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Sunday May.26, 2013

With six of his nine Home Runs and 16 of his 27 RBI coming in the last 21 games, it would not surprise me to see Brown bat more often in the 5-hole behind vs. any opposing team’s right-handed pitching. If only the rest of the Phillies could be producing like Brown has been lately, there would be another chance to win an NL East Division like shown here. The ‘Phightins’ have a chance to draw even with the Nationals today – and claim a record of .500 once again at 25 – 25.

By Chris Creighton (Phillies Correspondent via http://www.warrroomphilly.com – visit the website here)  Follow @WARROOMPHLCHRIS

Domonic Brown is starting to put it together again. Well, almost. He’s had quite a productive month of May, but with one glaring statistical anomaly: Domonic Brown hasn’t taken a walk since April 30th.

Hard to ride him on it since he’s been semi-raking, but no doubt teams will begin to notice that he’s recognizing fat pitches to drive early in the count. Over the next series or two you will see that opposing teams will be very cautious in their introductions to Brown, that is if their scouts are any good.

It will be up to Dom Brown to make the adjustment and wait them out in order to continue on his torrid pace. He may actually have to take a walk or two, but in my opinion, that will only help his cause.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/26/2013.

Last night in Washington, Brown smoked the first pitches he saw in the second and eighth innings in the Phillies win over the Nationals, both with damaging results. It began when Nationals starter, Dan Haren, floated a hanging curve with two outs in the second inning of a scoreless contest between National League East rivals.

Hungry as he’s been when stepping to the plate, Brown sizzled the ball into the right-center field bleachers. Oddly enough, Kurt Suzuki called for the same pitch to the next batter, catcher Erik Kratz, which was also deposited over the fence, this time to left-center.

In the eighth inning, once again Brown’s eyes were as big as saucers as he drilled a first-pitch fastball into the right-center field gap which plated Michael Martinez, who was running with two outs for the not-so-fleet-of-foot Delmon Young. This would add a big insurance run in the 5-3 victory

Taking nothing away from what he’s been able to do this month, Brown has ventured into an area where very few players toil. Since April 30th, he’s been able to raise his average from .233 to .262 and increase his Slugging Percentage from .372 to .471, but he’s actually reduced his On Base Percentage from .309 to .301.

This kind of productivity defines the difference between being impatient at the plate versus having the ability to recognize pitches early, but word will certainly get around the league in a hurry. It will be then that his patience will be put to this test.

If he can detect that he’s not being served those first or second pitch cookies with regularity and if his patience can induce a few walks, he will only become a tougher out behind Howard, giving The Big Piece Ryan Howard better pitches of his own to swat.

So stay tuned, Phillies fans, and pay attention to what happens to the middle of this lineup over the next few games. It could very well become the turning point of this young 2013 season. Here’s to hoping it’s for the better.

Either way, if he remains in the 6th spot in the lineup, Domonic Larun Brown will bolster the middle of this Phillies lineup if he can continue to drive the ball with regularity. As I always explain hitting to those who’ll listen as having so much to do with “who’s up next”, Brown’s bashing will help Delmon Young see better pitches. If Delmon Young can also begin to get hot, the domino-effect would hopefully then fall to Howard. It’s no fluke that Young has done his own mini-mashing over the past four games following Brown’s 8-for-20 torrent over the previous five, perhaps making this writer eat some crow.  Brown is hitting for a 3 Slash of .262/.301/.771 – with 9 HRs and 27 RBI in 172 AB for the 2013 campaign.  He is on pace for about 30 HRs and 90+ RBI if he plays every game out the rest of the way.

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com or their partners.***

A big thank – you goes out to our Philadelphia Phillies Correspondent Chris Creighton for preparing today’s featured post.  Chris is a Phillies Phan, Baseball fan & player. He thinks that there is no better place for food and is a  proponent of the city of Philadelphia. Huge U2 fan. Phillies writer at  http://www.warroomphilly.com .

Chris says:  “Follow a Web Show covering everything in the Philadelphia Sports Scene. Sit back and enjoy from the hearts of two die-hard Philly guys here !  You can follow Chris Creighton on Twitter Follow @WARROOMPHLCHRIS or the WarRoomPhilly Follow @WARROOMPHILLY

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