5): Ryan Madson, Brad Lidge, Mike Stutes, Vance Worley, Kyle Kendrick
LH Relievers (1): Antonio Bastardo
RH Bench (3): OF John Mayberry Jr., OF Ben Francisco, INF Wilson Valdez
LH Bench (3): OF/1B Ross Gload, C Brian Schneider, INF Pete Orr
SH Bench (1): INF Michael Martinez
Anything jump out at you? How about the lack of left-handed power on the bench?
In the current projection, the Phillies biggest lefty power bat would be switch-hitting utility man Michael Martinez, who has nine extra base hits in 155 at-bats from the left side of the plate this season. Three of those extra base hits are home runs.
Ross Gload would be the top left-handed pinch-hitting option. He has battled a hip injury all season, but has eight hits in his last 22 at-bats, two of them doubles. He is also 18-for-72 with five doubles as a pinch-hitter on the season.
Orr, meanwhile, has three extra base hits in 89 at-bats.
Schneider has six extra base hits in 117 at-bats.
The Phillies traded for John Bowker just before the Aug. 31 waiver trade deadline in an attempt to add another option, but his 0-for-8 with six strikeouts since joining the team. Recent call-up Brandon Moss has one at-bat, which ended in a strikeout.
Which brings us to Brown.
Yes, he struggled mightily after being sent down to Triple-A. Yes, Ruben Amaro Jr. has said publicly he thinks his young outfielder could need a "mental break" after the toughest season of his pro career.
But. . .
Brown did hit five home runs, 10 doubles and one triple in 183 major league at-bats this season.
Brown does have more raw ability than any of the bench lefties listed above.
Brown is 5-for-20 with a double and a home run as a pinch-hitter in his brief time as a major leaguer.
Like I said, it's a possibility that the Phillies have to at least consider. In the end, they might decide it makes more sense to go with the extra utility infielder, or with Bowker, particularly since the Phillies could end up adding a pitcher if they reach the Best-of-Seven National League Championship Series, which would eliminate that last bench spot.
It isn't the most pressing of issues. But we've got nine days to kill.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for easy access to all of our Phillies coverage, plus app-exclusive videos and analysis. Get it here.
why in the world would they keep orr, martinez and valdez? gimme a break. Makes no sense. I take my chances with Dom..worth the gamble.— phillykid96- Um, how do you get Brown eligible? He wasn't on the 25 man active roster on August 31. If the rules are the same as the last time I looked them up (at least a year ago), he could go on the post-season roster only to replace a player (not a pitcher) on the 60 day disabled list.
There is also a rule for replacing players who are injured during the post-season, but I do not recall it exactly. I think it requires the injured player to remain off the roster for at least the next series and possibly the remainder of post-season. Of course, unless it happened in the NLDS that would make it the rest of post-season anyway.— judas_priest - It likely comes down to do you want Brown or Martinez/Orr. If this decision impacts the playoffs I expect we are in serious trouble.— JohnFC
- Domowitch would be an upgrade over Domonic.— dasher
- at the way it's going, they won't make it out of the first round. You can't win if you can't score runs.— palmyra21
- The way it's going, I'd take Herndon and Kendrick over Stutes. At this point, he offers nothing. He's cooked. He's fried. Mentally, physically, emotionally done. I can't use him in the playoffs.— scootch
- what's a guy named murphy who went to La Salle know about Hannukah?— Pope of Chilitown
- Now, let's hope Pence is ok. He was limping since he got hurt running the first inning grounder. Don't understand why he wasn't taken out right away. This game is meaningless. I'll rest him tonight and tomorrow and see how it goes. He has played every inning since coming to Philly. No reason to take chances with him.— EL Zorro
- My goodness the Phillies bench is terrible. Today, they pinch-hit for a .199 hitter with a .169 hitter. Only bench player who can contribute offensively right now is Mayberry. And correct, zero pop from the left side. The bullpen is also getting thin...let's hope Bastardo finds himself, and Worley is awesome out of the pen, because other than Madson, and maybe Lidge, there is no one else down there you can count on for a playoff game hold.— 26Fan
- What a joke todays game was. Lead off double and Orr doesn't sacrifice (in what the stupid announcers said was a good at bat, go figure that, he makes an out and the runner is still on second!, must be a new defination, a good at bat is making an out with a runner in scoring position!), so Manuel sends up Schneider who hasn't had a meaningful hit since the Mona Lisa was a virgin to make the automatic second out. My opinion is they get swept out in the first series, especially if it is the Cardinals or Giants.— chetsheets
- Stutes is horrible. Is it possible Herndon is better?— Relocator
- Kendrick has a 3.04 ERA mostly as a starter. Are you really putting Herndon on the playoff roster instead of him?— john421
- I would like for Moss to get that playing time. He was a one time prospect, had a good season and followed it by a great postseason. He also could be Gload's replacement next year. If he does well, I wouldn't mind him replacing Orr in the playoff roster.— EL Zorro
- You mean like he did today! — chetsheets
- Mmm, power and speed from the left side...sounds like Roger Bernadina...— bearsfriend
- The question is whether you are more likely to need and get a contribution from Brown after struggling for a couple of months in the minors, or are you more likely to need an extra infielder, given the injury history of Polanco, Utley and Rollins? I didn't watch Brown in the minors after he went down, but the Phillies did, so they have a better idea of where he is at. And they don't seem compelled to get him any action, so judge for yourself. Orr is a better baserunner and plays the infield. The chances of needing three utility infielders are slim. But if the difference between those chances and the chances of Brown helping you are slim, you might as well err on the side of caution. At least that has always been the Phillies' thinking.
- Murph, I know you have been a Brown supporter for a long time, but no way he deserves to be on the playoff roster. He didn't even deserve to be called up in the first place. Just to add to what Dull said, he was on the bench for 3 of the Pigs playoff games, including the final game. He was only used as DH and was again a disaster, going 1 for 18 and in the last two games he played hit into two rally killing DP. he didn't have an RBI or scored a run and he was hitting in the middle of the order with plenty of chances. The kid needs to get away from the game for a while and work on his overall game during the winter. The last thing he needs is to be put in a pressure situation, which he most likely would be put either as a pinch hitter or pinch runner with the game on the line.— EL Zorro
- I never said he deserves to be on the postseason roster. I said the Phillies at least have to think about it because of the lack of left-handed power on the bench. Get him some ABs over the last nine games and see what happens. Right now, he hasn't earned a spot. But there are still nine games left.
- @ brokerguy.....agree completely! But I can count on one hand the number of times Cholly has used a pinch-runner this season. Someone should remind him of that possible necessity. I'd rather see him than some 'iffy" BP guy.— TBear
- who cares...he has failed too many times and you don't need him....— nuggett
- How can you put Herndon on the post season squad over Kendrick?— ace rothstein
- In short .... No he's not needed— DPL
- My opinion: Why do you need Martinez, Orr and Valdez. One should go. If 2 of these guys have to play on any one day we are in trouble already. Valdez has earned his spot over the last two years with his defense, experience and timely hitting. Martinez plays alot of positions but nobody needs a rest during the playoffs. Orr has the speed to pinch run and can play 2nd and 3rd in a pinch. To me Martinez should not be on postseason roster. To me this leaves Bowker, Brown, and Brandon Moss for the lefty pop they need off the bench. I am not thrilled with any of these but Brown may be the best option available. Boy Thome or Giambi would have been nice!— PhillyinBaltimore
- How many hits has Bowker had since coming over?
— chetsheets - Brown should start in front of Pence.— joedig22
- Just sat through 3 of the 4 home games of the IronPigs playoffs in Allentown. In the entire 7 games of the two series of the playoffs Brownie went 1 for 18. In the final elimination game Friday night Sandberg did not even put Domonic in the lineup and had him coaching first base with a stop watch for a couple of innings. That said it all!— Dull
- Agreed, the guy's confidence is shot and it showed in his play. But for a man who is doubting his future for the first time ever, a chance at redemption can trigger a powerful surge of hope. One playoff pinch-hit AB would do that. I'm not saying you have to add Brown, but it comes down to what Brown might offer in a short series (the possibility of an extra-base hit, some speed on the bases) versus what Pete Orr offers -- which we're arguably already receiving from Valdez and Martinez. — PhilaLogic
- Speeed? Is this the same Dom Brown I'm thinking of?— Mr. Underhill
- Who in the front office does Bowker have pictures of? Total waste of space and I'd take Brown over him in a heartbeat.— jimmymack
- If the best reason to have Dom on the post-season roster is "SPEED", then the Phils are in desperate shape. Nothing Brown did in his prior efforts with the Phils showed any semblance of speed. It's probably an attitude thing but the playoffs and World Series aren't the time or place to deal with attitude. Reuben's right...he needs a break.— charliel
- He has power and speed. Speed kills, and to have him as a pinch runner would be critical....Besides, there is still time, but Bowker hasn't shown me anything at all yet... — PhilliefaninAZ
- He has power and speed. Speed kills, and to have him as a pinch runner would be critical....Besides, there is still time, but Bowker hasn't shown me anything at all yet... — PhilliefaninAZ
- The Domonic detractors and Howard haters are almost as bad as the Blanton booers, Jimmy jeerers, and Utley underevaluators combined.— syxtoez
1.jpg)
To keep Brown out of the lineup is just plain spiteful. I know there are a lot of Domonic detractors (mostly the Ryan Howard haters), but he should be in LF Tuesday afternoon rather than Ben Fran. Charlie only cares about L-R match-ups without taking into consideration the fact that BF hits lefties at .230 while DB comes in at .281 with a much better OBP.
No, Ruben isn't done spanking Dom. Noodle arm will play in left and the spastic Astro will never get a day off in right.— LenDyk4- The biggest reason for Brown to make the roster is his speed. Imagine if you will, Phils are down 2-1 in the 9th, Gload leads off with a pinch hit single. Having a guy that can steal a base and get you into scoring position to eliminate the DP and give you 3 shots at a single scoring the tying run is BADLY needed by this team. Every team they may face in the playoffs seems to have the automatic steal on their bench or in the lineup. Not that Brown is an automatic steal but at this point, He's faster than anyone on the team not named Sugar Shane. (Yes that includes Rollins).— brokerguy
- Cliff Lee is a better option of the bench than Brown at this point. At this rate why not keep Savery on the playoff roster? You can use him out of the pen to face tough lefty is Bastardo isn't available or as a LH bat off the bench!— dankil13
- Savery, thanks for the laugh!!! — PhilliefaninAZ
