Why Mayberry over Gload?
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Why Mayberry over Gload?
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
WASHINGTON -- The story of Tuesday's game in The Inquirer focuses on Joe Blanton and his struggles with runners on base. That is what caused the hole the Phillies faced in the seventh inning when the bases were loaded in a four-run game and Blanton's spot in the order due up.
Charlie Manuel turned to John Mayberry Jr. as his pinch hitter. Mayberry, a righty, is the major-league leader with four pinch hits in the early going. He is also much better against lefthanded pitchers and has trouble hitting off-speed pitches.
So Livan Hernandez probably wasn't the greatest matchup for Mayberry. Ross Gload stayed on the bench and he's Manuel's best pinch hitter. He's also a lefty.
The manager's reasoning for Mayberry:
"I liked him on Hernandez," Manuel said. "I liked him most of all because the wind was blowing out to left field. With the bases loaded and one out, I thought if he gets one up in the air, that's about the only chance we have of hitting one out of the yard."
Fair enough. That decision will be the most second-guessed of the night but it's not like it blatantly cost the Phillies the game.
The greater question will be about the use of Gload. Typically Manuel will wait to use his best pinch hitter until the later innings, which can backfire. In this case, it's pretty easy to argue that was the most crucial at-bat of the game for the Phillies.
Manuel also loves to play lefty-righty and righty-lefty, making the Gload decision even more confusing.
And by not using him in the seventh, Manuel wasn't able to use Gload later once Jim Riggleman brought in lefthander Sean Burnett for the save. Instead, Michael Martinez pinch hit in the ninth and grounded out.
The game ended a three-run Phillies loss with the best pinch hitter sitting on the bench while a comeback bid was thwarted.
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Probably not a good call but the real issue of the night was Fat Joe who needs to disappear— shawnmac- Actually, it would be better if you did the disappearing act. — BEMiller
- If the "best fifth starter in baseball" gets outdueled by an over the hill soft tosser like L. Hernandez -- which Blanton quite clearly did -- that should tell us a lot. Were Ruben and Charlie watching?— eman
- Boston and the chance for legitimate whining await you. — BEMiller
- Go figure! He kept his best pinch hitter in his pocket and had to use two rookies as pinch hitters in a loss. That's why Charlie is one of the worst managers I have ever seen.— EL Zorro
- And you have some of the poorest vision EVER! — BEMiller
- He went with the hot hand. I don't mind it.— Vote for Dickie
Comment removed.- still do not understand, tagging a guy with an empty glove,the ball was in his other hand....that play changed the entire game— lewisbratspis
- Not the first time Charlie's made a befuddling baseball move and it won't be the last.— BlueHens
- Just as EVERY other manager now or ever in the game. Every move that doesn't work is befuddling, and every move that works is genius. — BEMiller
- Mayberry is off to a hot start. Cholly likes to go with his intuition and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. This is a non-issue, no reason to try and start anything here.— DennyP
- Agree w/ Dickie. I don't mind going w/ the hot bat. Bigger problem for the offense was the number of men left stranded. Didn't we have bases loaded, one out twice last night?— 5LokoNYC
- I think it's a valid observation and question (ie second guess). I'm ok with Charlie going with the hot hand or his hunch but this is why Gload is here and his 'best' PH. Mayberry isn't likely to keep this up and whatever, he looked bad flailing at that floater. But what Phillie didn't?— PhillySubsMac
- Those idiots who are whining about ANYTHING done by ANY Phillies player so far this season should just move to Boston where you whining would be appropriate!— BEMiller
