Major strides, minor setbacks

The Phillies have offloaded a boatful of minor league talent in the last few years to bring in players like Joe Blanton, Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt. The payoff has been back-to-back World Series appearances and a shot at a fourth straight division title. Not bad for a franchise that had never before finished first in consecutive seasons with the exception of 1976-77-78.

Still, the farm system is the lifeblood of any organization, whether it's used to restock the big- league club or used as bargaining chips in trades.

With the minor league seasons ending yesterday - the Phillies' rookie-level entry has already won the Gulf Coast League championship and the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws have made the South Atlantic League playoffs under first-year manager Mark Parent - here's an overview of the system from assistant general manager, player development and scouting Chuck LaMar.

Most outstanding player

 

Outfielder Domonic Brown.

No surprise here. Touted as the organization's top prospect for the last two seasons, Brown started the season at Double A Reading where he batted .318 with 15 homers and 47 RBI before being promoted to Triple A Lehigh Valley where he was .346-5-21 in 28 games before being called up. And he's just turned 23.

LaMar: "When you look at the numbers he put up and the prospect level and what he can be, he sort of has become the centerpiece of our organization.

"From Day 1 in spring training, he handled himself extremely well. You know, we challenged him. He was coming to his first [big-league] spring training and I told him, 'You know, I don't want our major league staff to say how talented that Domonic Brown is. I want them to say how hard he works.' I said, 'Everybody can see your talent, but I don't think everybody knows you as a guy who can really play the game and also has the work ethic to get the most out of his ability.'

"And from the first day of spring training, that's what you heard. 'Boy, this is a good kid. He's a hard worker. He's going to get the most out of his ability.' And even now, at the major league level, you still hear those comments.