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The real Dom Brown comparison(?)

Recently the optimists around here discussed whether Domonic Brown might have a Pat-Burrell style revival in his near future. Reading the article, I was struck that I didn't see anyone mention a guy who seems like a much more natural, and less happy, comp for what we might expect out of Dom.

This player was, like Dom, a highly touted Phillies outfield prospect, but not Burrell-level prospect, who had one very good year then collapsed. He turned into a solid major leaguer, but only in his age-29 season. His first full season, just like Brown's, was his age-25 season, and he had a very solid year just like Brown - and then he fell off the cliff the very next year. In year 3, unfortunately for our purposes, he did not bounce back, but rather was miserable again and was traded away from the team that had drafted and developed him. He didn't turn back into an average major leaguer for another couple of seasons.

What makes the unmention of this comparison striking is that (as many of you have realized) the player of whom I speak is currently playing in the same outfield as Dom Brown, having returned like the prodigal Reading Phillie to his original club. I don 't actually know what this might portend for Brown's future; it's just odd that people are reaching for a Burrell comp when Marlon Byrd's right here with the team now. Byrd was a 10th round pick, Brown a 20th round; Burrell obviously had somewhat higher pedigree-based expectations. Maybe the Burrell comp is just for people looking for a reason to be cheerful. I don't mean to drag you down! Just keepin' it real, you know. There is one point, though, on which I am staunchly and unyieldingly optimistic: come what may, there is no chance whatsoever that Dom Brown will be traded for Endy Chavez.