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BP Annual Player Comments

Year		Comment
2007		Adrian Brown made it back to the bigs last year and was worse than ever. At 33, his unholy triumvirate of comparable players are Darren Lewis, Brian Hunter, and Calvin Murray.
2004		Brown's career is an example of the collateral damage from the emergence of the "second situational lefty." Twenty years ago, when teams had seven- or eight-man benches, Brown would have had a 12-year career as a fifth outfielder and pinch-runner. With today's 12-man pitching staffs, he has to spend most of his prime baseball years bouncing around the high minors. Naturally, when the Red Sox went with a 10-man staff for the Division Series, Brown made the roster. That's nice and all, but a generation ago he could have been Herm Winningham.
2003		The Pirates thought Brown had arrived after he cleared the wondrous .300 mark in 2000 while stealing 13 bases in 14 attempts, but he lost most of 2001 to various injuries, and never got untracked last year. Released at season’s end, signed by Tampa Bay, then claimed by Boston in the fourth round of the Rule 5 draft, he’ll likely never get another chance to play regularly. At best, he’s a decent reserve outfielder who can play center field. Brown hasn’t yet taken full advantage of his speed or his natural power and is yet another poster child for a chronic lack of development at the high levels of the Bucs’ system.
2002		Brown may have missed his chance. He started the season projected as the center fielder, but a bum shoulder affected his swing, and he ended up playing in just eight games before undergoing surgery that ended his season. Brown is helped by the Bucs not having a decent center fielder in the high minors, although they could continue to play Brian Giles in center and tap into their reserve of corner outfielders. As a fourth outfielder, Brown is recommended.
2001		If the Pirates have completely given up on Chad Hermansen, they could do worse than play this guy in center field. Adrian Brown isn’t a star, but he draws a few walks, is a great base-stealer, and--here’s the kicker–-can actually field. That’s a rarity in the ’burgh these days, so you can bet the Pirates’ pitchers are secretly hoping he’ll get the nod.
2000		Defensive replacement/pinch-runner who really turned up the walk engine a few notches this year, drastically increasing his value. Brown should be good for 200 at-bats each year and could steal 10 to 15 bases, given the opportunity.
1999		Would be the perfect centerfield solution for the Bucs if he could just hit. He can field like a dream, which puts him worlds ahead of Tony Womack in center. In the mix for a slot in the '99 outfield, and a great fourth outfielder if that’s his role.
1998		One of the various and sundry options Lamont had for his outfield when Allensworth and Martin went down. No walks, no power, no service. Speed and defense could make him an attractive bench player.
1997		Even if he didn’t have a problem with joining a higher league in midseason, he’s be pretty poor hitter. He has no power at all, and while he’s not a big guy, at 6' 0", 185 he’s not Ricky Otero, either. He is fast, has a good arm and puts the ball in play, hitting for a high but empty batting average. That being a combination easily overrated, he’ll probably crack the big time in ’98 or so, and his stolen bases will make him a good rotisserie pick.

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