Mayberry optioned
PITTSBURGH -- Shane Victorino is back and the player to go is outfielder John Mayberry Jr.
Mayberry optioned
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
PITTSBURGH -- Shane Victorino is back and the player to go is outfielder John Mayberry Jr.
Mayberry was optioned to triple-A Lehigh Valley as the corresponding move for Victorino's activation from the disabled list. The Phillies decided because of Mayberry's available option he was the odd man out. Michael Martinez, the utility player with an unsightly .481 OPS, would have to pass through waivers and then be offered back to his original team, Washington, due to his Rule 5 status. So he stays.
Mayberry, of course, can be optioned back and forth from the minors as many times as the Phillies would like this season. The guess is he will be back, eventually.
But like Martinez, the 27-year-old Mayberry hadn't exactly been tearing it up either, with a .187 batting average and .580 OPS in 28 games (18 starts) since May 1. He is probably the second-best defender behind Victorino in the outfield.
Mayberry showed aggressiveness on the bases, but more of the same that has defined his minor-league career: He's solid against lefties, has inferior power numbers against righties and remains suseptible to breaking balls.
Martinez offers versatility and speed, two things the Phillies have decided are in his favor right now. With the uncertainty of Chase Utley's knee, he provides insurance up the middle.
There has been quite a bit of sentiment for keeping Mayberry over Martinez, but this roster move was to decide the 25th man on a roster. Rarely will a 25th man have any bearing in a game or season. So let's relax a bit.
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Anything on the ESPN report that the Phils are one of the teams out of the MLB's debt compliance rules? If a team that basically had the city and state build them a stadium, and a regional fan base that supports them beyond anyone's imagination can not stay within the league's debt compliance rules, what is going on with the Phils ownership?— bobcitydoc- I HATE when a writer tells me to "relax a bit." It is so condescending (even when it is true). I don't tell you not to take your job (getting paid to attend and write about SPORTS) too seriously, don't tell me to relax.
- I can't believe more people haven't said that Francisco should have been the man out???? Why keep around a guy that was given every opportunity to be an everyday starter and showed you NOTHING? At least Mayberry has shown some glimpses of promise. Fransisco has done NOTHING this year.— stblindtiger
- @Joe Stat Mayberry wasn't the 25th man then. Pete Orr was.
@Quixote OPS is a chic stat? What? It combines on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Addition is so chic these days.
I'm in no position to lecture anyone. Just surprised that a 27-year-old outfielder with zero track record hitting .231 has all of a sudden become godlike around these parts. If Mayberry stays, he's not playing at all with Ibanez, Victorino, Brown and Francisco ahead of him. If you actually think Mayberry has a future as a bench player -- even later this season -- it's not the worst idea in the world for him to get regular at-bats at triple A to stay sharp.— mgelb - I understand that he is totally outraged at the Phillies but he will have to take this latest slap in the face. He needs to have his mail forwared to John Mayberry R.F.D.— CamdenCountyReader
Comment removed.
@eman, you're right, i do not disagree, although there is some sligh upside with mayberry (very slight late bloomer hope upside), but the issue for me comes down to zagurski, romero, and gload.
And regarding the comment about the 25th man being irrelevant, that was very true in previous years, when the every day lineup was basically set in stone. But this team has a 39 year old left fielder that is as streaky as my underwear after dinner at the mexican post - a very much unproven right fielder - and a lineup that is out of balance to the left side. so the value of guys like mayberry are much higher this season than in previous seasons.
— CosmoK- In spring training the media was all over Mayberry and how improved he was. Fans got excited. But God sakes he's batting well under .200 as an outfielder who should be providing offense. Anyone who thinks a 27 year old who can't hit a breaking ball is a late bloomer who needs "tutelage" has no idea. I can't stand Martinez in the outfield, but this move isn't a bad one.— Bob1
- @Quixote I don't see how on-base percentage -- part of the equation -- is irrelevant for a singles hitter. OPS is not stylish. It's one of the best measurements of a player's total production.
You want OBP? That's .212 for Martinez. Mayberry's is .316. Both are bad.— mgelb - gelb, the 25th man doesn't matter? what a glib comment. if it wasn't for controversies over stuff like this, you wouldn't have anything to write about— main liner
- Whoa - a two game losing "streak" can sure the edge on some...— M60tanker
- I don't know what OPS is.— phillynupe4
- Defensively speaking I like Mayberry better because he can cover all three outfield positions and 1st base (I cringe at the idea of having Michael Martinez play center field). If Ryan Howard takes a day off who is playing 1B? Gload is injured, no way he's playing in the field.— fcolmenarez
- It makes sense and could have gone several ways. For those of you who would send a pitcher down, I didn't see that happening. They really need to carry 12. Some posters would apparently carry 8 or 9 pitchers so we could get all the position players we need. Aside from being a Rule 5, where he might be lost entirely if waived, Martinez offers a lot more defensive depth than Mayberry. First base could be the one problem area depth-wise. But you figure if Howard goes on the DL or something they'll worry about that then. Howard seems to do fine playing every game. The other edge Martinez has is you need speed to pinch run for the crippled Gload when he bats. Mayberry has speed but Martinez is the better pinch runner in my opinion. With Francisco, there seemed to be some debate over whether he had an option left or not. If not, Mayberry ends up being the definite odd man out. If Francisco has a remaining option it could have gone either way. I would probably have leaned toward Mayberry in that case due to his positional depth (first base and center field) but he hasn't been making his own case at the plate lately. He'll be back. If nothing else he'll be part of the expanded September roster.— s
- I really like Mayberry running the bases over Martinez, and I too cringe when Martinez is in the outfield. Mayberry has the stronger arm over Francisco, and is a better fielder, so did Francisco have a option or not? — PhilliefaninAZ
