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.
At some point the Phillies have to move on from all our high priced players. I'm sure most agree that we'd rather part with Ibanez than Werth at season's end but that's just not the contractual case. Dom Brown will be in RF, Ibanez in LF. Maybe after next season, Mayberry would be in left or a FA/another prospect emerges, but clearly we are reaching our monetary limit with the possible future extension of Howard and possibly Rollins. Moyer's contract needs to come off the books!— dsh129- Ibanez has this year and next...don't think for a minute that Ibanez won't be relegated to a lesser role if Brown starts to step up. Also, baseball people know how long power hitters take to develop. Fans generally dont. If the Phillies can keep Mayberry for a few more years they will have a better idea how he will develop. It is worth the risk when you look at the potential payoff (see Jason Werth).— RJD1959
- I agree with Charlie on this one. Mayberry has what it takes to be a good Major League outfielder. As a matter of fact, he has a lot of tools. How many times have you seen a 6-6 guy playing all 3 OF positions and combine that with pretty good power? We got another one in Werth. For Jr it's a matter of putting everything together. When Chipper came up he was not a pretty good RH hitter. He worked extra hard to improve that part of his game and his way to the HOF has been a lot easier. I'm not trying to compare Mayberry with him, but you get the point. Jr already made a nice step by going to the Mexican League where he had pretty good success on that breaking ball league.— EL Zorro
- Mayberry gives the Phillies good depth in case of injury. This is a crucial year for Werth as he is in unchartered waters after his huge breakout year last year. I have loved what Werth has done for the team the last few years and hope that they can find a way to keep him. If he is looking for jason Bay type money then there is no way he will get a new contract here.— bradco
- Are you kidding me? Mayberry isn't even on the same planet as Werth. At best he will be a 5th outfielder.— scars73
- JBinPA THE OTHER OUTFIELD COULD BE GILLIC.THAT GUY ROCKS.— Phillies08
- mayberry is the next Ibanez!!— barber211
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- To Mayberry, JR has a very long swing and is lazy or does not pay attention in the field. He has it all and it is only a matter of when he gets it and puts all together. Mayberry, JR better wake up soon before Brown and Gose leave him in the dust.— jpelle36
- I'd trade Victorino before Werth. The Phils are stacked with LHB and the RHB of Werth keeps it a little more balanced. Werth can play center and he has good speed on the bases.I'm ot sure who would attract more interest in a trade (V or W) but it would be something to put on the table. IMO— TKB
- Matt, get Photoshop or the ER on line 1, because something isn't working, and it's either your photographer, or your liver.— kierenmcd
- Here we go...the propoganda begins because Ruben will be cheap and not sign Werth. He should have traded Victorino this year and let Werth play center.— Dr. Michael
- Making conclusions by comparing Mayberry's AAA stats to Werth's at the major league level is pointless. Mayberry is like one of those NFL combine studs who looks great in a T-shirt but can't play a lick. So far he has done nothing to justify a comparison to Werth.— paolibulldog
Thats a reach. I'm betting he will end up a decent 4th outfielder.— KINGOFZED- 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
- jpk, you spelled never wrong... i think what you wanted is C-L-I-F-F-L-E-E
- Comment removed.
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- 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
- Mayberry is at AAA after a nice Spring. Brown has never been in AAA and will open in AA after a nice Spring.— mick314
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- You could probably get a grilled cheese for Mayberry but then who gets the grilled cheese? Ruben, Charlie, Montgomery?— mundiff
- For now, Mayberry has very little trade value.— PortCity
