Gary Brown, OF. DOB: 9/28/1988. B-R, T-R. 6'1", 190 lbs.
2014 AAA: .271/.329/.394, 24 2B, 6 3B, 10 HR, 36 SB, 20 CS, 6.0 BB%, 20.0 K%, 596 PA.
2014 MLB: 3 for 7, 0 BB, 0 K 7 Games.
What is that saying about an enigma wrapped in a riddle and packaged in a conundrum? That would not be a bad description of Gary Brown's situation. There are so many unanswered questions surrounding Gary Brown I hardly know where to start! Here's just one. I saw Gary Brown beat out a tapper late last season, and man, he got down to first base in a hurry! I don't know when I've seen a guy go from home to first quicker than that. Here's the question: How does a guy with that kind of speed continue to get throw out stealing well over 30% of the time? Then there are the persistent stories and rumors about disagreements with the Giants coaches, possibly all the way up to senior management. Stories of trying different approaches at the plate only to discard them.
The most definitive article I could find on the subject was by Alex Pavlovic in the SJ Mercury News from spring training 2014. What Alex said was that like his college coaches at CS Fullerton, the Giants coaches have tried to get Brown to be more of a slap hitter to take better advantage of his speed. Brown responds by saying, "I'm not that guy!" He sees himself as a gap-power hitter. No less of a coach than Hensley Meulens responded by saying that Brown might not be a leadoff hitter with that approach. Brown comes back insisting he has always been a leadoff hitter and thinks his approach will work there. Meanwhile, Brian Sabean weighs in by saying he still considers Brown to be very much a prospect.
If it was clear that Brown's star dimmed judging from the location of his locker in Scottsdale last spring, it was even more obvious from the parade of players who were tried ahead of him in LF last year. I mean, at one point Juan Perez was getting starts while hitting under .100. Chris Dominguez got a start in LF and Gary Brown didn't. Travis Ishikawa eventually won the starting LF job for crying out loud! If that doesn't scream out a message to Gary Brown from the organization, then I don't know what would.
I have to admit I have mixed thoughts on all this. Here are some of them in no particular order:
1. I don't know that you have to be a slap hitter or have a particularly high OBP to be a leadoff hitter. Angel Pagan is not a slap hitter nor does he have a particularly high OBP, yet the Giants are clearly a better team when he is leading off(although that remains to be seen with Nori Aoki on the team). On the other hand, at this point, Gary Brown would be smart to say he is happy to bat anywhere the Giants want him to bat!
2. I think it is quite possible that the Giants have changed more than Gary Brown since he was drafted. The Giants have not always appeared to value OBP and contact even at the top of the lineup. They certainly seem to now, but I believe they probably knew exactly what they were getting when they drafted him in the first round in 2010 and didn't care.
3. Whatever message the Giants are sending Gary Brown, it seems quite clear he is not listening. He also does not seem to be a guy who responds well to negative feedback. My suggestion at this point is let Gary Brown be Gary Brown. At age 26, it is unlikely that a major change in his approach is going to succeed anyway. Encourage him to be the best he can be at whoever and whatever Gary Brown is. The next time a need arises in the OF in SF, go ahead and give him a try. It can't be any more of a longshot than Chris Dominguez or Travis Ishikawa! If the organization is not willing to take that approach, they should try to find another organization who will trade for him, even if it is for a low level prospect. The number of MLB organizations who still value someone with Gary Brown's skill set is shrinking, so there might not be many takers, but Baltimore and the Chicago White Sox have shown interest in these types of players in the recent past(I am thinking in particular of Baltimore giving Francisco Peguero a look-see). KC is another organization that might be a fit.
For now, it looks like Brown will be back in AAA doing what Gary Brown does and there is not a clear path out of that box.
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Opening day in Sacramento: Will Gary Brown be leading off? WE will see!
ReplyDeleteIf he had half a brain, he would try the Giants' approach this Spring, invest whole-heartedly in the Coaches for 6 weeks.
If it works, he could be the Blanco of 2015. If it doesn't, is he any worse off?
Although older than than Brown, my youngest still wants to do it his way although it ain't working. Something about millennials and us who brought them up. I wonder what Gary Brown's father thinks.......
Look, it's way too easy for the casual fan to think he/she knows what's happening behind the scenes. Even easier to pass judgement on a public blog. With all due respect to the misinformed who have speculated on Gary Brown and chosen to beat on him, you're off the mark here.
DeleteI don't know him personally, but suffice it to say that if Brown somehow musters a fair chance to play again at the top, I believe he'll prove his worth. And by 'fair', I mean enough field time to catch up to the game. When he was called up at the end of last season, I saw a solid glimmer of the kid I saw play in college, and there was no mistaking that he still has the skills. I'd say that at this point, DrB's comment regarding letting Gary Brown be Gary Brown is what's on the mark.
I have no doubt that Gary's dad thinks his son is awesome.
Well, it is pretty clear that there are issues between Brown and the Giants. I don't think we know the full story, and I'm not ready to say it is all Brown's fault or that anybody is a fault.
DeleteI agree that Brown's dad rightfully thinks he is awesome.
That's not quite what I meant.
DeleteWe can think our sons are awesome, but at the same time, we can think they are not making the right decision.
If I were Gary Brown's father (he's actually a little younger than my oldest grandchild), and I had raised him to make his own decisions and not take heed of older and wiser counsel, I would blame the Giants.
George Orwell opined that each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it. That can be true if changes in technology makes you more intelligent, but, alas, it really only makes you smarter. And certainly, it's hard to think that ole dad is really wiser. At least until you're 50 or so.
Anyway, Brown will suffer under his own delusions and if he doesn't break out this Spring, he will be sharing time with those coming up in Sacramento.
His father could tell him that, but since he's still under 50, he won't.
I don't think it is at all fair to say Gary Brown is wrong for sticking to his guns. There are at least as many examples of players who have been ruined by coaches as those who were helped. I would again point to Andres Torres as an example of a player who all the coaches thought should be a slap hitter and it was just wrong for him.
DeleteThere is clearly tension between Gary Brown and the Giants, and what information we have seems to indicate it involves his approach at the plate. Beyond that, I am very uncomfortable labeling anybody as being right or wrong. At this point, I really think it is best to let Gary Brown be Gary Brown and give him an opportunity to sink or swim the next time a need arises at the MLB level like it did last year.
I am wondering if a number of his caught stealings are the result of him getting picked off or running on pitch outs, which of course speak to poor reading of pitchers and unwise situational running, in line with his rep of being unteachable.
ReplyDeleteThis battle of wills between the organization and Brown benefits no one. Better off for the Giants to trade him as Doc says. Even if a long shot prospect someday provides minimal value to the big league team it still would be more than Brown would have provided if he was never given the chance. And on Brown's end, if it is his dream to play in the big leagues it would behoove him to do whatever his organization says (even if it is still SF) since being a team player in a team sport does count for a great deal.
The other side of the coin is the example of Andres Torres, who struggled for years trying to be a slap hitter like his coaches told him. It was only when he figured out what HE wanted to be and got independent advice that he was able to put together his 2010 season.
DeleteGood point doc.Brown doesn't have to be a lead off hitter.He needs to use his speed and glove to help this club win.If he hits,bonus.He's not gonna put up numbers like he did in SJ.
DeleteI think they should bat him 7th or 8th.We need his glove and speed more than his bat.Like Blanco,and Torres.Any offense is a bonus.If he wants to be a gap hitter and not a slap hitter.Bat him in the bottom of the order.Easy fix.You're not expecting offense from the 7-8 hole.
ReplyDeleteI basically agree. Right now, I think that he can be a Blanco-type reserve player at worse, and hopefully with him working with the Giants at the MLB level, they can help him right some problems that he has, assuming he's willing.
DeleteWhen thinking of Gary Brown it always takes me back to 2011 when his prospect status was pretty stinking high and he looked like he was as close to a "can't miss" prospect as we have had. When the trade for Beltan was gaining traction Browns name was one of the first to come up and I remember being glad that the Giants decided to ship Wheeler over instead of Brown. Damn how I was wrong in that assessment. I guess none of us knew that Brown was uncoachable and would not get that irritating wiggle out of his bat and his butt and work on putting the bat on the ball and using his speed. It really is unbelievable when you look at his S/CS ratio when you compare that to his actual speed, it just does not make sense. Are his baseball instincts really just that bad? You would have to think with all things considered he would start listening to the coaches soon, maybe his hard headedness is the reason half the team was using his head as a bongo during the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteHere is the comment I made on 7/23/2011 a few days before the Beltran trade went down: "Between Wheeler and Brown, I'd prefer to give up Brown…."
DeleteWow, c'mon guys, that's a load of judgement being passed on a kid without solid knowledge of all sides of the situation. I'd add that rumors and opinions don't classify as solid.
DeleteI agree that "uncoachable" is a strong term and not how I would describe Brown without more information. I would point out, though, the article by Alex Pavlovic I referred to in the original post gives specific quotes from both Giants coaches and Gary Brown clearly showing tension and differences of opinion between them.
DeleteI have read the same stories about the Giants wanting him to change his approach. It is not just one opinion from some guy on a blog but is coming from the coaches and the beat writers. All Gary needs to do is look at Brandon Belt who finally listened and got rid of that crazy top handed extreame wrap and finally started hitting the inside pitch. When I see Brown in the box all I can think is he needs to be a little calmer at the plate and get his hands back farther and he would make more consistent contact.
DeleteJust curious, doc, where was Brown on YOUR prospect list in 2011, going in and coming out? That's the year he tore it up at SJ.
DeleteDrB's 2011 Giants Top 50 Prospects: 1. Brandon Belt. 2. Zack Wheeler. 3. Thomas Neal. 4. Gary Brown. 5. Francisco Peguero
DeleteMaybe it's time to hit on one of these OFers!
DeleteYou have 7 ahead of Brown, another 3 behind him in your top 50. Plus whatever happens with the Cuban, who I guess would jump to #1 if G's sign him. And Duvall as a LFer? Or Duffy?
I am most optimistic on Williamson and Horan in the near future. I am hoping at least one out of Edie, Cabrera and Fargas turn into the true 5 tool CF we've been waiting for since, well, since Willie Mays! Not that I expect any of those 3 to have a career at all comparable to The Say Hey Kid.
DeleteHow the mighty have fallen. Just last year Brown was on the top of many Top-X# prospect lists. I don't think I've seen him in a Top-10 list, maybe not even a Top-20.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest concern about Brown not making the Giants this year; who will Pence use as a bongo drum?
ReplyDeleteRichard in Winnipeg
Ha!
DeleteWho was the last successful OFer drafted (and signed) by the SF Giants?
ReplyDeleteNate the Great had marginal success. Gary Matthews had more, but was gone too soon. Fred Lewis? Be nice if Bonds counted!
Fortunately, we do a whole lot better with pitchers, catchers, and IFers.
I believe the last impact OF drafted and developed by the Giants was Chili Davis. A big part of it is the Giants just have not drafted many OF's in the first round. Arturo McDowell is the only one besides Gary Brown. Was the HS OF in 2007 first round or Supplemental first?
DeleteIn the first round of the 2007 draft, OF Wendell Fairley was drafted #29 overall by the Giants (Bumgarner #10 overall, Tim Alderson #22 overall).
DeleteCalvin Murray and Adam Hzdu were other 1st rounders and neither amounted to anything.
DeleteTrue re. Murray and Hyzdu, but weren't they both before Sabean's tenure?
DeleteAh, Chili Davis! He got better with age.
ReplyDelete'07 was Bum AND Alderson in 1st round.
I think Matthews was a first rounder and Todd Linden.
Don't you think picking hitters is hard, who can tell what happens when their holes are found?
Pitchers more predictabe, but gems are often missed, even 'way down.
So, picking IFers is "safe" especially middle IFers because they don't have to hit as good as OFers.
And catchers -- G's have been good at that, I thought Joseph would be better. Again, hitting is a bonus. Amazing 9 guys picked ahead of Posey!
Hope one of your OFer prospects pans out -- and we get past trade/FA to fill in the gaps .
The best hitters in a draft are corner OF's and IF's. The Giants just don't draft corners in the first round. Finding a good hitter who can also play CF is very tough. Again, I don't think it's some knowledge gap on the part of the Giants or some type of hex. A few years ago people said they could not draft/sign and develop ANY position player but now they have a track record of Sandoval, Buster, Belt, Crawford and Panik. It's just that they weren't drafting ANY hitters in the early rounds before Buster. For the first 10 years of Sabean's tenure, they pretty much only drafted pitchers in the first round and traded most of them away.
DeleteDo you remember Ainsworth, Foppert and Williams? After all three of those crashed and burned, you had to wonder if the Giants were capable of successfully graduating a pitcher to the major leagues.
Bad luck can last a lot longer than most people think.
Only 4 guys drafted ahead of Posey. 9 ahead of both Lincecum and Bumgarner (but Longoria and Kershaw did end up pretty good :^).
DeleteI think pitching talent is easier to identify than hitting, from what I've been thinking over the years. Pitching is pitching, don't matter much who is at the plate, the fastballs will be fast (or not), has stuff (or not), the curveball will curve (or not), same with the changeup and slider and so forth. Meanwhile, for hitters, you don't really know to the same degree how good a hitter he would be in a MLB game until he's in there, to your point, there could be holes that MLB pitchers would destroy, that MiLB pitchers can only dream of doing.
But yeah, gems could be missed. That's when players surprise when they pick up a pitch, or fix a hitch in their swing, or just plain mature (remember, guys have a hole in their brain until they are 25, so many of them are knuckleheads until then) and put in the work necessary to become good.
Worrying about positional success is a waste of time, to my thinking. No team can fill a full roster through the draft and IFA internally within any time frame. The success rate of finding these players is just too low. Just pick the BPA, develop the heck out of them, and hope that one or two of them break through and become stars. Then you fill in around them. But mostly you focus on getting pitching and more pitching.
To corroborate DrB's observation of Brown's speed to first base, most reports when he was drafted said that, even though he's a RHH, he gets to first base as fast as the fastest LHH's around, even though the LHH is a few steps closer to 1B.
ReplyDeleteA shame that he don't know how to use that speed effectively to steal bases, and a greater shame that he hasn't been able to hit well enough to take advantage of that speed. But as we saw with Duffy in the playoffs, scoring with speed, Brown could win a niche as a pinch-runner extraordinaire while backing up with great CF/OF defense.
I still think that he can possibly reach his peak, but something needs to change, I just don't know what.