What can Brown do you?
Surely you have heard this redundant catchphrase, (in posts, blogs, twitter, Facebook, etc.) when basically, anyone with the surname Brown does something well in sports, right? Well, the superfluous motto used for UPS will be used once again, this time in this column in regards to what Andrew Brown can do for the Mets.
And the answer is, well, to be determined.
In his two stints with the Mets this year, Brown is hardly seeing the field. Brown has only 73 at-bats while appearing in just 40 games. If he is expected to contribute with the club, Brown has to be afforded more at-bats and the necessary playing time. In his time with the Mets, Brown has come up with some big hits and does sport a quasi-respectable .260/.308/.466 slash line while slugging four home runs and knocking in 12 RBI’s. Not bad numbers for the amount of at-bats he’s had.
With Eric Young Jr. mired in a major slump, going just 11 for his last 61, it gave Terry Collins the opportunity to put Brown in left field on Wednesday night. While the Mets had another heartbreaking loss to the Dodgers, Brown did well for himself, going 3-5 with a double and a RBI.
Should this nice outing lead to more playing time?
Well, it’s hard to say. While Young is struggling, he is the Mets’ best, and perhaps only, viable option to lead off. With the way Juan Lagares and Marlon Byrd have been playing, the only place Brown can conceivably get playing time is in left. Although, if Collins really wants to get Brown some more playing time, he could possibly platoon him with Ike Davis at first base. However, since the Mets have Josh Satin capable of manning first base, Brown will probably not get his chance there.
Don’t get me wrong, the purpose of this post was to not to trump up more playing time for Brown, but if we’re to know what this guy is made of, the Mets do need to give him more playing time.
In all likelihood, Brown is nothing more than a reserve, 4-5th OF-type player anyway. There has to be a reason why he has bounced around the league with three teams (St. Louis and Colorado being the other teams) in the last three years. In his 207 at-bats in the majors, Brown has shown that while he is a nice home run threat, he doesn’t make consistent contact (career .237 batting average) nor does he get on base at a steady clip (career .292 OBP).
However, if the Mets are facing a lefty, Brown should get more chances in left field, while giving Young the rest he needs. That way, by the end of this season, the Mets will know if Brown has any place with the 2014 squad.
So to know what Brown can do for you, you got to give Brown the chance to show you what he can do for you.
The problem with playing Brown against lefties is that Young is actually a much better right handed batter himself.
Very logical and pragmatic analysis. Brown as a 5th OF should only get 10-15 starts a season. The question is when should he get these starts? Maybe a day after a night, or during a grueling part of the schedule, or maybe when a starter begins to slump. That is another nit pick I have with TC, he runs players into the ground. He should be sitting a player for a break before it becomes 11-61.
In regards to Brown he is a serviceable 5th OF and his power makes him a threat for that one swing PH.
Better solution would be to have Den Dekker platoon with Young.
I don’t think anyone on the current roster justifies less ABs for Young.
Brown should be the primary RH bat off the bench — not Turner. I’d like to see him get some more PT but then who would keep Recker company on the bench? I figure those two must be best buddies at this point with all the pine time they’ve logged together here in 2013.
The primary job of the leadoff hitter is to get on base. Josh Satin has a .426 OBP and would be an excellent candidate to be the team’s first hitter on the days that TC decides to use him.
I was thinking the same thing last night while watching the game. If EY isn’t getting on base his value is greatly diminished. Satin’s .426 OBP shouldn’t be overlooked.