Shake Your Groove Thang

The hometown Phils have fallen into a slump far worse than anticipated when it all began more than a month ago. While the run support and "clutch" pitching has been missing since Daisuke blanked us on May 22nd, this slump seems to be far more mental than physical, which as the great Yogi Berra would add, makes up just about the whole game. In an attempt to "shake it up a little bit," Charlie Manuel has optioned starter Kyle Kendrick to Triple-A Lehigh following an awful start against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday night, and brought up right-handed pitcher Andrew Carpenter to take his place. Like the rest of Philadelphia, Manuel yearns for some togetherness, for some urgency, and for some pride. If the 7-6 Andrew Carpenter is an attempt

to scare guys, and make them pitch for their jobs, I will take this time to offer some advice. Want to make guys squirm? Lose some sleep over their spot in the lineup, and make them feel that they could see the bench in the near future? Ladies and gentleman, meet Dominic Brown.

As of Saturday Night, there are 118 hitters in the National League who are eligible to lead the league in average with runners in scoring position. Jayson Werth, who hits fifth for the Phillies, is lucky number 117. Werth, who protected Howard with MVP numbers in the first month and a half of the season, has been in a funk only thought possible in the worst of baseball nightmares. Need some insight? On May 7th, a 2 for 4 game put Jayson's average at .359. By May 30th he was below .300, and now his average is hovering around .280 depending on the day. With runners in scoring position Jayson is hitting .163, and with runners in scoring position with two outs he is hitting a dismal .114. With none on and none out Jayson hits .358, leading off an inning or following a Ryan Howard home run, far less than the ideal pressure situation. With a runner on third base less than two outs his average dips to .143, a three digit number that tells us he is less than a competent protector for one of the league's most dangerous hitters. Jayson, who was called the league's best Right Fielder by Peter Gammons earlier this year, is in a contract year, and has had his name thrusted in and out of trade talks as Philadelphia searches for answers. What Jayson could really use? A warm up jacket and some splinters in his butt.

Werth's fellow outfielder, Raul Ibanez,has been unable to dig out of a statistical hole he dug in the beginning of the year, and has likewise been unable to consistently produce. Since Chase Utley has gone on the long term DL, Raul has been able to see more fast-balls and hit better in the three whole, but ultimately is not exceeding the expectations that the city and organization have for him. Unlike Werth, Ibanez has hit moderately well in special situations, but has failed to come to the park and perform on a day to day basis, with his .252 average and 7 home runs.

Enter Dominic Brown. Since Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez were both negatively presented with statistics, Brown will be the exception. To start 2010 Brown hit .318 with 15 home runs in 65 games with AA Reading, and now has hit .360 with 4 home runs in 20 games with AAA Lehigh Valley. As Brown continues to strengthen his Minor League resume, his only down side is that he bats from the left side, just like Raul Ibanez, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Ross Gload, and Greg Dobbs; five players who are not only left handed, but left handed with power. Whether or not Brown fully accommodates the Phils' exact needs in the lineup, or on the bench, his numbers and evident readiness is something that cannot be passed up.

The lead for the Atlanta Braves in the division is up to 6.0 games, and that means the Phillies are only getting farther away from a fourth straight division title. Charlie Manuel is coaching a lifeless team and the number of answers is dwindling. Now he has to simply, shake it up. Charlie, I'm calling Dominic Brown your groove thang, your tool to get these cocky vets to play with some heart again. Shake away.

JD