With no obvious solution, Phillies make safe move
We probably need to listen to the Phillies' reasoning behind the demotion of John Mayberry Jr. before we render our final judgment. Regardless of what you think of the move, there is a good chance Mayberry's jettisoning does not sink their playoff hopes.
With no obvious solution, Phillies make safe move
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
We probably need to listen to the Phillies' reasoning behind the demotion of John Mayberry Jr. before we render our final judgment. Regardless of what you think of the move, there is a good chance Mayberry's jettisoning does not sink their playoff hopes.
Really, this was a situation where there was no clear right move, and there was no clear wrong move. And so it looks like the Phillies went with the move that allows them the most flexibility. They get to hold onto Martinez, they can always recall Mayberry from the minor leagues, and they don't have to go without a left-handed pinch-hitter.
The notion that the roster move is completely irrelevant is slightly flawed. Five times in the Phillies' last six games has the ninth spot in the order come up in the sixth inning or later with the Phillies tied, trailing by a run, or leading by a run.
With Mayberry gone, Manuel's options in those high leverage situations will be a left-handed hitter who has a hip injury and no extra base hits, two utility infielders who have on base percentages below .280, and Ben Francisco.
Of the Phillies' four pinch-hitting options (not including back-up catcher Dane Sardinha, who will rarely be used in that situation), only Ben Francisco has a slugging percentage of over .300. In 213 at-bats this season, Valdez, Martinez and Gload have combined for eight extra base hits and one home run.
At the same time, the situation is not markedly different from the one the Phillies have played through all season. For most of the first month-and-a-half, the Phillies bench consisted of a left-handed hitter (Gload), a right-handed hitter (Mayberry) and two utility men (Pete Orr and Martinez) to go with the back-up catcher. That's the same situation they have right now. So it isn't as if the bench is dramatically weaker than it has been all season. In fact, with the return of Victorino and the emergence of Domonic Brown, it is probably stronger.
Mayberry wasn't exactly hitting the cover off the ball. At the same time, he did bring three tools to the table that have the ability to impact tight ballgames off the bench: speed, power and defensive ability. Keep in mind Mayberry is third on the team with five stolen bases and would probably win a foot race against Martinez. He's the team's second-best defensive outfielder behind Victorino. And when he makes contact, he has impressive power.
I'm guessing the Phillies will say something to the effect of, we felt like we needed infield depth given Utley's situation and Polanco's occasional soreness and Rollins' advancing age, and with Ben Francisco as the primary right handed outfielder/pinch-hitter, Mayberry would not have been in a position to get regular at-bats, and John is going to help as at some point later this season and we need him to be sharp to do so.
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first place— shawnmac- I would have preferred Gload to DL and surgery, he would be most likely back in Sept and could help in playoffs. If his injury prevents him from hitting it certainly keeps him from playing in the field. In other words Gload can't help the club in any way right now— sdcaphil
- I understand the reasoning given the current roster. But my question all along has been - why is Martinez on the roster in the first place? At season's outset, I think Charlie mentioned something about him bringing energy. But at some point, performance has to matter. We really can't come up with a guy anywhere who can improve upon his skillset?— Robbo
- Why Mayberry over Francisco? Oh well. I'm sad to see him go down actually. He had a lot of good at bats and played good D.— corporatehuman
- I don't see Martinez or Gload bringing anything to the table or Francisco for that matter. In 3 years with tons of opportunities, Francisco has shown himself to be a light hitting defensive liability who has stepped up in the post season to hit exactly .059. It's difficult to understand how the Phillies' brass assesses talent.— jtj06
- Should have either been Gload to DL, or Martinez back to the Nats. If I saw any potential in Martinez for the future, I would say keep him, but he has not shown he will ever be a major league hitter.— PortCity
- Seems odd that the only viable LH bench guy should be on the DL, when the focus during the spring was on the surfeit of LH hitters. And using Gload requires two moves if he gets on base, because he can't run. I don't disagree with optioning Mayberry, but they'll have to address the LH bench situation.— jdmfarm
- I don't like Francisco over Mayberry or Kendrick over Worley, but the Phils baseball are a lot smarter than I am, I hope.— ericg610
- I said it before: Gload to the DL made the most sense to me. Eskin said Charlie wanted to go with 11 pitchers. But it is Eskin ... This also makes you wonder about the back-up catcher situation. Neither Sardinha or Schneider has hit well. Kratz is hitting well in AAA but I don't know much about his defense and maybe they feel he needs to be an everyday catcher? He's a righty.— s
- I think Mayberry has done all he can do in AAA. Unless he worked out more at 1st base, there isn't anything he needs to show. I would have liked to see Brown in right with Mayberry and Fransisco filling in against lefties. Odd man out...Gload or Martinez. In my mind, Gload doesn't offer enough and Martinez doesn't show any indications he might become a major league starter someday.— hawk18
Comment removed.- Apparently Martinez has pictures of of RAJ with Congressman Frank Weiner.— NewMick314
- Manuel needs a one legged LH hitter who has trouble runnng to lst base!!!.— tulsaphil
- I think it is a stupid move! Francisco and Gload are both liabilities in the field and at bat. I put Mayberry's speed, power and defense above the other two.— sixtyplus
