Dominating start could see Brown start for Phils
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Domonic Brown assessed the first 492 plate appearances of his Phillies career like this Tuesday afternoon at Bright House Field:
"That stuff I've been doing in the big leagues -- that's not acceptable in my eyes."
That stuff he has been doing in the team's first four Grapefruit League games? That could earn him a starting job in the Phillies' outfield.
Brown crushed a solo home run over the batter's eye in center field in the seventh inning of Tuesday's 4-3 victory over the Yankees at Bright House Field. Brown is hitting .429 (3-for-7) with two home runs, two RBIs and one strikeout this spring.
Brown said he has added 10 pounds of muscle, which might be why he is showing a little more power at the plate.
"[I'm] eating better," he said. "I'm getting better checks, so I can eat better. It feels good to be healthy again. … Lot of core and legs this winter because of the knee injury. I think I'm stronger down there, and that might be why I have a pretty good base."
Brown is going to get every opportunity to win a job this spring, especially with Delmon Young expected to open the season on the disabled list. Brown has taken advantage of the opportunity to this point.
"What you see is what he can do," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "His swing is more fluid and compact. It's more explosive."
And Manuel thinks if Brown can just find that consistency he has lacked in the big leagues, he could fulfill the potential that made him an untradeable prospect in the past.
The manager thinks Brown could become a game changer in the Phillies' lineup.
"He's that kind of guy," Manuel said. "Yeah, he is. Without a doubt, when you see him hit balls like that in the last three or four days. He's swung the bat good. When I see him rip balls to right field, balls inside, it shows he's strong. He's got quick hands. He's getting through the ball."
Said Brown: "I'm just keeping it simple. Just going up there and making sure my approach is good. I'm seeing the ball well and trying to swing at strikes. I wouldn't say I've changed my approach, just fine tuning. That's it. … I'm making sure I'm going out there and working hard and not putting pressure on myself, and having fun and doing it because I want to do it like [Manuel] always says. I'm out there because I want to do it, not because they're forcing me to do it."