Mayberry Looking For Right Answer
Nobody knows whether John Mayberry Jr. factors into the Phillies plans for the future, but manager Charlie Manuel made it simple and clear what Mayberry has to do to earn consistent playing time.
Mayberry Looking For Right Answer
Marc Narducci
John Mayberry Jr. hit a home run in the sixth inning against the Reds on Monday. (Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)
Nobody knows whether John Mayberry Jr. factors into the Phillies plans for the future, but manager Charlie Manuel made it simple and clear what Mayberry has to do to earn consistent playing time.
“He has to hit right-handed pitching and has to be more consistent,” Manuel said after Mayberry went 3 for 5 with a home run and 3 RBIs in Monday’s 12-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
The Phillies have won three in a row and Mayberry is 6 for 13 with two home runs and five RBIs in those games.
“I think I am no different than really any other player," Mayberry said. "Just getting in there and getting your timing together is really going to really help you."
Manuel makes a good point about Mayberry hitting right-handers. After a good game against Reds righties, Mayberry is now 39 for 175 (.223) with four home run and 15 RBIs. Against left-handers he is 33 for 126 (.262) with seven home runs and 16 RBIs.
“When John has that good swing, he hits the ball hard,” Manuel said.
Mayberry, who turns 29 in December, offers the Phillies tremendous versatility. He has played right, center and left field in addition to first base.
Mayberry had 15 home runs in 267 at-bats last year. This year he already has 301 at-bats and is hitting .239 with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs. His on-base percentage is just .281.
That is what Manuel means about being more consistent. Mayberry has a team-high 80 strikeouts. The Phillies will try to determine whether Mayberry is a fourth outfielder, or could be an everyday player.
He is one of many players who need to show in the final month that he can be a valuable contributor.
Comments (50)
Wondering if you will be in the lineup from day to day cannot help a player's confidence, and most everyone knows how big of a role confidence plays in performance. I'd like to see him stay a regular the rest of the season, and if he continues to perform well, give him a job in the outfield. But, I also hope they keep Pierre. Hate to see them let go of guys who play the way he does. The team has more than enough 'basejoggers.'— mechfan2240- He looks good when he has a good swing on the ball? So does every other Major League Baseball player. He shouldn't be allowed back into Citizens Bank Park next year unless he's wearing an Aramark uniform.— finchman44
- Well, not every hitter in the bigs hits can lace drives that can naturally carry into the seats...BTW, the Aramark comment was not funny. What would be funny would you be seated in Section 142,10 rows back, trying to catch a Mayberry tracer hit at you...Now that would be funny. — bearsfriend
- The problem with JMJ is that he is too nice. I would have done what Werth did a few years ago when he went to Charlie's office and demanded more playing time. The dude have some serious talent. We know he can catch the ball and when he puts a nice swing together like last night, he does some serious damage. To me, he goes there trying not to mess up, with different batting stances, like bear alluded, because he knows he would be sent to the bench if he doesn't produce right away. Young players don't get a real chance to learn under this manager, unless you're Dom Brown and unless you're a veteran like Ibañez, Rollins or Polanco, you won't see much playing time. Again, that's not an ideal situation. I wonder if he was playing for the Pirates under Clint Hurdle, he would have been given the chance to stay in the line up like the struggling Pedro Alvarez. For JMJ, it's a matter of believing in himself, getting mad a little bit and have a serious talk with the manager.— EL Zorro
- Zorro:It's interesting that you mentioned Werth, as Jr. had adopted Werth's approach to seeing maximum pitches at the plate, including letting "strie 1" be almost a constant...If Jr. had Wewrth's batting eye, I'd be all for that, and maybe with more experience he can acquire it...but it HAS held him back...Not asking him to be a "Manny Sanguillen", but he could burn some pitchers more often by jumping on that first fastball offered, something Gary Matthews (his other agent) has also recommended numerous times....Totally agree that if Mayberry has another Stanford alum's mindset (Tiger Woods), he'd be dangerous.— bearsfriend
I think both he and Dominick are gaining the much needed confidence needed to play in the big league. Both are looking more comfortable offensively and in the field. Give them some time. Both are winners. On another note, we must resign JP!!! He makes things happen!— dogman5- One great example, Jimmy is hitting under the Mendoza line in the second half (.194 in 153 PA), was 0 for his last 19 before getting a hit last night, failed to hustle in two occasions in a close game the other day and finds himself back in the line up. OH, before that, he took the 3 days of parternity leave when the team was playing at home. Andres Torres found himself in the same situation when the Phillies played the Mets, spent the night at the hospital with his wife and was back in the dugout the next game. He had a hamstring problem. Nevertheless, he didn't use that excuse to take the mini vacation.— EL Zorro
- bear, I have noticed he's becoming a little bit more aggressive lately early in the count. I guess he knows he'll be there almost everyday and is more comfortable. I think it was a mental thing.— EL Zorro
- I'm OK with Mayberry having a bench position in 2013 but if he's starting, we're in deep trouble. Our unimpressive offense needs two outfielders and a 3B, seeing that Brown apparently will start next season in RF or LF. We don't have a true leadoff hitter any more and there's no reason to think Utley or Howard will revert to 2008 form. So we need offense, and a lot of it, from the positions that will be open. Mayberry's production doesn't come close to what we'll need.— eman
- Actually, Utley as he played last year and this year is an ideal lead off hitter, but we don't have a true manager. Here's how ours makes out the line up "lead off! shortest guy. Clean up! fattest guy..." — jtj06
- I agree that Mayberry is good enough, and cheap enough, to keep around as a reserve. But I think that a major league team on which Mayberry is a starter is a team with a weak outfield. And that is what the Phillies have, at least until D. Brown shows he can do it all year and they acquire another OF who can both hit and field.— Dave Clemens
- I have to comment about the remark someone made about Rollins's paternity leave. Jimmy Rollins, like Ryan Howard, comes from a strong and stable, two-parent family. That's worth noting only because so many African-American households these days do not conform to that description. If Jimmy Rollins wants to take advantage of a contractual provision to start building the kind of family he grew up in -- i.e., one where Dad is around for important moments and events -- then that's entirely his prerogative and we shouldn't be ragging him about it.— Dave Clemens
- I blogged about a week ago that Mayberry has had better swings against righties. He will have to do it for more than a few games. Righties have overwhelmed until recently. He has value for Phills as a platoon player against lefties. If JMJ can hit 280 with power vrs. lefties he can help as Phills are overbalanced with lefty bats. His other tools fielding speed arm are all plus. Perhaps Phills should consider platoon in LF with Pierre. Juan has little or no power but how necessary if he leads off. 290-315 and 35 sb looks good in leadoff spot. No arm but he runs anything catchable down.— don whitman
- The ragging on Rollins for taking his allowed paternity leave is ridiculous. Doubly so because the people who do so hate Rollins anyway, so you'd think they'd be happy to have him out of the lineup.— cloudkitt
- Okay let's keep this as simple as possible, if "Big" John wants to improve then he first needs to stop being so predictable as a hitter....translation, don't just swing at the first pitch strike from time to time, use your big Dave (Sky) Kingman frame and deposit those balls ever so far into the bleachers. Also stop being the nice and polite John Mayberry...it's obvious you are a nice guy, we get it. Just stop having mercy on pitchers and the baseballs the they throw, you are 6ft 6"in for God's sake. I am tired of seeing it. Use your God-given dimensions. Oh yes on defense don't forget it's okay to jump a little bit to catch and rob someone's home run...they will feel bad losing homers and doubles but it's okay John trust me. I know what I'm talking about...it's time to grow up into your tall body.— BCRock
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