Cody Asche singled up the middle in the bottom of the ninth inning. Domonic Brown, who got to first base after grounding into a fielder's choice that eliminated Ryan Howard from the base paths, was on second base. John Mizerock, coaching third base for the very first time in a game for the Phillies, put up the stop sign. Clearly. Obviously. Domonic Brown ignored him.
"Brown is being held at third," Phillies broadcaster Tom McCarthy said, after excitedly calling Asche's hit. But Brown did not pay attention, despite (as McCarthy put it) "dramatically being held at third by John Mizerock". As you can see below, Brown is stepping on third base and Mizerock is in plain view of Brown. But Brown did not pay attention.
Or was he paying attention? Or did he decide not to look at the coach? Some have called this a "blunder" or "mistake". This is more than that. This is complete arrogance.
This is not the first time that Brown did not listen to those who were supposed to be giving him instruction. At one point when Brown was asked to change his batting stance in 2011, Brown declared that he was going to "go back to what got [him] there". In other words, "Forget you and this batting stance you think will help me." Brown toiled in the minors, before having a strong stretch for six weeks in 2013.
And those six weeks are the extent of Brown's success. In a league that requires that batters and pitchers alike constantly make adjustments, Brown does not feel like he has to. Ask former rookies of the year Bob Hamelin, Jerome Walton, Erik Hinske, or Ben Grieve: strong play as a rookie/young player does not guarantee future success. Nor does he feel like he has to pay attention to third base coaches on their first day on the job.
The Phillies brought Domonic Brown back from AAA because they felt his $2 million salary warranted another chance. Brown got it, and still does not get it. In doing so, Brown is taking at bats from Odubel Herrera, who could be gaining important Major League experience. Enough is enough.
UPDATE: Some have wondered why I did not bring up Revere's botched play in right field last night. While it indeed was an error, I am more likely to tolerate physical errors. Maybe it was a little bit lazy, but even the best defensive players in baseball make physical errors now and then. The unwillingness to pay attention to a coach is what really makes me believe there is no space for Brown.
