Undue pressure leaves Brown lost in his own head

Domonic Brown, whose hands should be higher or lower depending on the advice he’s taking that day, will sit for the first time this spring.

Beerleaguer: On a team as strong as the Phillies, and with other options in place, Brown should have had a nice, soft landing as the Phillies ease him into the Major Leagues. Instead, 24-hour news cycles, niche television networks and hyper-focused Web sites like this one have cast him into a “Truman Show” of sorts, where there’s no escape from our gaze, not even in the dark obscurity of the Dominican Winter League. Here’s a brief window into Brown’s world, posted this morning from the Inquirer’s Matt Gelb via Twitter: “MLB Network does segment on Brown's swing. Everyone in clubhouse watching. It ends as Brown walks through room. Awkward.”

Brown, who struck out twice and is 0-for-12 with eight strikeouts in his first four games, will continue to earn steady looks this spring, but the simple fact is there isn’t any true urgency for Brown to nail it. The Phillies are built around pitching, he's a lefty bat in a lineup already loaded with them and Ben Francisco will be their point person in right. He's a top prospect, sure, but he's 23 and played in only 28 games at Triple-A.

In the meantime, Brown continues to tinker with the most scrutinized batting stance of spring. “In a couple of days, I’ll be fine,” he told CSNPhilly’s Jim Salisbury. “I’m not pressing or anything. It’s just going to take some time. The results will come. If I go to Triple-A I go to Triple-A. But it’s too early to discuss that right now.” Tell that to Beerleaguer.

Today: Oswalt.

Comments

[donc]

Jack: Take note. BAP and Gtown have got negativity down to a science. You've got a way to go. Embrace your inner panty waste.

[Gsl]

Sometimes I get to the point where I wonder if I should read BL anymore.

But then something like this happens:

I'm disappointed Chooch didn't have two babies.

Posted by: Bedrosian's Beard | Wednesday, March 02, 2011 at 01:10 PM

I giggle to myself and am reminded why its still worth it.

[Old Phan]

Does anyone really need a specific day to kvetch about the offense?

[Willard Preacher]

I've heard that Mathieson is basically the savior of this staff (even seen that he should replace Lidge as closer), so that doesn't surprise me, BAP.

I do believe that it was last season where Mathieson stole the title of "Greatest Alternative Not Being Given A Shot" right out from underneath Zagurski and the immortal Kris Benson.

[Jbird]

I miss Anna Benson

[Willard Preacher]

Old Phan, for me clout day is less about the delineating date at which we should be allowed to make predictions, than it is about the day that JW posts that ridiculous picture that somehow basically manifested itself to be EXACTLY how I would picture clout looks in real life. Uncanny, actually.

[Bedrosian's Beard]

I propose the creation of a "Beerleaguer Bankruptcy" clause. When enacted by a BL poster, preferably on/or right before Opening Day, his/her entire past history of BL postings will be wiped clean, and he/she will be able to change an opinion that has been accepted as BL fact. Never again, can that Beerleaguer's past history be held against him/her.

[Willard Preacher]

Screw it, I'm not waiting...

I predict that DPatrone's source will be revealed this season to be none other than Eric the Actor.

I could be wrong, but I have a pretty good gut feeling on this one.

[Willard Preacher]

BB, with an "mvptommyd" exclusion component?

[Andy]

clout day is always March 20th.

[Bedrosian's Beard]

WP: Since the esteemed self described MVP has been banned, he/she cannot invoke the "Beerleaguer Bankruptcy" clause, thus the "size of third baseman" joke can be used as much possible.

[CJ]

Jack at 3:14:
"I wouldn't want to jump the gun here, right?"

Jack at 3:22:
"I will say this: all those people who wanted the Phils to be more of a "small-ball", contact-oriented team with less strikeouts and less home runs have gotten their wish. I hope they enjoy it."

I'm glad to see Jack isn't jumping the gun!

[Iceman]

Jack really trying to hone his "I'm going to imply a bunch of things, but not going to give a concrete prediction so I can back out of it at a later date" skills this Spring Training. My source tells me we'll be seeing a lot of that this season.

[Old Phan]

My source agrees with Iceman's source.

[lorecore]

bbeard "I propose the creation of a "Beerleaguer Bankruptcy" clause. When enacted by a BL poster, preferably on/or right before Opening Day, his/her entire past history of BL postings will be wiped clean"

or acording to everyone who keeps addressing me as phlipper, you can just change your screenname.

[Bedrosian's Beard]

Phlipp..lorecore: Problem is, I think we all know everyone's writing style by now.

[brohamel]

Watch Brown become the 2011 R.O.Y./World Series MVP! Anything is possible with our rotation! Even back to back to back to back no-hitters... Hamels is DUE. YA GOTTA BELIEVE.

[bay_area_phan]

BB: Your plan would mean the end of some of my favorite schticks on Beerleaguer. Like the schtick where everyone makes fun of DPatrone and his source. Or the one where clout says that no fan has ever loved a player as much as Jack loved Pedro Feliz. Or the one where Truth Injection scolds MG for ranting about the Phillies' broadcast team and the AA team's promotional gimmicks. Not to mention that there could be no more jokes about Jose Contreras's date of birth.

[clout]

lorecore: In case you missed his earlier post about you, JW has already confirmed you are a screen name changer. So you can drop the "according to."

[Gsl]

Or the schtick where BAP is, in fact, chicken little.

[lorecore]

was referring to the "wipe history clean" when adding 'according to'.

Per Jayson Stark on 97.5, JC was looking sharp in his B game, good velocity and threw lots of strikes.

[CJ]

Does that mean I wouldn't be called a front-office shill anymore?

I'm giving serious thought to this Beerleaguer Bankruptcy.

[clout]

Just to be clear, March 20 has nothing to do with predictions.

It is simply a demarcation line. From that day forward, posters who use spring training results as part of their analysis are considered reasonable people.

Prior to that day, posters who draw conclusions from spring training stats are marked as idiots.

An example: all posters who've used the first 4 games of ST to draw conclusions about Dom Brown are idiots.

I hope this helps.

[Jack]

Iceman: You missed the joke, didn't you?

[denny b.]

Was the game today that boring?

Anything of note happen in the actual game?

[Bedrosian's Beard]

BAP: That would only be if DPatrone declares "Beerleaguer Bankruptcy". If not, you can poke fun at his sources all you wish.

[bay_area_phan]

clout: Just so I'm clear on the rules. . . does this demarcation line kick in at midnight on March 20, or do I have to wait until that day's game against the Yankees is finished before I can start using spring training numbers?

[brohamel]

Here are my DREAM 2011 Season Stats + PLAYOFF Line-up/Rotation/Bullpen/Mid-season Trade Projections-

Philadelphia Phillies Record (129-33)

Playoff Line-up:

1. Ichiro RF (Left) .329 BA, 8 HR, 38 SB, 72 RBI
2. Victorino CF (Switch) .272 BA, 16 HR, 64 RBI
3. Utley 2B (Left) .408 BA, 32 HR, 126 RBI, MVP
4. Howard 1B (Left) .255 BA, 47 HR, 142 RBI, 300 K
5. Rollins SS (Switch) .312 BA, 23 HR, 72 RBI, 31 SB
6. Ruiz C (Right) .264 BA, 18 HR, 97 RBI
7. Ibanez LF (Left) .281 BA, 27 HR, 87 RBI
8. Lopez 3B (Right) .244 BA, 58 RBI

Playoff Rotation:

1. Hamels (27-2, 0.72 ERA, NL Cy Young)
2. Halladay (24-6, 1.74 ERA)
3. Lee (22-4, 1.80 ERA)
4. Oswalt (20-8, 1.97 ERA)

TRADES:

Dealt- Blanton SP, Polanco 3B, Brown RF, Francisco RF

Aquired- Lopez 3B, Ichiro RF

RUBE ALWAYS DOES SOMETHING HUGE.

[dlhunter]

My sources say the Wilpons are very interested in this whole Beerleaguer Bankruptcy thing...

[CJ]

denny b.: Beerleaguer Spring Training Superstar of years gone by, John Mayberry Jr., had a ground rule double and a home run.

Rule 5 utilty superstar Michael Martinez joined Jr. with a HR in the bottom of the 9th comeback effort that came up one run short.

Like Cliff Lee, our other ace, Roy Oswalt, was rocked in his 2 innings of work (2 hits, 1 walk, 1 run, 1 K).

Brad Lidge perfected his slide step by giving up a run on 3 hits... oh and allowed a stolen base.

The Vanimal have up 4 hits in his two innings, also allowing a run.

De Fratus took another step toward securing his roster spot (at AAA) giving up 2 runs on 3 hits.

[Willard Preacher]

CJ, are you implying that DeFratus will be at AAA based on his last two outings? If so, clout says you're an idiot.

[CJ]

Willard: No, DeFratus will be at AAA because he won't be one of our 7 best relievers. His recent outings merely confirm that. I don't believe he's been a legit contender for a bullpen spot:

Lidge, Madson, Contreras, Romero, Bastardo, Kendrick all appear to be locks unless Blanton gets dealt. That leaves just one spot and DeFratus isn't at the top of that list. It would take a colossal collapse by some veterans for him to win a role.

[CJ]

Williard: Besides... did you not recognize that my recap was dripping with snark? Do you also think that I believe Martinez is a superstar and that Roy Oswalt was rocked?

[Willard Preacher]

CJ, so was mine...

Besides, it's not like the first (or last) time clout would have called either of us an idiot.

[The Truth Injection]

I'm never giving up my ability to talk at MG about the broadcast team and the Reading Phillies. It's about .001% of the small joys in my life.

On a more serious note about the "predictions" thing. I like that people make the predictions. Some turn out wrong, some turn out right. I just wish that when people's things were wrong they would own up to it and then move on. In some weird manner to prove they were right, they continue to argue inanely. As a general rule in life, "You are allowed to be wrong."

[awh]

"Why does dude keep making statements that characterize Phillies fans like this. Is he trying single-handedly to destroy our national reputation that we have built up over the years??"

PhilliesDude, I have thought the same thing myself. Nothing gives me more pleasure than hearing other team's players comment about the fans in Philly.

If we're in their heads that much, then WE ARE the 10th man.

[CJ]

I was wrong about Jamie Moyer was back when I first declared him Washed Up™. For the record, though, I may not have been wrong... just premature!

[clout]

WP: Some people just get that title because I'm in a crabby mood. Others earn it.

You earned it.

[Old Phan]

I predict the Phillies will win the pennant.

Whew, that was risky.

[Willard Preacher]

clout, thanks a bunch. I've been training hard. I even developed patellar tendinitis in the process. It's great to be recognized, though.

[awh]

My nomination for

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

I miss Anna Benson.

Posted by: Jbird

[Old Phan]

"I was wrong about Jamie Moyer was back when I first declared him Washed Up™. For the record, though, I may not have been wrong... just premature!"

That can be said about anyone, no? Eventually they're all washed up.

[the ultimate source, who is the brother of the third cousin who is married to the daughter-in-law that lives next to the nephew of the wife of groundskeeper who talks to the batboy who gets it straight from the clubhouse attendant who overheard RAJ's cous]

I predict Jack will eventually be exposed as being none other than Niurka Mateo.

[awh]

Who am I?:

I was called up May 25th 1951, and proceed to go 1 for 26 and post .038/.219/.154 slash line my first 7 games.

Should I have been sent down again?

[awh]

Better Anna Benson link:

http://www.popcrunch.com/the-25-hottest-baseball-player-wives-and-girlfriends-anna-benson/

[Old Phan]

Please no more Anna Benson links. I'm trying to get some work done.

[Meyer]

Willie (BenFrancisco see the ball hit the ball) Mays.

[Jack]

Old Phan: Predicting the Phils will win the NL? That is risky.

They should be, even as the best team in the NL, about a 35-40% bet to win the NL. Too many things can go wrong in two series (along with the small, but non-zero, chance they can miss the playoffs entirely) to consider them a >50% chance to win the NL.

[bay_area_phan]

6 predictions I got wrong:

1. Danys Baez will be a solid addition to the Phillies' bullpen;

2. Lou Marson will be a better major league catcher than the horrible Carlos Ruiz;

3. The Phillies' playoff hopes are over (stated some time in 2007);

4. The Phillies' playoff hopes are over (stated some time in 2008);

5. The Phillies' playoff hopes are over (stated some time in 2009);

6. The Phillies' playoff hopes are over (stated some time in 2010).

There. I feel cleansed.

[Will Schweitzer]

I've noticed that I tend to mentally imagine the Gregory House character reading clout's posts as if they were his lines.

[MG]

TTI: My rant about the Phils' broadcasts are only about the TV crew and frankly I can't think of a single supporter of TMac. I also might be one of the few people who actually likes Wheels somewhat too. Definitely rather have him than Sarge.

Still waiting to see if TMac can actually identify a single offspeed pitch instead of just calling every single one a 'breaking pitch' and the announcement by Chuck LaMar or someone in the FO that the Reading Phils' roster is 'loaded with talent' or something to that affect this spring.

Insane prediction - There are rumors/second-hand stories that Sarge doesn't enjoy working with TMac or Wheels. Hell, there was that video that surfaced last year where it was really awkward between TMac and Sarge because they were on the air.

At some point this year, 'Angry' Sarge breaks through the facade and semi-loses it and takes a real dig at TMac on the air.

[MG]

Channeling Rod Roddy:

"C'mon down De Fratus! Your the next bullpen pitcher slated for Lehigh!"

[Willard Preacher]

MG - "Insane prediction - There are rumors/second-hand stories..."

Yet another prediction prior to clout day. Ugh...

[MG]

More successful using a slide move:

Brad Lidge or the cast in Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo?

[Meyer]

I propose the Chides of March Day as pre-Cloutian Day.

[Iceman]

Jack- yeah I got it. But it's a technique you use so often I assumed you were just getting some practice time in.

[Iceman]

MG- my guess would be TMac would take a dig at Sarge and not the other way around. If we're thinking of the same video, it was TMac that looked disgusted and Sarge just kind of looked like the doofus he always looks like.

Either way, I'd be thrilled if your prediction came true. TMac takes himself way too seriously.

[MG]

Iceman - It would be really surprising but you get the sense that none of the TV pairings really like working with one another from their on-air chemistry.

Curious to see if they go with the same on-air TV schedule again this year with Wheels-TMac from 1-3 & 7-9, and Sarge-TMac from 4-6. All I know is that I generally never appreciated Wheels as much as last year when he would return in the 7th inning.

[cut_fastball]

The heck with clout day -- we still need to:

* get Utley back (and how's that gonna happen without "debridement" surgery on the Patella tendon?)
* see Ryan Howard hit a "dinger" (what a thrill! Think it will ever happen?)
* see "Ji mmmmeee Rolllins" stay off the DL for more than 90 days
* make sure that Dom Brown can hit a tossed baseball

[/sarcasm off]

[clout]

MG: Easy. The cast of "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo."

No one's ever stolen a base on them.

[dlhunter]

Michael Klein in the Inqy suggests Franzke might be out the door after this year (I hope not)...

Since you've asked: The Phillies say there will be no change in the radio and TV teams for the 2011 season. Scott Franzke, who during the off-season has been mentioned in the same breath as the Texas Rangers, is entering the third year of his three-year deal.

http://articles.philly.com/2011-02-20/news/28612940_1_scott-franzke-radio-talker-wmmr

[awh]

It would be a major loss if the Phillies lose Franzke.

Dave Montgomery better get off his ass and get the broadcast situation straightened out. Of course, maybe they think TBag has something to do with the record ratings, which is just about as foolish as letting Bill Giles run the franchise again (then again, I've always thought Montgomery answered to Giles, who's still the Chairman).

I know others here have posted links to devices that will help sync up the audio of radio with a TV broadcast. Please do so again as I've just had a sinking feeling thinking I'll have to listen to TBag every time I watch the Phils on the Telly.

[awh]

Yo, y'all, chill.

Howie says the offense will be fine:

http://www.foxsportsflorida.com/msn/03/01/11/Howard-hoping-to-spark-Phillies-offense/landing_grapefruit.html?blockID=430808&feedID=8768

[PhilliesDude]

awl - I totally agree with you. Losing Franzke after this year to Texas or another mlb team is just not an option that the Phillies should entertain. I honestly don't have one friend who doesn't exponentially prefer Franzke & Andersen to the other Phils' announcers.

[baxter]

With Werth gone and Utley hurt, it concerns me that Howard might be our only true power threat. Lets be real- home runs have won us a lot of games over the past few years. Even if Howard has an MVP type season, he might not have any protection in this lineup. We NEED Brown to step up and at least hit .270 with 20 hrs.

[Clearly Not NEPP]

***Brad Lidge perfected his slide step by giving up a run on 3 hits... oh and allowed a stolen base.***

That's Lidgetastic!!!

[Schmitty's Stache]

Is a shame that LA will never get on-air. The way he goes after umps and their strike zones, or lack there of, is the reason I listen.
Sarge is entertaining in his own way...
"See, what you got to do there, is grab the thing, and jam it in there, etc..."

[Will Schweitzer]

"Lets be real- home runs have won us a lot of games over the past few years"

That might as well have been 100 years ago for the relevance it bares on 2011.

The Phillies are not an offensive threat in the National League. That's not to say that we're a light hitting team, but opposing pitchers do not fear our lineup.

They DO, however, fear their own lineup is not up to the Halladay / Lee / Hamels / Oswalt challenge.

The Phillies are based on pitching. The days of half the lineup hitting 20+ HR are over.

[Schmitty's Stache]

"The Phillies are not an offensive threat in the National League"

We had the best line-up 1 thru 8 last year which was decimated by injuries. Subtract Werth, and now the the Phillies aren't an offensive threat...WOW...chicken little

>>>>116 Ws

[Gsl]

Runners on second or third base will have a better chance of scoring since Werth left.

[EastFallowfield]

Yo, newer thread