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08-24-2003, 08:44 AM | Topic Starter |
Stay positive, don't give up
Join Date: Dec 2001
Casino cash: $2819383
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Nice Dee Brown Article
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...ls/6603655.htm
Brown sits, waits and watches while trying to keep his frustration in check By BOB DUTTON The Kansas City Star MINNEAPOLIS - These are tough times for Dee Brown. The Royals are in a pennant race and all he gets to do, day after nearly every day, is sit and watch from the bench. It's maddening for a player once touted as the organization's top non-pitching prospect, a player who steadfastly believes all that separates him from stardom is opportunity. "I'm going to be a star," Brown said before Saturday's game against the Twins at the Metrodome. "I know I am. No doubt about it. "I know I can hit. I know I belong here and can do what I need to do. They might not believe it. But I know it." These are not new words from Brown. He said much the same thing while he labored through three long years at Class AAA Omaha and as he battled each of the last several springs to secure a roster spot. "Give me 500 at-bats," he said, "and I'll show you what I can do. Now right now, my numbers are not good, but I play once a week and I was out for two months because of an injury." "I've never been able to play long enough to get that comfortable feeling. It's one or two games, then back to the bench." Brown was on the bench again Saturday night. He hasn't started since going zero for four a week earlier in a 14-5 loss to the Twins at Kauffman Stadium. His average, entering Saturday, was just .242 with two homers and 14 RBIs in 117 at-bats. "I know I'm in the background," Brown said. "But there's no way in (heck) that I'm a role player or a backup player. If they come to me again next year and tell me that -- no, I'm not going to accept that. "The reason I truly believe that I'm still here is that deep down, they think I might be (really good)." There's another reason. The Royals are out of options on Brown. That means he can only be sent to the minors if he clears waivers. Since his salary is $309,500 -- just $9,500 above the major-league minimum -- it's unlikely he would go unclaimed. So Brown remains on the roster, little-used even though a recent injury to Michael Tucker thinned the Royals' corps of outfielders. "Dee Brown is an extra outfielder," manager Tony Pena said. "It's tough for me to take Aaron Guiel out of the lineup. We gave him a chance, and he has taken the job away from Dee Brown." Guiel's emergence as the club's regular right fielder occurred while Brown languished on the disabled list for nearly two months because of a sprained right wrist. Still, the frustration occasionally seeps through. "Whether it's here or somewhere else, I want to be somewhere next year where I have a legitimate shot of playing all of the time. I'm not a role player. I won't accept that. Not without a chance." ____ I really hope we do give him a chance next year, I would hate to lose him and he becomes real good. |
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