Amaro On Brown: 'There Is A Limit To The Patience'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- Domonic Brown has been a major disappointment for the Phillies in 2014. Still, the Phillies continue to test their patience with the 26-year-old outfielder, a physical specimen at roughly six-foot, five-inches, 205-pounds.
Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., however, admitted that patience only lasts so long.
"He hasn't performed to the level that we expect of him, and I'm sure, he expects of himself," Amaro said Tuesday on the 94WIP Morning Show. "When you have a talent like this, in someone who has the ability to do certain things that others are not able to do, we have to try to be as patient as we can. There is a limit to the patience. Where that limit is, we have not decided yet."
Listen: Ruben Amaro Jr. on the 94WIP Morning Show
Brown's slash line of .229/.281/.336 is putrid. He has only seven home runs and 55 RBI's in 393 at-bats this season, his wins above replacement level is -0.8, and I didn't even mention his atrocious defense in left-field.
"I mean, I'm not out there every day, so it's kind of tough coming off the bench," Brown said following the Phillies 6-5 loss to the Cardinals on Saturday. "I'm doing the best I can out there. I'm trying to catch every ball, and if I can't catch it, it's gonna fall. But I'm definitely going out there and playing as hard as possible."
Many fans are wondering if Brown will still be an "every day" player for this club in the future.
"If he's not the answer for us in left-field or right-field than our job is to continue to try to improve and we may have to look elsewhere to continue to try to do that," Amaro admitted.
One Phillie who has been surprisingly impressive this season, is closer Jonathan Papelbon. Pap's 32 saves are tied for ninth best in all of baseball. His 1.63 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 55.1 innings pitches is outstanding.
With Papelbon's monsterous contract, his resurgence in value, and Ken Giles waiting in the wings as the heir apparent closer, the Phillies may be looking to move Papelbon. Amaro says the Phillies would even be willing on eating some of his salary.
"If a team wants him and we think that it's in the best interest of the organization to move him---the first part of that answer is if a team wants him, and so, that's where we're at," Amaro admitted. "We would certainly keep our minds open on any trade for any players that's going to improve our club. We are very flexible in terms of dollars and cents are concerned, that is not an issue. And taking back money, it's been something that we've expressed to all of the clubs on all our dealings."
With 31 games to play, many are hoping to see Phils prospect Maikel Franco. Franco---who hit for the cycle in his first four at-bats for Lehigh Valley (AAA) on Saturday---has eight home runs, 37 RBI's, and posted a .306/.323/.572 slash line in his last 190 plate appearances.
So, will we see him in the Majors?
"We know what we want to do," Amaro said of Franco. "The fact of the matter is, we're not going to make our decision until we let our player know, and then the world will know. And that goes for all of the players that would be involved in the possible call-ups. We have a plan, we will execute the plan, and when it's executed then people will know."
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