Skip to content
Phillies
Link copied to clipboard

Phillies Notes: Brown adjusting to not being an everyday player

Phillies leftfielder Domonic Brown is attempting to take his decreased playing time in stride. Brown, who has also missed time in two different periods with tonsillitis, has been in the starting lineup for 95 of 128 games, including Friday's matchup with the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park.

Domonic Brown. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)
Domonic Brown. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)Read more

Phillies leftfielder Domonic Brown is attempting to take his decreased playing time in stride.

Brown, who has also missed time in two different periods with tonsillitis, has been in the starting lineup for 95 of 128 games, including Friday's matchup with the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park.

Yet he has started just 23 games combined in July and August after averaging 24 starts in each of the previous three months.

"It's difficult to get into a rhythm when you are not playing every day, but I am taking what they give me and making sure I am ready to go," Brown said before Friday's game.

Brown entered the game hitting. 226 with seven home runs, 54 RBIs and a .615 OPS. This came a year after he was a National League all-star.

"I really had one bad month in May," he said. "I look at other numbers, my power numbers are down but my RBIs are the same."

Brown hit .146 with a .503 OPS in May.

The other month where he has batted below .250 is the current one, when he entered the game hitting .172.

Brown says he isn't looking at the end of this season as an audition period, either to the Phillies or other teams.

"No, not at all," he said. "I am part of the Phillies, and I will do everything I can to help make this team successful and win baseball games, and whenever they call my name I will be ready."

Lakewood extension

The Phillies have agreed to a two-year extension through the 2016 season with their low single-A affiliate, the Lakewood BlueClaws.

Lakewood has been a Phillies affiliate since its 2001 inception.

Castillo to Red Sox

The Phillies had been reportedly in the running for Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo, who came to terms on Friday with the Boston Red Sox. Multiple outlets had the deal through 2020 for $72.5 million.

Another Cuban who has been linked to the Phillies once he hits the market is Yasmani Tomas, a 23-year-old power-hitting corner outfielder.

Taney tribute

The Taney baseball team from Philadelphia, which captivated the area with its run in the Little League World Series, will be honored at Wednesday's game at Citizens Bank Park against the Washington Nationals.

Bonnie Clark, the Phillies vice president of communications, said some of the details are still being worked out, but the tribute will take place before the game on the field.

Sizemore in the future?

Grady Sizemore has seen his playing time and batting average decrease lately, but Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said 32-year-old outfielder could be part of the Phillies future plans.

Sizemore joined the Phillies on July 11 and hit .347 in his first 20 games. Since Aug. 11, he has started two games. Sizemore, who was not in Friday's starting lineup, entered the weekend with a .301 average.

After not playing in 2012 and 2013 due to various injuries, Sizemore is healthy, according to Sandberg.

Even though he has seen limited time, Sizemore shouldn't be counted out as a roster candidate beyond this season, Sandberg said.

"I think he would be considered for next year," Sandberg said. "It's important also to see what the other guys, with these games, how they can fit in for next year."

Of course if he has limited playing time, Sizemore would likely look to move on.