Ready or not, Brown in Phils' lineup Saturday

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Friday, May 20, 2011
Posted: 7:45 p.m.Updated: 8:58 p.m.

By Jim Salisbury
CSNPhilly.com

Twenty minutes after the Phillies loss to Colorado on Thursday night, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. announced that outfielder Shane Victorino would likely be headed to the disabled list.

Amaro was asked if top prospect Domonic Brown could fill Victorinos roster spot.

Probably not, Amaro said.

Why not?

We dont think hes ready for it, Amaro said matter-of-factly.

A short while later, Amaro huddled withhis assistant, Scott Proefrock, and then met with manager Charlie Manuel. By the end of those meetings, Amaro had decided to bring Brown to Philadelphia when Victorino officially went on the DL Friday.

Theres still a question whether hes ready to play regularly, Amaro said Friday afternoon. Circumstances change and I changed my mind. We kicked it around and decided it was the best thing to do.

In the meeting between Amaro and Manuel, themanager assured theGM that he believed he could ease Brown into the lineup in a way that would enhance the 23-year-old outfielder's development without asking him to do something he wasnt ready for. Brown will not play against left-handed pitchers until Manuel believes hes ready for it. Thats why he did not start against Texas lefty C.J. Wilson on Friday night. Brown will start in rightfield against righthander Colby Lewis on Saturday night.

Ruben and I talked a long time, Manuel said. Ruben was very concerned about Domonics development. Hed only played 11 games at Triple A this season. Ruben wanted Domonic to be doing exceptionally well for a couple of weeks when we brought him up. We talked about my plans for him and decided if it would make the team better, why not do it?

The more we talked we came to the conclusion it was what we wanted to do. I think Domonic can handle this and we can help him along.

This is Browns second tour of duty with the Phillies. He joined the club when Victorino went on the disabled list with an oblique strain last July and hit .210 in 35 games. Brown played just sporadically when Victorino returned and his physical development suffered. He tried to recoup lost time by playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic but returned home after getting just two hits in 29 at-bats.

The Phillies planned to give Brown a long look in spring training, but he began the spring 0 for 15 with nine strikeouts and broke a bone in his hand on his 16th at-bat. The plan was for Brown to get significant time at Triple A once he became healthy, but Victorinos injury coupled with the Phils recent offensive problemsthey are getting little production from right fieldled the organization to bring up Brown. Veterans Delwyn Young and Ronnie Belliard were also considered, but Amaro admitted that he found Brown more appealing.

In a perfect world he would have stayed at Triple A, Amaro said. But hes going to have to do some developing here.

It appears as if Brown will platoon with Ben Francisco in rightfield for a while, but the goal is for him to get more playing time as the season progresses and take over one of the corner outfield spots by next season.

With Victorino on the DL, John Mayberry Jr. will get an extended look in centerfield. He started there Friday night. Michael Martinez will also get some time there.

Brown got word of his promotion from Lehigh Valley manager Ryan Sandberg while the team was in Scranton on Friday morning. Brown said he was unaware of Amaros saying he was not ready the night before.

I feel like Im always ready, Brown said. I felt like I was ready the day I signed. Thats just the expectation I put on myself.

Brown, a lanky, left-handed hitter with a sweeping swing that reminds some of Darryl Strawberrys, was the Phillies minor-league player of the year in 2010 when he hit .327 with 20 homers and 68 RBIs in 93 games at Double A and Triple A. His swing suffered as his playing time decreased in the majors last season and he tinkered with different hand positions. He is now carrying his hands high as he did during his rise through the minors. Recently he has swung the bat well. He hit .341 (14 for 41) with two homers and 10 RBIs in 11 games at Lehigh Valley this season.

Im ready to do whatever the club asks me, Brown said. Hopefully Ill produce at a high level. My goal is to stay here.

E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com

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