Domonic Brown: 5 Reasons It’s Time to Call Up Phillies Young Slugger

The Philadelphia Phillies arrived back home after a lengthy West Coast trip, but they seemingly left their hot bats in Arizona. The Phillies were again ineffective at the plate for Roy Halladay and were unable to improve their record to .500 for the first time this season. 

Where do the Phillies turn to for offense? It’s pretty apparent that all of Phillies Nation has given up on the idea of small ball and Charlie Manuel ever coexisting, but this is not the same lineup that just two years ago had four guys capable of 30-plus HR.

Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Co. are proven MLB players, and it was argued all offseason that these players would have difficulty changing their approach at the plate. Well, it again seems like the fans were smarter than the GM and manager and that has been proven accurate thus far. 

With a struggling offense and Chase Utley and Ryan Howard still mending (for the foreseeable future), it’s time to see what the player who was once thought of as “untouchable” can do at the MLB level. 

Here are five reasons why the Phillies need to call up Domonic Brown. 

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Philadelphia Phillies Who Really Phrustrate Phans

The 2012 version of the Philadelphia Phillies were predicted by many (including Las Vegas) to represent the National League in the World Series. The most dominant pitching staff in the majors returned relatively intact, with the addition of a top-three closer in the game in Jonathan Papelbon. 

The Philadelphia Phillies were also predicted to struggle in 2012 offensively, but who’d believe that they would be this bad?  

As a team, they are hitting just .248 with 38 extra-base hits. There is an absolute power shortage in the City of Brotherly Love. 

Remember the days when there were at least four guys in the lineup who had 30-HR potential? Those days are over, and the Phillies need to stay afloat until Ryan Howard and Chase Utley return to the lineup. 

And than there’s still a good chance that the Phillies won’t have enough offense (see 2010, 2011). 

This has been one of the most frustrating seasons in recent history for the Phightins, but here are four players in particular that really frustrate Phillies Nation. 

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Philadelphia Phillies Have Better Bullpen Than San Francisco Giants

The Philadelphia Phillies have split their series against the San Francisco Giants thus far, and the bullpen has been a minimal factor to this point.

Closer Brian Wilson (and his dumb beard) is likely out for the season, while the Phillies spent a monumental amount of money on Jonathan Papelbon. Both teams have anemic offenses with starting pitching that leaves the rest of MLB drooling.

Roy Halladay and Tim Lincecum have four Cy Young awards between them, and Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner are all above-average starting pitchers.

It’s hard to argue that anyone in MLB has a better starting rotation than the Philadelphia Phillies, but how does the Giants bullpen stack up against that of the Phightin’s?

Here’s why the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen is better than that of the San Francisco Giants.

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5 Things First Series vs. Marlins Will Teach Us About the Phillies

The 2012 Philadelphia Phillies started off the season just as they had finished in 2011, as a team that is built around fabulous pitching with an at-times suspect offense. Roy Halladay was (as usual) brilliant as he gave up two first-inning hits, and then surrendered zero hits over the next seven innings. 

The Phillies were able to squeak out one run and that is all that the combination of Halladay and Jonathan Papelbon would need. The Miami Marlins, their new ballpark, home run fountain (weird) and marquee free agents look to burst back into the NL East championship picture. 

Here are five things the first series against the Miami Marlins will teach us about the Philadelphia Phillies. 

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Philadelphia Phillies Players Fans Should Reserve Judgment on

The Philadelphia Phillies have arrived in the City of Brotherly Love and are ready to embark on the 2012 season. The on-deck series games will give Phillies Nation just a glimpse of what to expect from this team in the early-going.

The three and four hitters are out for the foreseeable future, but the starting pitching staff is still brilliant. Don’t be surprised to see many low-scoring games until Utley and Howard can come back and pack some punch in the center of the order.

While this team is relatively the same, there are new pieces that have been added to the championship puzzle.

Here’s some Phillies we should reserve judgment on at this point.  

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Why Chase Utley’s Days of Being an All-Star Are Over

The Philadelphia Phillies are once again the odds-on favorite to represent the National League in the World Series. They are the favorites despite the No. 3 and 4 hitters in their lineup being out until God knows when.

Ryan Howard is still dealing with an “open wound” to his surgically repaired Achilles, and Chase Utley has two ailing knees this season. Todd Zolecki did some great investigative work and wrote that Chase Utley has been spotted in Phoenix this week.

We can speculate a bit ourselves here and assume that he’s seeing a specialist for his knees. It was thought that it could be Dr. Thomas Carter, the same guy who performed micro-fracture surgery on Amar’e Stoudemire.  

We learned yesterday that Chase is not considering surgery as an option at this point (good, I guess?). 

Chase Utley can still be a very productive player for the Phillies (here’s to hoping anyways), but here are reasons why his days as a perennial All-Star are over. 

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Philadelphia Phillies Trade News: Prospects Philly Will Regret Losing

The Philadelphia Phillies are once again the odds-on favorite to represent the National League in the 2012 World Series. They return the best (yes, Davey Johnson, they are the best) starting rotation in MLB with Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay, and Vance Worley, Joe Blanton and Kyle Kendrick have been terrific this spring. 

That’s not to say that the Phillies don’t have their concerns heading into this World Series-or-bust year. The “Big Piece” Ryan Howard suffered a “setback” in his rehab from Achilles surgery, and Chase Utley is “doubtful” for Opening Day with two problematic knees. 

The Phillies will look to deal Joe Blanton and rid themselves of a large portion (large and Joe Blanton go hand-in-hand) of his contract before the trade deadline. They’ve traded away a lot of top-tier talent to acquire some of the biggest names in the game in Halladay, Lee, Oswalt and Pence. 

All of those players have played substantial roles in the Phillies’ recent success and are major reasons (besides Oswalt) why this team still has as good a shot as anyone to win it all. 

Let’s take a look back, though, and see which players the Phillies will regret losing. 

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Philadelphia Phillies: Where Do They Turn for Offense If Ryan Howard Flops?

The Philadelphia Phillies led MLB in wins in 2011 with a franchise record 102. They have sold out a team record 204 consecutive games, and that record doesn’t look like it’s going to end any time soon. 

The Phillies have the best pitching staff in baseball, and they backed up that claim last season when they finished with the lowest ERA in MLB. They were the odds on favorite to win the National League and bring home another World Series trophy. 

They came out on fire in Game 1 of the NLDS, scoring 11 in one game, but their offense again fluttered in the postseason. They only managed 10 total runs in the next four games. 

Charlie Manuel and GM Ruben Amaro have spoken at length this offseason about a new approach and mindset to the Phillies offense. Well, the offense hasn’t exactly been firing on all cylinders (albeit without Chase Utley and Ryan Howard) but are we really to assume that all is well with the Phillies lineup when the “Big Piece” returns?

Here is where Phillies Nation can look for help if Ryan Howard is a non-factor in 2012.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Why Fans Should Not Panic over Ryan Howard’s Setback

The Philadelphia Phillies are expected to again reign supreme in the National League East in 2012. After a historic 2011 campaign in which they won a franchise record 102 games, they return largely the same group of players.

In fact, they could be considered better with a proven closer in Jonathan Papelbon and an All-Star RF in Hunter Pence. The fact remains that “The Big Piece” in their lineup will miss time in the early-going.

Ryan Howard had a setback in his rehabilitation from a torn Achilles tendon. He needed an infection cleaned out by the same doctor who conducted his surgery.

He is considered to be out “indefinitely” at this point and that is never good news for a struggling offense. Here’s why Phillies Nation shouldn’t fret Ryan Howard’s setback.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Why Cole Hamels Will Lead Them in Wins in 2012

Cole Hamels has become a rock star in the city of Philadelphia. Not only is he one of the 10 best pitchers in MLB, but he helped end a 25-year championship drought for the most passionate sports fans in America.

Hamels agreed to a one-year contract (avoiding arbitration) worth $15 million, but that has hardly set the minds of Phillies Nation at ease. Teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers and of course the New York Yankees are salivating at the thought of Hamels entering free agency.

Hamels is only 28 and has a pedigree at this point in his career that has been matched by few. The Phillies have built their Vegas favorite ballclub around their pitching, and they must keep their youngest and brightest star at all costs.

Hamels made it crystal clear in his spring training press conference that he loves it in Philadelphia and he wishes to stay. His family lives here, his foundation is here and he loves the fans. It’s been amazing to watch King Cole improve right before our very eyes, and you can be assured that he is poised for a monster year.

Here are five reasons why Cole Hamels will lead the Philadelphia Phillies in wins in 2012.

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