Brown still here; batting second
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Brown still here; batting second
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Yes, everyone's least favorite baseball player ever is still here. And not only is Domonic Brown here, he is batting second for the Phillies as they open a three-game series against Pittsburgh.
Brown is the subject of rampant trade rumors from numerous media outlets, some of which may be true, and some of which may not be. It's important to remember this time of year that a well-planted smoke screen can be a team's best friend.
So for now, Brown is batting second for the fifth time in his career. He did it four times earlier this season. In 19 July games, Brown is hitting .303 with a .789 OPS.
This also could be the last hurrah for Wilson Valdez, who starts for the first time in two weeks. He could find himself out of a major-league job this weekend when Placido Polanco is activated from the disabled list.
It's Roy Halladay vs. Mini Roy Halladay (Charlie Morton).
1. Jimmy Rollins 6
2. Domonic Brown 9
3. Chase Utley 4
4. Ryan Howard 3
5. Shane Victorino 8
6. Raul Ibanez 7
7. Carlos Ruiz 2
8. Wilson Valdez 5
9. Roy Halladay 1
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
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I would take Michael Bourn back from Houston before Pence. Better future, don't care about whether he hits left or right, he just hits!— JoeC.- only 9: it is no wonder that NO ONE responds to your racial invectives. Get a life!!!!!— billroc35
- I wonder what happened between Gelb and Valdez. Gelb bizarrely consistently bashes Valdez every chance he gets. Really kind of strange.— Truth B. Told
- Brown batting second? Brown has never batted 2nd, he's being traded and Mayberry will take his place in the order.— ldt6143
- My guess is that Adam Eaton still holds the "least favorite" or "most despised" Phillie title.
- AS A RAYS FAN SECOND...YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE STRIKEOUT AFTER STRIKEOUT TO KIL A RALLY DO YOU ???THAT'S WHAT GOING ON AT THE TROP
WITH BJ Upton AT BAT .....TRUST ME ON THIS...PHILADELPIA PHIL— onephillyphil - RE:Yes, everyone's least favorite baseball player ever is still here.
You people constantly complain about the competency of the Phila. sportswriters, but, they are forced to write down to your level. Many of you comprehend on a third grade level and don't UNDERSTAND that Matt was being facetious, tongue in cheek.Bill Conlin is perceieved as being arrogant, but he realizes he is wasting his incredible writing skills on neanderthals. Your insults of him and other writers are the epitome of immaturity and low IQ.When your only comeback on someone is to comment on their looks only serves to perpetrate the perception of the Phila. fans ignorance!GROW UP!
— buenavista - Thank you. Only you and Dave Clemens (above) spoke out. It was such obvious hyperbole that it could only be tongue in cheek. Maybe the writer had to dumb it down even more -- "the most hated, evil ballplayer in Philadelphia history." No, people still wouldn't get it. — PhilaLogic
- Ruben is taking on water— shawnmac
- Least favorite player ever???---oh sorry forgot Phillies baseball history only dates back to April 2008. Same people that wanted to rush him up here now bashing a 23 year old kid with a great future. Philly press just continues to bash players with their unrealistic and short term expectations. Try coming down on Ibanez who is finished. At some point the present will become the past once the Aces become the Jokers with no position players coming through the system.— hdog
- Only a fat hack writer would use careless words about a 23 year old phenom such as "the least favorite player ever." You are not witty, nor are you knowledgeable. Go do the truffle shuffle someplace because you're out of your element. Nobody should be fawning over Pence, an extremely average player. We didn't trade Brown for Halladay, why would we do it for Hunter Pence? A guy who Dom Brown will be better than in just a few years. Hack.— philaflava
- No clue why anyone would possibly be down on Brown? Wake up people! Unless you're Albert Pujols, position players don't normally come into the league and destroy everyone. I like Pence. Quite a bit, actually. And I would LOVE to see that kind of consistent bat in the Phils' lineup. But giving up the kind of player Dom is? No way.— sicarius
- And the reason Philies had no deals today was because the god RAJ was busy making the Nnamdi deal happen for the Iggles.— philaflava
- Brown will grow into a good player.... right now it is ryan howard who is really underperforming!!! Why don't we see more of Mayberry... he has been great at first and at bat....— westie33
