With the groin injury to Raul Ibanez, the Phillies once again have recalled RF John Mayberry from Lehigh Valley. Mayberry, 25, figures to play at least against lefties, and maybe a bit more with Ibanez out of the lineup for at least the next 15 days and probably longer. In his brief stint with the Phils, Mayberry hit .222 with a homer and 3 RBI’s in 9 at bats. He has struggled since being sent back down to Lehigh, hitting just .121 over his last 10 games, with 10 strikeouts in 33 at bats. These next several weeks will be critical weeks for Mayberry, solidifying his status as the teams fourth OF next year, or opening the door for consideration of other candidates.
The trickle down effect on the Phils system could be interesting as well. Is it time to call up Michael Taylor? Or, would the Phillies prefer he continue playing in the winning atmosphere established in Reading this year?
Phuture Phillies 
I wouldn’t move up Taylor if it just meant he’d be moved back down when Ibanez comes back and Mayberry goes back down.
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Agree with Rodeo that moving Taylor to AAA only makes sense if the plan is to keep him there for the remainder of the season.
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who is going to Dh?
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If they call up Taylor to AAA, I think they can find some playing time if Mayberry returns among Jason Ellison, Mike Spidale, and Rich Thompson’s alottment. If they think he’s ready to go up he stays, I say. Yeah and if Mayberry becomes a starter in the next 2 weeks, and they get to the DH portion, and they need a Right-Handed Hitter, maybe Taylor can get a couple MLB at bats, this season.
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Lets hope it is only two weeks. The Phils are not always truthful. And as i pointed out why no DH Raul. Raul walking is better than most running. I smell a non-golden one.
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a) I doubt Spidale would stay in LHV if Taylor gets moved up
b) I doubt the Phils will start the clock on Taylor this season.
I think we’re more likely to see a move after the all-star break, and when they figure out just what they’re doing with Mayberry. I think their moving of Spidale instead of Taylor a few weeks ago is pretty indicative of their plans for him this season.
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If not Taylor,someone please.
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pp i have to say this. everyone asks why the phils lose at home. they better wake up. their sleep walking and i dont know why. did anybody see the remarkably heads up play by scutaro? never saw it in the majors. the phils are ASLEEP. thank you.
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Home run Mayberry. Interesting that they think enough of his defense to place him in RF with Werth in left.
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nice swing by mayberry on a hanging bb. good to see him hit off speed stuff.
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If it’s only for two-three weeks, I’m guessing they bring Slayden back up from Reading instead of Taylor. While Taylor probably is ready, there’s no real sense in rushing him up just yet.
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Mayberry is a little new to be coasting already—–just turned a single into a double for Rolen by not playing heads up.
What is so hard about teaching young players to hustle at all times.
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Agreed that they need to promote Taylor to AAA. If can does very well there, it lets them know for sure that he’s ready and that, in turn, gives them a lot more flexibility in trading other players (including Mayberry). Note that I said “other players” – I pray they don’t trade this guy.
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We’ll see how it all plays out, but, for now, the Mayberry trade is looking like a good one. “Toolsheds” often don’t become good baseball players. Does anyone see Golson developing much past a 4th outfielder? It sure doesn’t look like he can do more than that at this point.
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I would rather have golson better speed, and fielder, Mayberry is nothing, his kind are a dime a dozen.
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You bring Taylor up and send Spidale down when Mayberry goes back down. You play them both everyday at Lehigh Valley.
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As far as the big club goes, Bako is on the bench now making Coste your RH DH option, with Mayberry likely playing OF as he is today. Replace Stairs and Dobbs with those two names for LH. I don’t see Taylor coming up to be DH.
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Mikemike,Golson is indeed faster,but Mayberry has alot more power and he is very athletic,and has a pedigree,
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I beg to disagree on the relative values of a guy who can run and field and guy who can hit for power and also field. There are a ton of guys who can run and field their position but can’t get on base or hit for power. These guys are known as career minor leaguers (meet Messrs. Berry and Moran). A corner outfielder who can hit for power and field has a lot of potential value, including as a bargaining chip in a trade. I’m not saying that Mayberry will definitely be this type of player – he has clear holes in his game. But I think he has a hell of lot better shot of devleoping into something useful than Golson does.
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I just don’t think mayberry is anything special,
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you cannot tell me carpenter is not better than what im seeing. this also makes my point about AT LEAST TRYING carrasco in the pen in lhv valid. on the lakewood post i noted that guys were going 8 and 9 innings. whoever is running the show in lakewood should be commended. excuse me for not knowing his name. this 100 pitch limit is murder. excuse me i meant clearwater not lakewood, im just digusted these guys are playing with their heads you know where. who,s the closer now in lhv, chacon? didnt i read on greggs post that the pen in lhv hadnt allowed a run in 16 innings? sorry for the rambling but im sure you guys are as po,ed as i am.
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stinking barrajas! have a nice night everybody.
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I’m not that impressed with Carpenter, but he could hardly be much worse than what we’re seeing now.
It’s pitiful. I’m glad I’ve been working and only following the games on-line. If I were watching, my TV would be shattered by now.
The worst thing about all of this is that it GREATLY increases the likelihood that we’ll see a trade with Michael Taylor included. I am very bummed out about that.
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I think that Mahar is one of the guys they are thinking about, can play both outfield and first base. He is a great outfielder as well as an above average firstbasebaman, and in case no one has noticed, he is really starting to warm up with the bat, both power and average. And, Hhe has majorleague experience. He is without question better thatn Ellison, Tracey, Thompson and Spdale. His manager at Reading is just in love with Staviskey, so he plays iwith that stuff going on and stays above the fray.
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Williamsport roster announced with the biggest name being Anthony Hewitt. I think most people expected him to return to the GCL, hopefully these means he showed some improvement in XSP not just a promotion for his ego.
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Mayberry would really have to be impressive to stick with the club after Raul’s return. Plus Dobbs and Stairs need playing time right now. Therefore I can’t see moving Taylor to LV for just a temporary stay. Also after watching guys like Donald, Marson, Jaramillo, etc. fail to make a solid jump from AA to AAA, I can’t see the Phils in a rush to promote him. He has great trade value where he is now and could be a nice trade chip if the team is still in 1st at the deadline. (and yeah Catch 22 I wouldn’t want to see him go either)
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RodeoJones Says:
As far as the big club goes, Bako is on the bench now making Coste your RH DH option, with Mayberry likely playing OF as he is today. Replace Stairs and Dobbs with those two names for LH. I don’t see Taylor coming up to be DH.
RODEO
Your are the man but Coste! You have to be kidding. Its a shame but the Phils must be thinking like you. He commands
no repect from the opps. I posted earlier that they were not even going to throw a waste pitch at 0-2 that is an insult usually reserved for lousy hitting pitchers. I would like to see another WS. Being nice to a guy who has been here for a while isnt going to do it. Running around say “the arb clock is running the arb clock is running” isn’t either. The best team on the field will. No Taschner, no Bruntlett, no old friends. But I respect your right to be wrong we can agree later.
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I like the idea of Mahar…he would give the ‘Pigs some flexibility, is hitting the ball well and hits for some power. A decent defensive OF as well. That would also allow them the Phils to keep Taylor in AA a bit longer…if they are thinking of trading him, no reason to potentially diminish trade value if he goes into an early AAA slump.
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Mahar was rated the best defensive outfielder in the Rangers system. he lead them every year in fielding percentage and throwing guys out. he played center in double aa, also right and left, and played right and center in AAA and the majors.Having said that, I know that the Phillies love Tracey and Roadcap loves Stavisky.
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Its plain that Raul should not be asked to play everyday. There was a change in his swing at least 10 days before the news.
Its crazy to ask a man his age to tough it out.
HELP: anyone know the web site that breaks down the location in the strike zone that each batter hits the ball. I lost it thks
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nowheels…can we please stop with the “We need to bring up a RH DH to the Phillies” stuff? A little research shows that in the six games where the Phillies will be in an AL park next week, they will likely face 1 LH starter in TB (Price), and 1, maybe 2 LH starters in Toronto (Romero, Mills?) Let’s just say it is three games. The difference between a .253 hitter (Coste) with a .776 OPS in the majors and whatever numbers you believe Taylor (or anybody else) would hit in those three games, mathmatically speaking, is so miniscule that it does not warrent comment. Over the course of three games, the replacement might give you one extra base, at best.
Do you really think the Phillies (or any team) are going to add a guy to the 40-man roster, which at this point means releasing somebody else, start his arb clock, which means money, and risk his development and/or trade status for one extra base over three games? It just doesn’t make sense!
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I agree–Coste is a great story, but he needs to go. I wish we would have stuck with Paulino. He would have at least been a presence as a RH pinch-hitter. He is certainly taking advantage of the timehe gets in Florida.
And screw Barajas indeed! He ruined my night last year when he homered twice at a game in Philly I was at. I think he has hit more dingers against us than he hit in a full season for us…
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nowheels – I should have prefaced, that wasn’t my thinking, but my impression of what the Phils had in mind.
On topic, did anyone else see Conlin’s piece on Mike Taylor in the paper today? I was dumbfounded that Conlin wrote something I agreed 100% with but they can’t trade Taylor. He is starting to look like he could be a special player. If I was rating the prospects today I’d have Taylor a close 2nd to Drabek. Doing it at AA has become a premium in my mind.
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ok I shudda figured. I cant wait to see MT
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Coste has a .354 OBP, .422 slugging. He could play first and third well, and practically any position on the diamond in an extreme pinch. And he is willing to accept the backup role. Paulino looks good, but this is less than 100 plate appearances folks.
To keep this on topic, I’m taking a trip down to Reading Wednesday. Taylor is one player I at least want to meet once, I’m a fan of diabetic ballplayers since I have it myself.
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Hate to keep harping on an MLB issue, but just wanted to add this bit on Coste. Drew up a list of catchers’ OPS+ (minimum 90 plate appearances). Carlos Ruiz is 8th, Coste is 10th. The idea that Coste is hurting the Phillies with his offense is erroneous.
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In this case forget numbers when the opps want Coste out bad enough he is helpless
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The point is he should not be an interleague dh
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compare him with American League DHs not other catchers.
As a backup catcher he is ok but that is it
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QUESTION: How many K’s will Hewitt have tonight? The over/under is 2.
I’m taking the over.
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compare him with American league DHs???????? why??? we are a national league team that DOESNT use the DH…seriously, i cant believe im even wasting my time commenting…but just for kicks go to wednesdays boxscores and check out the extra bats in the lineup for national league teams due to having a DH..(no not the dh cuz some starters were given the field off and made dh) and see whats there…and for comparison how about the mets use of fernando martinez in that role…hows that wroked out for them?…PP my apologies in commenting on the big club when i am always one to plead stay on topic..but this time i needed to
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i cant tell you how much of a fan of hewitt ill be this year….ive never seen a kid get deemed a bust by so many people with like 8(slightly exhagerated) prof ABs..not directed at u Pat…but im pulling for him hard
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It’s okay. I hope he does well too, the guy can’t hit though (as of his last sighting).
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Looks like Lebron is starting for the Cutters! Nice! Andy you know anything about him?
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There’s one!
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Yeah, scouts like Keith Law are down on Anthony Hewitt. But they are there to objectively evaluate players, not develop fantasies. When a player strikes out nearly 50% of the time, doesn’t clear the Mendoza line and fields .848, what impression are you going to take from that guy?
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