Mayberry gets the start at first
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Mayberry gets the start at first
Tim Rohan
Taking grounders during batting practice on Saturday was a taller, slimmer, younger Ryan Howard.
Well, that’s not exactly fair.
One’s a 31-year old slugger whose 74 RBIs led the National League entering Saturday.
The other is a 27-year old, 6-foot-6 outfielder bursting with potential. And since his latest recall to the majors on July 5, he leads the Phillies in doubles (7) and extra base hits (9).
That’s John Mayberry Jr.
Saturday against the Padres, he’s taking his improving bat and growingly dependable glove to first base to fill in for Howard, who is getting the day off and battling a 2-for-22 slump over the past week.
“I feel like I’ve got a little bit of experience over there, [so] I feel pretty comfortable,” Mayberry said.
“It’s definitely a little bit different perspective than the outfield. Obviously, you’re a little bit closer to where the action is. It’s just one of those things where you’ve just got to used to it. Go out there and make the routine play.
During spring training, Mayberry played a little first base, which was the first time he did so since college. And he’s been taking grounders at first base every day he doesn’t start in the outfield.
Since that recall, Mayberry has been frustrating at times — going hitless in three games he started — and brilliant in others, with his three-double, four-RBI game against the Braves on July 10 and his two home run game against the Marlins on July 6. His average has risen to .240 and he’s got five homers and 25 RBI in 146 at-bats, which could be considered about 36 games.
Showing he can play first base and give Howard a rest, as well as play in the outfield, only increases his versatility in the eyes of the coaching staff and front office. He’s certainly making his case to stick around.
“I try not to think about the front office and their decisions too much,” Mayberry said. “Just try and control what I can and hopefully go out there and have good games, have solid at-bats and play solid defense. Then hopefully, I’ll be apart of their permanent plans.”
In his very short career as a first baseman, Mayberry has gone 1 for 7 at the plate with a double and two strikeouts. He’ll face the 23-year old righty, Mat Latos, who has fallen on hard times in 2011 after posting a 2.92 ERA last season. Latos is 5-10 this season, with a 4.02 ERA.
We’ll see how Mayberry does at the plate, in the No. 8 spot in the order, and with the glove at first base.
One reporter asked: Are you going to Wally Pipp Howard today?
“That’s probably far fetched, but I like where your head’s at,” Mayberry Jr. said.
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I was amazed at how well Mayberry played first base today. He was scooping bad throws like he has been there forever.— jtj06- Why can't the Phillies brass accept that Mayberry can contribute and have him start in left field? He's got better speed and defense than Ibanez. Lets give the guy a consistent role— catdog53
- keep Mayberry trade Brown. let's get Pence and seal up the WS— bingbangbong
- Chief...the Phils have no plan for Matt Rizzotti sorry to say...If they did he would be protected on their 40 man roster..mayberry flashed some leather today...he needs to stop looking at so many first pitch fastballs down the middle!...The kid has tools and is bright, Manuel and zgross have to keep coaching him up!— bearsfriend
- Mayberry deserves a chance to start everyday, and should replace ibanez in left field who is still struggling at the plate. The best thing the Phils have done is hang on to Rizzotti in the minors so they can use him to spell Howard next year.
- Mayberry has been doing enough good things to prove that he should stick with this team, but let's not get carried away by comparing his numbers with Howard's— Phillyfan among the NYers
- Mayberry has been doing enough good things to prove that he should stick with this team, but let's not get carried away by comparing his numbers with Howard's— Phillyfan among the NYers
- Howard's OPS:
2009: .931
2010: .859
2011: .789
Five guaranteed years left and a $10M buyout in 2017 for a total of $125M still left on his deal. Yikes.— Jeff Dowder 
Comment removed.- You were saying???— greenflyer
- Hope it works. Howard is good but it can be frustrating watching him hit against a tough lefty.— zeke128
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- I like to see MAyberry get more playing time, he is deserving...The ump seems to have a tight zone so far...— PhilliefaninAZ
- Mayberry is getting consistent playing time and needs to prove he belongs— shawnmac
- Dull, why are you comparing a 31 year old journeyman outfielder Duffy to Singleton...your question is why should a prospect like Jim Murphy be behind Sinlgleton, languishing in Lakewood?...or why Darrin Ruf is not considered a prospect?...the high end prospect thing messes up alot of natural hitters....i.e. Rizzotti,Bozied.— bearsfriend
- I am excited eberytime I see Mayberry Jr. given the chance to play, wondering much of the first half why he wasn't....I wondering still if he isn't himself getting shopped?— bearsfriend
- Isn't it amazing that Howard and their great minor league first base prospect Singleton have yet to hit a home run off left handed pitching this year. Great to see Phils left handed hitting GCL first baseman Chris Duffy go deep off a lefty today for the second time this season and he is hitting .320 off lefties this season in limited at bats. Maybe he can work with Howard and Singleton on this lost art!— Dull
- Excuse me 8ABs-8Ks with a walk.....is that what $25 mil is supposed to get you?— Mark1npt
- JimG...exactly.....why isn't RHoward expected to get hits in every game? We're paying him about $25 million more than we're paying Mayberry Jr........btw, they had to sit Howard against Latos depsite the 2-22 slide, he's like 0-12 off Latos with 11 Ks.....go figure, and Latos is a righty not a lefty.....just wait til Sept when Howard gets to face all the AA and AAA pitchers getting called up...he'll pad his stats and look like the greatest ever once the season is through.— Mark1npt
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- "Since that recall, Mayberry Jr. has been frustrating at times — going hitless in three games he started" Since when were baseball players expected to get hits in every single game they played?
— JimG
