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Jason
Brown: Lord of the Rings
by Mike Ashmore
August 31, 2006 - Hunterdon County Democrat
Trenton Thunder catcher Jason Brown has two championship
rings to his name, winning one with San Bernardino in 1999
and the other in 2001 with Brevard County.
This year, the "lord of the rings" is looking to
complete a trilogy of his own.
With the Thunder on their way to their second straight
season in the playoffs, the 32-year-old backup catcher is
looking to play a key role in bringing Trenton fans their
first championship in the 13 year history of the franchise.
"Everybody on this team has thought about the
playoffs," Brown said. "With the Yankees, winning
in the minor leagues is very important, and that's something
you feel being a part of this organization."
Brown, who hit .248 in 51 games with Trenton last season, is
in his second year with the Yankees, his sixth organization
in a ten year career.
With starting catcher Omir Santos just coming back from
injury, Brown served as the team's everyday backstop for the
majority of August.
"You never like getting to play because one of your
teammates is hurt," he said. "But I do enjoy
getting to play. I wish I could do a little more with the
opportunity, but it's nice. It's a feeling I haven't had for
several years, coming to the park and knowing I'm going to
be in there several days in a row."
Brown's presence behind the plate is also one that his high
profile pitching staff looks forward to as well
"(He calls a) great game," said Phil Hughes, the
Yankees number one prospect. "It always seems like
we're on the same page. He's got a lot of experience in this
game, and he knows a lot of the veteran hitters and knows
what he wants to do out there. It's always good when I get
to throw to him."
For as complimentary as his young pitcher is of him, the
feeling is mutual.
"With Philip, he just turned twenty years old, and his
maturity level is far beyond other twenty year-olds,"
Brown said. "Aside from his physical ability and the
way he throws the ball, the way he handles himself and the
way he prepares to pitch, it's impressive."
Also impressive is Brown's devotion to the game, as he
recently spent extra time after batting practice working on
his throws to second base.
An undrafted free agent originally signed by the Dodgers in
1997, that hard work has earned Brown 15 different uniforms
to wear throughout his career, including a Columbus jersey
from this year's call-up to Triple-A. He's still holding out
hope that his 16th jersey will be hanging in a Major League
clubhouse.
"The goal isn't to see how long you can play in the
minor leagues, the goal for me is to get to the big
leagues," he said.
But for now, Brown's trying to help his teammates Tyler
Clippard, Matt DeSalvo and Hughes get there, catching them
on their way to a playoff run this year.
And if the Thunder end up winning it all in the process,
winning his third championship might not have such a bad
ring to it after all.
Thunder Notes: Brian Myrow, who played with the
Thunder in 2003 and spent the first half of this season in
Korea, made his first appearance back in Trenton as a member
of the Portland Sea Dogs during a recent series.
"It's weird being back in Double-A," said Myrow,
who reached the big leagues with the Dodgers in 2005.
The Thunder gave out a bobblehead of groundskeeper Nicole
Sherry last Wednesday, the final in a series of seven the
team gave out this year. The Chien-Ming Wang issue has sold
for as high as $560 in online auctions.
Jeff Karstens, who went 6-0 for Trenton this season, picked
up his first big league win against the Angels on Sunday.
Around the Eastern League: Yankees fans were treated
to a look into the future just two Saturday's ago. Phil
Hughes, New York's number one draft pick in 2004, faced
Boston's 2005 first round pick, Jacoby Ellsbury, for the
first time during Portland's last visit to Trenton.
"Games like this make it that much more
enjoyable," Ellsbury said. "It makes it that much
more exciting to go against a good pitcher."
Hughes won round one, getting Ellsbury to hit two ground
balls to him the only two times they faced each other. Round
two could be coming soon, however, as Portland is the likely
first round playoff opponent for the Thunder.
Contact Mike: mashmore@mikeashmore.com
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