Brown: 'I'm coming to win a job'
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Brown: 'I'm coming to win a job'
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Domonic Brown lives here now. He wanted a winter away from baseball to regain his confidence, but Brown still found himself at the Phillies' complex often.
He worked with Steve Henderson, the Phillies' minor-league outfield instructor. He struck a relationship with Gary Sheffield, who played 22 seasons and hit 509 home runs. He shaved most of his head and now proudly sports a faux-hawk.
Brown is 24. He was untouchable in trades for Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay. His path to the majors as the franchise's top prospect was not as planned.
There is still plenty of time.
"I'm not at peace if I start at triple A," Brown said Tuesday morning. "I'm coming to win a job. I'm fighting to win a job here. If I start at triple A, I start at triple A."
A winter of anonymity has resulted in a restoration of that confidence so tested in 2011. Brown endured a hitless spring until he fractured the hamate bone in his right hand. He was promoted, demoted and then booed in triple A when he dropped fly balls and looked generally disinterested.
"I had to wake up," Brown said. "You just can't turn the switch off an on like that. You just can't do it in this game. You have to stay upbeat every day."
Brown is a definitive long shot to make the Phillies out of camp, but if he blows the decision-makers away, they will have to at least think about him.
"Spring is a good time to dream a little bit," Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "It's important for Domonic to show us what he's got."
Brown is thinking the same way. He heard Amaro's statements all winter that Brown would be best served spending another season at triple A.
That's nothing new, he said.
"I've been hearing that stuff for two or three years now," Brown said. "It don't really matter. I believe if you play hard and do things the right way, great things are going to happen for you. If you think great, you're going to be great. We'll see what happens."
So Brown sought others to help him regain his path. Sheffield, one of the finest hitters in the steroid era, was one. They met this winter at Sheffield's hitting facility in the Tampa, Fla., area. They've talked a lot of hitting.
"He opened his arms to me," Brown said. "We've been close ever since."
Hunter Pence was a workout partner recently in Clearwater. Jason Heyward, a friend of Brown's, experienced failure in his second major-league season with the Braves. They talked, too.
What was the consensus?
"There's going to be struggles, man," Brown said. "It's how you deal with it."
The Phillies are eagerly awaiting to see how Brown deals with it.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
- He's the 21st-century Lonnie Smith.
— jman - I witnessed his disinterest at AAA last season. He loafed so much that Ryno, a pro-player manager benched him for most of last two/three weeks when 'pigs were in contention. Also, Sheff has a long history of problems with managers at lots of locales. Not sure this combo is a positive step. IF he makes the big club I will be surprised. If he is sent back to AAA he has fences to mend.
— NewMick314 - Agreed, while every young player goes through development issues once they get to the bigs,but Brown wasn't "right" back at AAA upon his demotion, one to give him a chance at a new position...If he would have grasped the opportunity, the Phillies probably don't go out and sign Nix to hit against many righthanded pitchers. — bearsfriend
- Utley and Howard were blocked by Polanco and Thome and when given a chance (Polanco being traded and Thome's injury) they took advantage and the rest is history. Brown was given the keys to RF last year, had a cup of coffee the year before and was part of the playoff roster in 2010. So that's not a fair comparison. Can Brown develop into a good player? Of course. But Howard and Utley were more advanced, you can argue. That being said, there are some similarities. Utley's development was put a little bit on hold when the Phillies try to convert him into a 3B. They also experimented with Howard in the OF, although he never played a game as an outfielder.— EL Zorro
- Get 'em Dom!— DennyP
- To properly balance the Phillies lineup, a productive right handed Mayberry makes the most sense in left field for us. Brown gives us a great option at either corner outfield spot in case of injury or slump right now. My hope is the Phillies start out with Mayberry in left and use a platoon of Wigginton and Thome at 1st until Howard is ready. Nix and Juan Pierre should be the reserves in the outfield. Brown should start in AAA and play every day to begin the season. If Brown looks great and Mayberry is hitting well with power, the Phillies could decide to not keep Pence after this year since he is on a 1 year deal. To resign Pence, could cost big bucks and the Phillies need money for Hamels and probably a new 3rd baseman for next year.— bradco
- Logical thinking, as that would be most cost effective...But if Pence continues his stellar play as a Phillie, and popularity continues to grow for him, that's a decision RAJ will rue...Mayberry and Victorino's prodution will facor in heavily..I still think he's trade bait. — bearsfriend
- In the end, its up to Dom Brown to put forth the effort. Ryan Howard didn't make it to the bigs until he was older (and ONLY after Jim Thome was injured). Age is not the factor (unless you talk to his agent Scott Boris). When he is ready (able to hit consistantly and play above average defense), he will be a Philadelphia Phillie. Nothing will be handed to him on a plate. Many a "can't miss prospect" do in fact "miss". Watching him last season was upsetting in that it seemed like he actually regressed. He has potential, lots of it, but HE has to work hard and not take anything for granted. Also, with Scott Boris as his agent, RAJ will NOT just bring him up to ride the pine, putting the clock into motion for becoming arbitration eligible. Remember, not only is it baseball, but with Boris as his agent (which by the way, Dom Brown selected) it is a business too.— drhoffman
- Best of luck to him, like his attitude. Hope he makes it and platoons with Mayberry.— Sidewinder7
- A candid remark from a former Phils' minor league manager is that Dom B's makeup is less than what they're looking for in a successful big league player.— dasher
- It appears that the "can't miss" luster has worn off of Brown, which is good, because he's played like he's had it made and didn't hustle like a pro should. Amaro laid it straight out for him - Domonic needs to show us what he's got - which is also good. He's thrown down the gauntlet to the kids and now we'll see if Brown has the fire in his belly to do whatever it takes to prove that he's worthy of the faith the Phillies have shown him. He needs to do two things, one of which you shouldn't to tell a guy at this level. First, he needs to get his head into the game. Know the situation and what he should do, both when on base and also when playing the OF. Two, and most importantly, he needs to shorten that long, looping swing of his, which is tailor made for striking out and popping up. You can't get away with that swing in the bigs. Major league pitchers are too good. If Brown doesn't do this, I don't see how he'll ever live up to his hype.— RightSaidJeff
- Pence is a star of the future.— philsfansince1946
- The last thing the Phillies wanted to hear was for Brown to be associated with a perennial malcontent and suspected steroid user, after his struggles of the last year and a half. A more humble Brown would have been also more refreshing. Don't like his attitude at all after the chances he was giving and not taken advantage of it.— EL Zorro
- And wasn't Brown taking advice from Barry Bonds during his 1st season? Bonds; Sheffield; Boras; RAJ has already punched Dom's ticket to Washington. — jman
- If Brown could open some eyes he could grab a lot of time in LF and allow us to play J May at first until Howard gets back, allowing us to use Wiggington less at first and more spelling Utley and Polly to keep them fresh.— hillbillybirdsfan
