"I don't think Domonic would be the guy if somebody went on the [disabled list]," Huppert said. "If it's only for a short period of time, I think it would be [John] Mayberry. I don't think they want to start the clock."
Before Tuesday, it seemed as if the only way Brown would end up in the big leagues was if the Phillies decided to trade rightfielder Jayson Werth, a potential free agent after this season who reportedly has been on the trading block.
"You know I know what's going on . . . but I keep that in the back of my head," Brown said before the game. "If I start thinking about that I'll be hitting a buck-something. I don't worry about that stuff. I really don't."
Brown left the clubhouse before it was open to reporters after the game.
He continued his impressive assault on triple-A pitching. With his two hits and two RBIs, he raised his average to .346 with 12 extra-base hits and 21 RBIs in 28 games for the IronPigs.
Huppert declined to share his opinion on whether he believes Brown is ready for the big leagues, but he was certainly impressed by the rightfielder's ability to hang in for a two-run triple against sidewinding lefthander R.J. Swindle in the bottom of the eighth inning.
"He doesn't give in at the plate," Huppert said.
Brown is hitting .318 against lefthanded pitching.
Victorino's injury may alter any plans the Phillies have for dealing Werth, but the team's pursuit of Houston staff ace Roy Oswalt continued Tuesday.
Oswalt shot down a Foxsports.com report that he does not want to pitch for the Phillies, telling the Houston Chronicle on Monday that he'd be willing to pitch for an East Coast team.
"That's not an issue," Oswalt said. "Like I've said from the beginning, it's going to have to work for both of us."
