Well…that is just stupid.  I understand that Brown has struggled in his limited opportunities, but you have to take into consideration how spread out his opportunities have been, as well.  Brown has 246 at bats in parts of two seasons in the Majors.  He is hitting just .236 but he has 13 2B, 7 HR, 32 RBI and 5 SB, along with a decent but not spectacular 59/30 K/BB.

Clearly, Brown hasn’t set the world on fire in his limited auditions, but he has shown his tools, which include speed, power, and the ability to take a walk.  He doesn’t have a whole lot to prove in the Minors at this point.  Certainly, if you look at his Triple-A career, Brown’s 2011 was mediocre.  He hit just .261 in 41 games in 2011, but he hit .346 in 28 games in 2010, combining for a .298 average with 12 2B, 8 HR, 36 RBI, 17 SB and 56/36 K/BB in 245 Triple-A at bats.  He probably could have done better than the .245/.289/.419 line that Raul Ibanez struggled to amass in 535 at bats in 2011.

Instead, the Phillies will allow Domonic Brown to sit in the Minors at the age of 24 (he won’t be 25 until next September).  He will “develop” by facing washed up journeymen in Lehigh Valley instead of at the Major League level.  His 6’5″, 205 pound frame will continue to strike fear into the Indianapolis Indians and Louisville Bats, instead of building a foundation of youth to Philadelphia.  Why would you want to play Brown when you can buy someone else?  Maybe losing Ryan Howard to his achilles tendon injury, Jimmy Rollins and Raul Ibanez to Free Agency one year after losing Jayson Werth, and building a team out of aces instead of offense is the way that Ruben Amaro, Jr. wants to win.  It didn’t work this year, though.  Sure, they won over 100 games, but the offense wasn’t there in their series against St. Louis.  They need another fear factor and Brown could be that guy.  He is a toolsy, talented young player.

John Mayberry, Jr. will get the main look before Brown.  He’ll be 28 on Opening Day and hit .273/.341/.513 in 267 at bats in 2011 with 17 2B and 15 HR.  He is also a monster at 6’6″, 230 pounds, but his right-handed bat fits better between Utley, Howard and Rollins.  Maybe one of them can carve out a role at first with Howard out.  The question long-term for Philadelphia is: how can they win for a long period of time without developing their own talent?  Paying for Lee, Halladay, Howard, and Oswalt got them to the NLDS this season and sold out all of their games, but what about five years from now?  Mayberry is good.  Brown could be better.  They shouldn’t be so quick to judge talent.  Look how that Ibanez contract worked out for them when they signed a 37-year-old to a 3-year, $31.5 million deal.  HGH and steroids weren’t around for that decline.