The Werth-Mayberry connection
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The Werth-Mayberry connection
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- I don't want to spend too much time on John Mayberry Jr., who will start the season in triple-A Lehigh Valley, but I was struck by something Charlie Manuel said on Sunday when discussing Mayberry.
"Once he improves against righthanded pitchers, just like I told Jayson Werth, he's got a chance to be real good," Manuel said.
That's an interesting comparison to make. Let's look at both of Werth and Mayberry's age 25 seasons:
WERTH
2004 (AGE 25) MLB
vs. RHP .249/.320/.421 219 PA
vs. LHP .290/.377/.624 107 PA
MAYBERRY
2009 (AGE 25) AAA
vs. RHP .242/.326/.475 270 PA
vs. LHP .304/.356/.405 87 PA
2009 (AGE 25) MLB
vs. RHP .150/.227/.300 22 PA
vs. LHP .243/.263/.568 38 PA
The numbers against righties are similar. Of course, we're looking at different levels of play, too, so keep this in mind. But Werth was very much a late bloomer as we're seeing now. Will Mayberry follow that path?
Manuel said he wants to see Mayberry have a quicker bat against righties. He said he still thinks Mayberry is a major-league player and spoke very highly of Mayberry's improvements since his brief stint with the Phillies during last season.
Obviously, Werth still is inferior against righties. But what he has done is raise his slugging. His batting average has remained steady despite a decrease in on-base percentage.
WERTH
2007 (AGE 28) MLB
vs. RHP .257/.371/.389 198 PA
vs. LHP .375/.467/.591 106 PA
2008 (AGE 29) MLB
vs. RHP .255/.360/.407 311 PA
vs. LHP .303/.368/.652 171 PA
2009 (AGE 30) MLB
vs. RHP .256/.348/.457 488 PA
vs. LHP .302/.436/.644 188 PA
If Mayberry takes the next step, it will have to be soon. He could be a trading chip Ruben Amaro Jr. could look to cash in sometime soon. He also could be the first call-up should an outfielder get injured at the major-league level.
Regardless, we said it would be an important spring for Mayberry even though he had a slim to none chance of making the majors on opening day. Judging by what Manuel and Mayberry both said on Sunday, they are pleased with the way spring went.
Now we'll see what happens.
For now, Mayberry has very little trade value.— PortCity- You could probably get a grilled cheese for Mayberry but then who gets the grilled cheese? Ruben, Charlie, Montgomery?— mundiff
- Well Phillies have Dom Brown waiting in the wings to replace Werth . . . and he / brown / could be better than either JW or JM . . if however mayberry improves . . in AAA we he could be a nice throw - in to a trade deadline deal to aquire BP help or a realluy good starter if injuries arise . . see cliff lee— ingy9
- Mayberry's stuck behind Ben Francisco, (sad to be stuck behind a fourth outfielder)...hope he lights up AAA pitching this year and inspires someone enough to value him more than the Phils do.— B in DC
- Mayberry is not going to have any real trade value, but he could be someone who is an option to get some RF time next year with Ben Francisco if Browns not ready. Or he could be the eventual replacement in LF when Ibanez's contract is up. He is making progress & being coached up by the philly coaching staff.— HURDIE
- Rube and the front office know now if they are going to sign Werth. If the offense is rolling come July and Mayberry improves why not move Werth for higher level prospects? naaa i'm crazy— EarlKeese
- oh yeah i forgot Werth wasn't really a late bloomer, AJ Burnett broke his wrist and it took 1 1/2 years for him to fully recovey.— EarlKeese
- ingy9, this team is going to need 2 outfielders very soon; first, they're not willing to negotiate with Werth at all and Ibanez needs to be replaced due to age and deterioration of his play. Unless Dom Brown can play left and right at the same time; this team is still short in major league outfield talent by next year.— JBinPA
- Mayberry is at AAA after a nice Spring. Brown has never been in AAA and will open in AA after a nice Spring.— mick314
- JBinPA Ibanez has 2 more years left . . so your looking 3 years down the road . . that's alittle far to look . . if the phillies delt Werth instead and kept Lee . . we could win one maybe 2 WS with Lee / Halladay / Hamels / Blanton and Happ . . you can't even argue that . . that would be the best rotation in baseball . . and you want another outfielder in 3 years . . your kidding right ?!— ingy9
One more time: there was never going to be a Halladay-Lee-Hamels top three. N-E-V-E-R. So stop spending the Phillies' money and second-guessing them, even though they have been to 2 straight WS.— jpk
Comment removed.- jpk, you spelled never wrong... i think what you wanted is C-L-I-F-F-L-E-E
- If they DO get a package together for "future" they will need another solid RH bat. I'm starting to be intrigued by the prospect of prying you-know-who out of St. Louis.....hmmmmmnm.— TBear
Thats a reach. I'm betting he will end up a decent 4th outfielder.— KINGOFZED
