For Mayberry, a possible break from 'Pigs purgatory

We all know the Nationals are setting baseball’s low-water mark with an 11-27 (.289) record. It isn’t much worse than Lehigh Valley’s win-loss total.

What is the major malfunction with Philadelphia’s Triple-A affiliate? For the third year in a row, they’re awful. Look at these records. It’s a mess: Ottawa 2007: 55-88; Lehigh Valley 2008: 55-89; Lehigh Valley 2009: 15-23. Developing talent is the real purpose of the minor leagues, not records, but there again, the Phils have flunked the test. J.A. Happ is the best thing to come out of Triple-A in the last three seasons, and I have a sneaky suspicion he’s learned more during scattered bullpen use in the majors than he did pitching for 55-89 rubbish.

Six weeks is a small sliver of the minor league season, but still. What happened? On paper, they looked promising, packed with talent and depth. While they try to pick up the pieces, maybe it’s time to think about saving one of their better players from baseball hell. At some point, the Phillies need to realize that 25-year-old outfielder John Mayberry Jr. has had all the Triple-A seasoning he can get. His future is on the Phillies’ bench anyway, unless they sit Triple Crown contender Raul Ibanez, Gold Glove winner Shane Victorio, or Jayson Werth, rated the most underrated player in the game by baseball execs.

The Phils appear to be leaning toward a call-up for the weekend series with the Yankees. If so, Mayberry, who has eight homers and a healthy .898 OPS, would fit the bill. Afterward, they’ll need to decide if it’s time for Mayberry to learn on the job. I have a hunch Charlie Manuel will find ways to use the young slugger, who hit fifth in Manuel’s lineup most of the spring.

It’s sad. Triple-A has become the place where prospects go to die. Look at Jason Donald’s line following a great spring and awesome AFL: .242/.288/.350 with one homer and 40 strikeouts in 165 plate appearances. I have to think his surroundings have played a small part.

Lopez dealing: When considering possible call-ups to fortify the starting rotation, the names Carlos Carrasco and Kyle Kendrick are mentioned most. But what about 33-year-old veteran Rodrigo Lopez? The IronPigs had lost eight in a row before winning 3-1 yesterday behind a seven-inning, six-strikeout gem by the former Oriole 15-game winner. On the season, he’s 2-2 with a 3.94 ERA in six starts with a 24-5 K/BB ratio in 32 innings. Lopez is trying to recover from a surgically repaired elbow ligament and flexor tendon in his pitching arm. He’s a career 65-65 with a 4.80 ERA in the majors.

Comments

[Hydrant]

I don't think using Mayberry as a DH against Pettitte and Sabathia is a good idea. So far this season, he has 0 HRs against LHP, and his SLG is almost a full .130 lower against righties.

My suggestion would be either to call up Marson and use Coste as DH (he needs ABs and hits LHP pretty well) or use Bruntlett at either DH or 2B (could use some rest for Chase).

[NEPP]

I'd much rather see him up for a week or two than Pablo Ozuna or the return of Miguel Cairo.

Why call up Marson to sit him on the bench? Especially when he's scuffling at AAA already?

[CJ]

Since the starters seem to be getting a little better, it's time to go back to a 5 man bench. Cairo isn't the answer. Another catcher isn't the answer.

Get Mayberry up here and let's see what he can do!

[Andy]

Letting Mayberry float between levels this year is probably a fine idea. I'd feel much better about him (as opposed to Cairo, Ozuna, or Gnome) as the ph for Dobbs with two guys on in the seventh against a Yankee reliever.

In re: Lopez
Lopez, Majewski, Koplove, and maybe a couple other guys (including Ozuna) are single-use replacements. You can not assume that any will clear waivers once they've been brought up. So if Lopez is the sub for, say, a continuingly ineffective Moyer, he cannot be both good and re-demoted because someone else will say, "Yippee! A fifth starter!!"

{"continuingly"? "re-demoted"? Welcome to Andy Abuses English.}

[Steve Jeltz]

Lopez could be one of those lightning in a bottle type guys every other team seems to find once in awhile. Those guys never seem to land on the Phils roster though.

[G-Town Dave]

Mayberry is interesting & all, but the *real* question is: "Have the Phillies managed to sign another veteran catcher?".

It's been almost 48 hours now since the FO last acquired one, & I'm starting to become concerned ...

[bay_area_phan]

Several people have brought up the idea of calling up a catcher (whether Marson or Bako) so that Coste can DH and pinch hit. This doesn't make a lot of sense. We already have Eric Bruntlett on the roster. Do we really need to waste yet another roster spot on a guy who can't hit at all (at least in Bako's case) -- and all for the purpose of being able to use our crappy backup catcher as a DH?

I prefer to keep the crappy backup catcher as a backup catcher, and call up someone who might actually be able to hit better than him as the DH/right-handed bench player. Mayberry may or may not fit the bill, but I agree with the sentiment that it's time to start finding out. If Chris Coste is the best you can do as your DH, you clearly have a problem with your bench.

[Kevin M]

I have a hunch the Phillies will call up Mayberry for this weekend. Having the DH you would think they might want to carry an extra bat, but I think Stairs will be the DH this weekend, almost eliminating the need for a powerful bat on the bench.

They may not do anything.

[bay_area_phan]

Jeltz: The Phillies have never caught lightning in a bottle? What do you call Kyle Kendrick's 2007 season or Jamie Moyer's 2008 one?

Rodrigo Lopez's history says he isn't likely to qualify as "lightning in a bottle." But it's not outside the realm of possibility that he could be passably mediocre. Compared to what we're getting from Moyer and Blanton right now, a passably mediocre starter would look like Bob Feller.

[bay_area_phan]

Kevin: We face two left-handed starters in Pettitte and Sabathia. There is 0 percent chance that Stairs will be the DH in those games.

[Andy]

"I think Stairs will be the DH this weekend"

Not against Petitte and Sabathia with three lefties already in the line-up.

[Andy]

b-a-p:
Lopez might not be lightning in a bottle; but if he becomes a SP for the Phils, I'll be looking to get me some white lightning in a jar.

[Andy]

And b-a-p? If I keep posting the same things you do, does that mean I might qualify as a "Soggy Old Blanket" too?

[Steve Jeltz]

BAP: I guess I meant more in that journeyman-type pitcher. Moyer was old but established when he came to the Phils and, KK was a young guy who pitched over his head.

We never seem to get the reclamation project-type guys to pan out (ala a Kris Benson-type) if that makes sense.

[AWH]

Hmmm, against Pettitte and Sabathia:

JRoll
Utley
Werth
Howard
Mayberry
Ibanez
Vic
Feliz
Chooch

It might work. Or, switch them around any way you like.

[Steve Jeltz]

Cholly doesn't like young guys enough to put him in the 5 hole. I don't think Mayberry would hit any higher than 7th.

But that's not a bad looking lineup all around.

[mike cunningham]

From Twitter:
HighCheese
Phillies claim RHP Steven Register off waivers from Colorado. Register 0-2, 4.50 ERA this season. Sent to Lehigh Valley

Let the wailing begin.

[Andy]

How about the irresistible force of a Register-Bako battery team? All we need is a power bat for our march to immortality...where's Mientkewicz playing these days?

[AWH]

Andy, the Register-Bako Battery sounds like it should be competing with the Energizer Bunny.

[MG]

Reality is that the AA and AAA teams have been stocked by way too many minor league journeyman and major league retreads the past few seasons. Every team does it but I am willing to bet the Phils have been among the league leaders in signing guys to fill out their AA/AA rosters the past 4-5 seasons.

[AWH]

AA and AAA? Register-Bako Battery?

Sounds like and electronics store?

[Willard Preacher]

From Twitter:
ScottLauber-
Phils sign Mike Piazza to minor league deal. Will serve as 5th string C.

Ok, I made that up. But would you really be shocked at this point?

[mikes77phillies]

If Mayberry gets the call for this weekend he won't be the DH. He will be the LF Saturday and Sunday. Raul Ibanez would be the DH. Stairs would'nt be able to assume DH for Mayberry if the Yankees brought in RH relievers.
Also, there is no way Cholly bats Mayberry 5th. He bats 8th or 9th if he gets the call.

[joe]

Willard -

I'm still waiting for them to call Frank Thomas for a right-handed PH with a little pop.

Heck, The Big , old Hurt may actually get a championship out of it.