The thought process behind the call-up
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The thought process behind the call-up
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
The thick silence of embarrassing defeat was still present in the bowels of Citizens Bank Park when Ruben Amaro Jr. and Charlie Manuel sat together in the manager's office and hashed out the immediate future of their underperforming baseball team. The night had produced not just a 7-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies, but a realization that center fielder Shane Victorino would need a stint on the disabled list to recover from a hamstring strain. Together, the two men huddled, talking out the various personnel moves that could help to fill the void in their outfield.
When the subject turned to Domonic Brown, Amaro was hesitant. A short time before, he had told the media that the Phillies' top prospect was not likely to get the call, and at the time, the general manager believed what he said. Brown had played in just 11 games, and although he had played well, Amaro's perfect world had the outfielder compiling a healthy base of at-bats in the minors before a promotion to the majors. But as he talked with Manuel, he began to realize that he might have to sacrifice perfection for practicality. They talked about how Brown was likely to be used, how many at-bats he would see on a regular basis, what type of success they thought he could have.
By the end of it -- "It didn't take long," Manuel said -- Amaro reached a conclusion that for better or for worse will have enormous ramifications on the rest of the Phillies season.
It was time to call the kid up.
"I changed my mind," Amaro said Friday afternoon as he spoke with reporters in the Phillies dugout prior to that night's game against the Rangers. "It's pretty simple, really."
Yesterday morning, the Phillies called Brown in Allentown and told him to pack his bags. The rookie outfielder arrived at Citizens Bank Park yesterday afternoon, more than ready to tackle his second shot at becoming a major league player. His last opportunity was not much of an opportunity at all. When the Phillies called him up last July 28, he was more-or-less a short term replacement. Victorino was on the disabled list with an oblique strain that was not expected to sideline him for much longer than 15 days. Brown's natural position at right field was occupied by Jayson Werth, who was in the midst of a standout season that would eventually land him a monster contract with the Washington Nationals. In left field, Raul Ibanez was just starting to break out of a three-month funk.
Brown went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI in his big league debut, and started eight of the next 12 games. But after Victorino returned, he slid into a bench role, starting just four more games while going 4-for-24 with a double, home run, four walks and 11 strikeouts in 28 plate appearances.
This time around, however, Brown arrived in Philadelphia with a much better shot at establishing himself in a permanent role. Opening Day right fielder Ben Francisco was hitting just .216 with a .325 on base percentage and .668 OPS in 158 plate appearances. Ibanez was hitting .233 with a .287 OBP and .636 OPS in 157 plate appearances. He was not in the line-up Friday night against Rangers lefty C.J. Wilson, but is expected to be there on Saturday against righthander Colby Lewis. Manuel said his plan is to ease Brown into action, starting him against righthanders in order to help him find a groove. You can expect to see John Mayberry Jr. and Francisco against righties, although Mayberry has clearly moved past Francisco on the depth chart. He started for the fifth time in six days Friday night, carrying a .250 average, .354 OBP and .765 OPS into the game.
Brown will play against lefties, Manuel said, just not right away.
"First of all, he hasn't had much spring training, and he's just starting to get back into the swing of things, back playing again," Manuel said. "I think at the major league level, starting out, it will be a good way to kind of break him in."
Brown's long-term future has always seemed to be more important to the Phillies than the short-term upside of a promotion. On several occasions over the past two weeks, Amaro has told reporters that he does not feel Brown is ready for an everyday job. Yesterday, he admitted that he still harbors some of those doubts. But, he continued, such thoughts are present whenever a highly-regarded prospect breaks into the big leagues. The more he talked with Manuel on Thursday night, the more he realized that the benefits out-weighed the risks. The Phillies had scored fewer than three runs in their last five games. In losing five of six to the Braves, Cardinals and Rockies -- their toughest stretch of the schedule thus far -- they had managed just 28 hits and 10 runs. The offense needed help, and the only potential spark with Victorino on the disabled list was Brown.
"Is it the right thing to do? I'm not sure," Amaro said. "But it's the right thing to do for this club right now."
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WOW Role Reversals for Sir Dominic!— Kevinmac
He's a better fielder than Francisco and Mayberry. He's way more athletic. And... He has the best arm on the team BY FAR! He should be starting because of those reasons. Nobody talks about how Mayberry and Francisco have rag arms out there and will be career backups for the duration of their time inthe league. Domenic Brown has the potential to be something special if they can get him into the groove with major league pitching. Charlie!! Just close your eyes and start the kid. Forget what everybody is saying about easing him in. Start him. Just do it!— GigantiSP- And I see that Ben is starting in RF 2nite, not Dom. Geez. How many 5-hit 1-run games will it take to CHANGE THINGS IN PHILLY ???— makrom
- Go Dom— shawnmac
- at least amaro is very honest. i trust him alot more than reid.— djack10
- I guess makrom just finished eating his crow after the last inning
— aldawg - amaro says one thing, does another? gosh, that is so-o-o surprising.— bubba church & granny hamner
- Giganti, I completely disagree with you. Brown's fielding needs some work.— HandNik
- I am happy with the move and think Brown should be there until he is cut, a free agent or retires. I also think they should commit to Mayberry playing a lot the next two months. I think its the best chance for a championship this year and the best move as far as continuing the dynasty the next few years. These guys should be able to at least replace the production of Burrell/Werth '07-'08 and Ibanez/Werth '09-'10 and if they do, that will provide them with some payroll relief in the corner outfield for the next 5 years.— jtj06
- Murph--When you write that Amaro believed what he originally said when he said it, you come across as an apologist at best and a PR man at worst. You can't know what he did or did not believe at the time.
And I think you meant to write that Mayberry and Francisco will play against LEFTIES, not righties.
And to the guy who said Brown is a better outfielder than Mayberry: buy a clue.— VicM 
The Phillies need to fix their outfield problems...and this is just one of the steps along the way...before July 31st strikes midnight, the Phillies will have another outfielder on this roster that is not in the organization right now.- This just gives them another piece to see what they have...I think it is a great move, but really their only move....— PhilliefaninAZ
- Maybe the Phillies should see if Mike Schmidt can still swing a bat. He couldn't do much worse than the guys they've got out there now.
— SteveS11 
Comment removed.
Whoah...for a moment I thought I strayed onto the New York Daily News's Yankee Forum. So many experts up here in the nosebleed section. When a GM sits down with the manager to discuss how to improve the club during the season, that's usually a good thing. But not in the Bronx, and now, apparently, not in Philly as the GM and Manager have to pass the inspection of a cabal of baseball geniuses whose expectations far exceed their limited knowledge of the team, the game, and the way a season unfolds. Excellent reporting, Mr. Murphy. Keep this up and you'll be taking Buster Olney's or Tim Kurkajerkaturkian's place. And that would be a good thing.— pigday31- Murph...good insight...it's a dice roll but offense can't be any worse than what we've witnessed the last week...so really there is more upside than downside on throwing Dom out there against righties...just don't want to see Cliff Lee PH again!— WhiteBear
- Good article Murph! Reporting the facts that were told to you, instead of making up a conspiracy like so many of your readers do...My, my, my what a boring life some of these people must have.
Besides, if I earned a job doing something for the Phillies, I'd be working my boot off trying to move up the chain...guess not only boring, but underachievers eh?
On a final note, what do they call that type of mentality, when one fan says something the rest jump on board, like herded sheep? Oh yea, band-wagon!— MFPhils - Quix, he doesn't look like a fool...He looks like a manager. What did you want him to say, "Maybe"? Despite what you may think, he doesn't owe YOU an explanation. You sound more ridiculous than the guy calling for the end of the world at 6 p.m.
Perhaps he truly didn't think Shane was going to the D.L.? I mean, my gosh...imagine that...He thinks he has 2, possibly 3 that can play centerfield on his roster. The possible 3rd watches a ball go over his head, the first goes on the D.L. and the second is a bench player. It seems pretty logical that Dom was a no 2 days ago, and now he's a yes.
Indeed, it does look like there is a fool in our midst, and that fool is...(wait for it)...(wait for it)...you!— MFPhils - The Phillies didn't need to bring up Brown last year. Doing so didn't help him, evidenced by his winter ball and spring training problems before his injury. This year, they don't have any other options. That Amaro was resistant causes me to think he's a bit in denial about this double-A line-up he's given Manuel. After a week of 4-hit, 1-run games, I don't see anybody who's close to busting out. And I've gone to the other team's feed on mlb.tv, because I'm tired of hearing the company line from the guys in the booth. BTW, the Rangers' announcers suck.— ijj
- Pigday31 you hit the nail right on the head. Some of these instant gratification "experts" have no clue about real life baseball and I would bet most of them had trouble making their little league team.— Wheel
- Brown has a great arm, but is far from being a good defensive player. That being said, he's a better option than any of the clowns they've been trotting out there so far this year. It's really time to see what he can do. He's had a lot more minor league plate appearances than most recent prospects (Heyward, Stanton, Upton, Posey, - even Gaby Sanchez and Ike Davis) ever got. If he's not ready by now, he may never be ready.— Jeff Dowder
- Brown will be like a lot of rookies and learn on the job. He is an athletic kid who will probably be a good defender. If he can hit that is all that counts for now. Can't look a whole lot worse then Ben. The main thing is we need to find out if Brown is going to be with us and be what everyone thinks he can. The Mets are bringing unknowns up and succeeding. Time to see what we have.. We got by with Chase while he learned we can get by with Brown while he learns. Do we need 2 outfielders next year or one? Have to find out don't we? — pattymac3
- Comment removed.
- Giant, you must not know much baseball. Domonic Brown is not a good outfielder. Ibañez is a better fielder than him, IMO, and he sucks. Brown is very athletic and has a good arm, but I don't think his better in that department than Mayberry, either.— EL Zorro
- I agree with Quixote. If you look back into the whole Brown situation: bringing him last year and keeping him on the bench after Victorino was activated, then to the Winter league fiasco and now the flop flopping in less than 24 hours; all the way to the Blanton mess, there is a lot to be desired. What the hell is going on here? This is a freaking circus. And the only one I see questioning all of this BS in the print press is Gelb. This is becoming a joke.— EL Zorro
- Baseball + injuries + age + no fastballs and a team wide, entrenched hitting philosophy = frustration........and some funny posts. Go Phils! Oh yeah, the only move they have to make is to let T Yac go asap and Bring Up Franzke!! It's bad enough I gotta squirm watching them at the plate but they make me listen to this guy? It' killing me people.......killing me! As long as Philly.com let's me post, I will continue to yell from the Franzke Mountain top.— Drumphil
- Ah yes, for the sake of consistency or "honesty" or "stability," when Amaro discovered Victorino needed to go on the DL, he should have called up a far worse hitter than Brown. Or just let Victorino play injured. Or played with 24 men, not 25. See, that way he wouldn't have "flip-flopped" and things would be SO much better... Geez, sometimes people lack an iota of common sense. When circumstances change, be it 24 hours or 24 seconds later, you change your course of action. Evolve, or die.— PhilaLogic
- Cholly and RAJ on collision course. Stay tuned.— NewMick314
