This post is by no means intended to criticize or demean anyone, just used to make an example for other fans to understand this topic.
There are two real kinds of players at the AAA level of baseball.
You have the Prospects. The players who are touted by Baseball America, their organizations and scouts and fans alike.
Then there are Professionals. These are the guys who have been around a while, their talent and skill level is widely known.
While having been around for a while doesn’t nearly qualify you to be a professional (I will save 10% of baseball veterans who still see themselves as prospects and act accordingly; Account 10% of prospects who act as professionals)
Granted, these are my observations. Feel free to comment and add your own to the comment section.
Prospects
– Infrequently engage fans. Not likely to sign autographs, acknowledge cheers, wave to someone in the crowd.
– If they haven’t yet made it to the Majors, they will hustle at every opportunity.
– If they’ve just been sent down, they will not hustle at any opportunity.
– Rarely smile
Professionals
– Signs autographs frequently. Will engage fans in conversation, wave to fans in the crowd, toss more than the occasional ball to the stands.
– Hustles all of the time
– See a demotion as a chance for improvement. Happy for the opportunity to be up for the time they were.
– Has fun with the game.
Following two IronPigs in the past couple years.
John Mayberry
We all expected to see great things out of Mayberry when he arrived in the Lehigh Valley. He did alright too. The thing that got me was how many times I heard folks comment about how rarely Mayberry signed autographs. He was all business. From the dugout to the field and back to the dugout. When he finally got the call to the Phillies and hit that home run against the Yankees I was super happy for him. I couldn’t say the same thing about his return to the IronPigs. No hustle. Jogging after fly balls. It was bad. He looked uncomfortable out there and the word sulking comes to mind.
This season Mayberry had a significant amount of time with the Phillies. When he came back to the Pigs mid-season he was smiling, hustling and having fun with the game. His positive attitude and more relaxed approach showed in his improved play on the field. Mayberry is now back with the Phillies and it’s no secret he has been succeeding.
Domonic Brown
Re-read the first paragraph I wrote about John Mayberry.
Brown has been bad since returning to the Pigs. He also earned the most prolific booing I’ve heard at Coca Cola Park since that Magician came out late in the Home Run Derby last summer. Now he’s benched to flu like symptoms. Hey, the guy needs a break. Clear his head and get back into the game.
I truly appreciate the transistion of John Mayberry from a prospect into a professional. It takes time, yes, but it still should be the intended goal of all of these young players.
One thing I’ve noticed about the 2011 team is how many Professionals there are. Look at guys like Rich Thompson, Brandon Moss, Erik Kratz, Delwyn Young.. to name a few. These guys are out there having fun. Watch the three outfielders swipe the mascot’s 4 wheeler and drive to their position before the game or change the lottery numbers on the outfield wall or post fun photos to social media sites… these guys are having a ball.
Yes, winning allows for more fun but I think fun and winning go hand in hand for baseball. The 2011 IronPig season would support that statement.
These are my thoughts… what are yours?
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
I’ve noticed that Brown has been extremely friendly with the fans since “the incident.” Almost going out of his way. Other night as 1B coach, he smiled and waved to a group of kids who were yelling his name. You never see that from any player, friendly or unfriendly.
Dom needs to do more of that interaction and have fun. The changes that come from that mindset are usually positive. And with the positive vibs come good things. It’s like dressing for the job position you would like. Have fun, interact, act professional, a professional you will become if it is your destiny.
CHUCK LAMAR-I really would like to know if anyone has heard anything about the sudden resignation of Chuck Lamar, the Phillies assistant GM?
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/129359008.html
Some were speculating he will be named the next Cubs GM. Hmm, maybe take Ryno with him?
That would make sense over all. Keep Sandberg under his wing until he got things in order. Jump to Chicago and bring Ryno over as his first move. He’d be an instant hero there.
Here’s my personal experience….middle of the season….game in rain delay. All the fans are huddled on the concourse. I make my way down to the pigs dugout to possibly get an autograph. A bunch of players were sitting in the dugout, including Mayberry. They all looked upset due to the delay. Mayberry looked saddened. You could tell he just wanted to be out there. A little boy standing next to me yelled for someone to sign an autograph. I offered up my umbrella to any player who would sign the kids ball……that kid walked away with Mayberry and Thompson…..a professional and a prospect. Mayberry signed my ball just for lending them my umbrella.
I noticed that too about D. Brown. The next day after his prolific booing he was out signing autographs and interacting with the fans, myself included, (I too got his autograph). Was he told to do it or was it in him to say “hey I better start winning back these fans and I might as well start by doing this.” Of course a little hustle out there will help too. We’ll see after his flu like symptoms. I’ve have been saying all along that perhaps the Phillies pushed him a little too early and that he should have stayed in AAA for an extended period of time. Maybe he does need a break who knows. Only time will tell. And that’s Jimmy T’s take, Oink, oink!!
All of us (those who follow the Pigs day in and day out) said he wasn’t ready to go up when he did last season. People just laughed. Now…
First of all, very well thought out piece here–probably what many of us have been thinking.
Ask, “what’s wrong with Dom Brown?” and everybody’s got an opinion. Well, I’m no different:
He’s a very talented kid who’s probably never had to deal with extended adversity on the field. Small bursts of adversity he experienced in the majors last year and in winter ball this past year were met with excuses and avoidance (mostly by others on his behalf. I never really heard him whining about stuff or pointing fingers.). His batting stanced was changed. Then changed again. Then he was injured. Then, a small amount of success at AAA and he’s back to the majors like nothing. Well, he’s got to work through it, and he’s got to own it. Lamar said as much, and was shown the door. (speculation here on my part).
If the Phils want to give him a chance to do that in the majors, it would probably work–but I can’t promise that he wouldn’t hear some boo’s up there too.
In any case, he’s here now, working through it, and by all accounts really did have some bug these past few days. He was in the lineup batting fifth as the DH tonight before the game was called. Really would be great to see him make a significant contribution to a AAA championship, huh? The potential is there for him to take this series over. I’m not saying it’s likely, but I’ll go, and cheer, and hope. (been doing that for four years…)