Mayberry is likely starter in LF
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Mayberry is likely starter in LF
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
ST. LOUIS — It should come as no surprise that Charlie Manuel will likely insert John Mayberry Jr. into his Game 3 lineup.
The Phillies faced 19 lefthanded starters after July 4 (Mayberry's last recall) and Mayberry started 18 of those games. He started the final 12 of the season against lefties.
So with Jaime Garcia on the mound, Mayberry will replace Raul Ibanez in left. Manuel said that is "more than likely" to happen, which in Charlie language means, yes, it will happen.
Ibanez was 3 for 8 in the first two games of the NLDS with a home run, but two stats suggest he should sit. Ibanez's OPS is 162 points lower against lefthanded pitching in 2011. And his road OPS is 256 points lower than at home.
Mayberry has a .306/.358/.595 slash line against lefties this season. He's also 3 for 6 against Garcia in 2011.
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mayberry move fine,martinez should be considered against this lefty he is a good fielder with more speed than polanco who-ever has the lowest batting avg between utley and howard I would possibly sit one of them and drop the other down in the line-up. also would consider francisco.— only 9
Today's line up:
Rollins (R)
Utley (L)
Pence (R)
Howard (L)
Victorino (R)
Mayberry (R)
Polanco (R)
Ruiz (R)
Hamels (L)
Line up I'd like to see:
Rollins (R)
Victorino (R)
Pence (R)
Howard (L)
Mayberry (R)
Utley (L)
Ruiz (R)
Polanco (R)
Hamels (L)- They have to be patient with Garcia early, and it starts with Jimmy setting the tone. Garcia is very hittable. He has an ERA over 4.00 in the 3rd (5.06), 4th (4.60), 5th (4.20) and 6th (4.05). The Phillies haven't figure him out yet - hitting a combine .196 with a .561 OPS - because of their free-swinging style. Unfortunately, LaRussa will yank him the minute he gets in trouble. Maybe Victorino should bat second instead of Utley, with Mayberry hitting 5th and Ut 6th in front of Polly and Ruiz. We can— EL Zorro
Comment removed.- My biggest question.....Will the Phils show up for Cole? More so than not, the Phils dont play for Cole.Yes he had a winning record. Game 3 is pivital. Who ever wins 3.....wins this series— martin710
- yea francisco had no business being in there ahead of Mayberry. Junior has been hitting consistently well for several months...and he is clutch...and he plays good defense. I scratch my head every time he is not out there...cuz he hits righties decent too— murdock101
- Wish Mayberry could have pinch hit in game two.... don't know how Francisco jumped ahead of him in that instance? Mayberry has been one of the teams hottest hitters.— gmr18901
- For those who like a little bit of anatomy and orthopedics lesson to go with their fandom, here goes: Polanco is being shot up with steroids and epidural nerve blocks. The guy has a HERNIATED DISC ( look it up ), in his lower back. It's kind of hard to hit, when you lose feeling in your legs. A layman's term is "pinched nerve", but it usually requires a surgical correction, and months of rehab. That said, glad to see Mayberry in the lineup, and want to see the Phils beat Garcia. The Cards run out of options and are pitching thin. Go PHILLIES!!— PhillyboyinNYC
- Good move. Mayberry's 3-for-6 against Garcia. With Polanco you get his great defense but him getting a few hits would go a long way. He's hit Cards' pitchers before so maybe he'll come out of it. Martinez went 2-for-4 facing Garcia this year. Maybe put him in late if Polanco gets no hits.— s
- polanco is not healthy...that should be obvious
- No kidding. That's why not a better backup 3rd baseman was one of Amaro's biggest deadline blunders. Its not a new injury that just happened. — Steve5877
- Maybe he should sit Polanco too. Polly is now hitless in his last 25 at bats vs. the Cardinals in the postseason (he went 0 - 17 with a walk in the 2006 World Series).— scribbles
- You need Polanco for his defense. Plus, he's the best contact hitter in the lineup. Playing Valdez or Martinez is not an upgrade over a healthy Polanco, even if he is in a bit of a slump. — akh
- As good a as Raul has been in the first two games, this is a no brainer.— bearsfriend
Yep, good move.— verve
I am very very happy to see this. It is the right move. If this was Andy Reid in charge of this team Ibanez would play against the lefty and he would be pitching Cliff Lee again in game 3, and then tell the media he needed to do a better job of putting his players in a chance to succeed for game 4 when they lost 15 - 2. Time's yours.- actually, if AR were coaching the Phillies the Dubee would be the new hitting coach because he once swung a bat in Little League. — coloradoeagle
- 10 to go— Andrewsgvl
- right move for sure good work Chuck— leeal02
- right move for sure good work Chuck— leeal02
