Brown optioned to triple-A
The addition of Hunter Pence means a new team and position for top prospect Domonic Brown.
Brown optioned to triple-A
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
The addition of Hunter Pence means a new team and position for top prospect Domonic Brown.
Brown is a Lehigh Valley IronPig, having been optioned by the Phillies to make space for Pence. He's also now a left fielder, the place where his immediate future in this organization lies.
Ruben Amaro Jr. said he views Pence as a right fielder, meaning Brown must switch sides of the field in preparation for 2012. Raul Ibanez is a free agent. The Phillies outfield will be Brown, Shane Victorino and Pence -- barring injury, of course.
It will be among the top outfields in the National League, if everything goes according to plan. That plan involves Brown improving his defensive abilities.
Offensively, Brown's .782 OPS is superior to Ibanez's numbers. But it's clear Charlie Manuel has little confidence currently in his 23-year-old outfielder.
It's not that Brown cannot be a good defender because numerous talent evaluators think he has enough athleticism and desire to improve. Learning on the job during a pennant race for a team with championship aspirations was not perferable. More than a few Phillies people were most disappointed at Brown's tentativeness in the field. The only thing to cure that is success, and the hope is that happens in the minors.
The International League season ends Sept. 5 and the IronPigs have a shot at postseason play. Brown will be back once rosters expand in September, with the hopes that a month of regular at-bats in the minors has restored confidence.
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I think legion ball in Glenside would be a good place for Domonic to fall over himself... TRADE HIM before others find out about his complete lack or coordination.— stoky- I agree wholeheartedly with dry_as_a_bone. Ibanez has played his heart and soul out for this team and has been a solid contributor. Lighten up on him!— PhillyGuy54
- Does anyone watch the game? Does left or right field defense even matter? No it doesn't. That is why teams have been putting great hitters out to play those positions for a hundred years(and winning championships while doing it). He is in Triple A because he doesn't hit well enough to overlook his defense. Defense: Catcher, SS, 2B, Centerfield— UncleStosh
- brown was forced up earlier in the year before the brass thought he waqs ready. The Phil's FO was right. Now its back to the minors to play every day & get better. He'll be back in September & be ready to go in 2012. He'll be ok.— yobill626
- I read on NBC Sports website, the Phillies mortgaged their future in the Pence trade. I'll give more creit than that to Amaro. May, Colvin, and Biddle are still with the organization. Singleton appears to be blocked for the next 3or 4 years. Cosart looked terrific, however, many scouts say he'll be a 3rd, not 1st starter. I have great confidence that Amaro would not have made this trade if Singleton and Cosart were the highest ceiling prospects. I remember Gavin Floyd, who turned out to be a 4, not a 1 or 2. Carlos Carassco is starting to make progress, however, he is far from being a 1. How about a 3 or 4. I love how aggressive the Phillies are about winning! This is a trade that also was run by Mr. Gillick. This is not a bad trade!— GOLDY2007
- I hope I'm wrong but many of his mistakes seem to indicate poor instincts, both in the field and running the bases. I hope they can fix is mental lapses, but I don't know if many of them are fixable. That's why they call them "instincts"! He's been in the minors for 4 or 5 years now. If you don't develop the ability to see a ball coming at you and instinctively go all out to catch it or to just cut off an obviously uncatchable fly after 4 years in the minors I'm not sure he can change between now and April, '12. They Phillies had a wonderful talent quite a few years ago, Lonnie Smith, who hit well but couldn't seem to keep his feet under him. I hurt him in the field and on the bases. If you never heard of Lonnie Smith...that's the reason. He never did develop to the potential they thought he would.— djlen
- For what I saw Brown is not that good...He's shaky on defense and has too long of a swing. Still needs alot of work.— thomdee
- Left field is Dom's next year so hopefully he progresses properly. He will only be 24 next year so plenty of time.— shawnmac
- What ever happened to Von Hayes? Remember him?
— thomdee - He is managing the Camden Riversharks across the river from Philly. — byzeil
- I feel ya "dri_as_a_bone", and applaud your sentiments for the man. I gaurantee he knows his days as a Phillie are coming to an end. But he goes out and breaks his back there in Left, and plays with not just enthusiasm, but great gusto! All the best to Rauuuuuuuul when he leaves.— TBear
- I feel ya "dri_as_a_bone", and applaud your sentiments for the man. I gaurantee he knows his days as a Phillie are coming to an end. But he goes out and breaks his back there in Left, and plays with not just enthusiasm, but great gusto! All the best to Rauuuuuuuul when he leaves.— TBear
- Brown bashers are fools or masochists. The success this franchise for much of the next ten years rests on him. Just look at the age distribution of next year's team (assuming nothing drastic):
36: Polanco
33: Utley, Rollins, Ruiz
32: Howard
31: Victorino
29: Pence
24: Brown
Brown will be a good player and the cornerstone of the team in 2014 and beyond or THEY WILL STINK. And bad. Whether you like it not, organizational demographics make Brown the key player on, the leader of, and the bridge to the next generation of Phillies. Or they are going to have HUGE problems.
IMO, he can be a very good LF. As someone else noted, it would not be surprising to see him turn into a CF (and three hitter) by 2014.— mrnmkr - Thank you Jesus. Can I get an AMEN!— Al n SD
- Certainly not to defend Domonic Brown, but he was a better outfielder when he arrived in Philly last season. Maybe Davey Lopes used to work with the outfielders last year? Something changed this season for Brown and he became a liabilty in right field. Anyway, best of luck to Brown in AAA. Ryne Sandberg and his coaching staff are doing a great job. Brown can get regular AB'S and concentrate on left field.— Seeing Red
