Posted: Saturday, August 1, 2009, 9:18 PM | 17 comments |
 

Dominic Brown promoted to Reading, rotation updates
options
 

Dominic Brown was not traded for Roy Halladay, of course, and today the Phillies promoted their top prospect (per Baseball America) to Double-A Reading. Assistant general manager Chuck LaMar said that the team was days away from promoting Brown before the outfielder broke a finger June 9 and missed more than a month.

“That was a tough break for him,” said LaMar. “But he’s healthy again and he made this promotion an easy decision.”

Brown was batting .303 in 66 games at Clearwater with 11 home runs, 44 runs batted, a .386 on-base percentage, and .517 slugging percentage. The Phillies were able to snagthe highly-regarded Brown in the 20th round of the 2006 amateur draft because he had committed to play wide receiver for the University of Miami.
           
LaMar drafted another two-sport star in 1999 while serving as general manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Carl Crawford. Crawford developed into an All-Star, though Lamar said that Brown showed baseball savvy earlier than Crawford. 
 
“Absolutely, it took him longer,” said LaMar. “Carl would be the first one to admit that. Dominic has shown at every level that he can play the game of baseball, that he is a baseball player who just happens to be a good athlete.”
 
***
Two small updates in the developing saga of Six Starters is Too Many: J.A. Happ says he has heard nothing beyond that he will start on Wednesday. His preference is to remain in the rotation, but he'll do what they tell him to do, of course.
 
Also, Clifff Lee will make his Citizens Bank Park debut Thursday against Colorado. 
Posted by Andy Martino @ 9:18 PM  Permalink | 17 comments
17
Comments   
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:38 PM, 08/01/2009
    I was not aware of the reason that Brown dropped so far. That's good to know about the ability of the scouts and front office.
    — HandNik
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:43 AM, 08/02/2009
    fast track this kid, maybe he can hit a off-speed pitch.
    — theanswer80
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:45 AM, 08/02/2009
    It is always good to hear that some young guys are moving up through the system. And, if Brown does well the rest of the year at Reading, next year he will probably be up to AAA ball. Great!
    — jodimark
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:04 AM, 08/02/2009
    Get Moyer out of the rotation, make him a coach and he can still partially earn his ridiculous salary. Happ is a starter, and to take him out of that position only underminds his progress as a starter. Moyer is obviously not the Phils future, and I love him to death, but this game isn't about love, it's about winning. And I love winning more!
    — Bleue
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:31 AM, 08/02/2009
    Why is Happ being discussed as being moved to the bullpen? Moyer should be moved and only allowed to start against the Marlins.
    — Theo1980
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:33 AM, 08/02/2009
    Going into the stretch run, we are going to take out the starter with the lowest ERA and keep the guy who gives up 2`runs more per 9? and can't go more than 6 innings? Moyer = Pitching Coach.
    — AllDawk_AllTheTime
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:26 AM, 08/02/2009
    Savery promoted to 'pigs.
    — mick314
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:13 AM, 08/02/2009
    J Happ has earned a spot in the rotation...Moyer?, Pedro?...please!
    — PHILLYMARK
  • Comment removed.
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:16 AM, 08/02/2009
    The Phils can sign Cliff Lee, Joe Blanton, Cole Hamels, Shane, and anybody they want if they can get rid of Whiff Howard by 2011. His salary will be hogging up payroll by then.
    — NiceToBeHere
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:17 AM, 08/02/2009
    As Raul cools down next year, Brown and Taylor become that much more valuable. And Happ, he can do it in the Pen or in the rotation. He has the moxey to do either. As to Jaime, I think he must be a spot starter from now on with Pedro coming in. At the best, these two are now 5 inning guys. So hopefully with Clay, Chad, JC, and Brett coming back before the Phils go on a prolonged slump, the staff should be way better by mid-Aug. And please, please, cannot the team do something about disposing of Eric? He might be a nice guy and versatile but he cannot hit at all. And our catchers? Well, that will have to be something that Ruben really looks into over the winter. Time for two changes there.
    — KGKoons


17 comments | View All Comments | View All By Latest
View comments: 1  |  2
About Matt Gelb and Bob Brookover












Bob Brookover and Matt Gelb team up for their third straight season covering the Phillies for the Inquirer and philly.com.

This is Brookover’s second stint writing about the Phillies, having joined the coverage team after seven years as an Eagles beat writer. Brookover was hired by The Inquirer in 2000 as the Phillies beat writer after spending 13 years writing about the team for two suburban newspapers. While on the Eagles beat, Brookover, who had covered just two winning Phillies teams in 15 seasons, saw the Phillies move into a cash-cow new ballpark and begin playing a brand of the game he found unrecognizable. Follow him on Twitter here.

Gelb is in his third season covering the Phillies. He was hired by The Inquirer in August 2009 after graduating from Syracuse University. He has also covered baseball at The Star-Ledger and Cape Cod Times. Born and raised in Bucks County, he attended Central Bucks High School West. Follow him on Twitter here.
To submit a question for Matt Gelb's Phillies mailbag, click here.

Join on Facebook    Follow on Twitter

Advertise Here
BASEBALL NEWS FROM PHILLY.COM
Papelbon thrives on pressure
Regular season only half the battle
Amaro true to form in getting Papelbon
Phillies fans should enjoy the ride
The Phillies Zone: Halladay arrives in style
Phils face questions in left
Latest Phillies Videos