Is Dom Brown Feeling The Pressure?

By Ray Boyd

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It's no secret that Domonic Brown has been struggling at the dish this season. His All-Star campaign a year ago seems like a distant memory and the once promising slugger has been anything but this season.

Brown is batting just .227 this season while earning just 6 home runs. His blunders in the outfield have also made him a target to critics and with Ruben Amaro Jr. poised to make some changes, some see Brown's days in left being numbered.

Perhaps that is just the pressure that Brown needs to propel him into some at least adequate play. On Tuesday night, Brown helped to lead the Phillies to a 9-7 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. Brown went 2-3 on the night with a home run, a walk and three RBI's.

After the game, Brown spoke with MLB.com reporter Todd Zolecki and made it clear that he is well aware of the spotlight that is on him, and many of his teammates. "I don't want to see anybody go," Brown told Zolecki. "Hopefully we can get some wins and prove we're a good ball club, which I think we are."

Some direct pressure is being placed upon Brown from some Triple-A pieces. Amaro has hinted at bringing up players from Triple-A including outfielders Darin Ruf and Grady Sizemore, who was picked up after being released by the Red Sox.

Sizemore is currently batting .293 through nine games with the IronPigs.

Brown is well aware of the possibility of losing his spot to a player like Sizemore. "Grady's a heck of a player. If they want to make that move, or platoon me, or I don't know, send me down, I don't worry about that kind of stuff. I've been there, done that so it's not a big deal to me. I'll just leave it at that."

Imagine that. A player one year removed from an All-Star appearance is facing the very real possibility of being sent back down to the minors. Whether or not Brown wants to specifically admit it, he is feeling the pressure enough to reference it so explicitly.

With the situation that the Phillies are in, they need all the motivation they can get to turn things around. With adequate replacements right behind him, Brown will have a true test of his will and fortitude in the coming days.

Brown mentioned that he doesn't plan on using a possible demotion as motivation. "Like I said, I get motivation from the everyday grind, doing things the right way, working hard, getting here early, not taking pitches off, things like that."

Maybe a little organizational pressure will be just what Brown needs.

Check Out These Sports Stories: