Charlie Manuel told reporters he wants John Mayberry Jr. to stick with the major league team for a little while. It’s good news for the slugging outfielder, who will attempt to prove his worth as an everyday player.
But Mayberry can’t prove anything if he stays on the bench too much. Moreover, the Phillies can’t determine whether Mayberry could be an everyday player for them – which would then allow them to explore possibly moving Jayson Werth for pitching. So if they’re going to keep Big John Stud up for a while, they need to start him as much as possible.
Tonight would be a start. It wouldn’t be a bad night to sit Raul Ibanez, who despite his hot play, is 0-for-6 lifetime against scheduled Florida starter Andrew Miller. Maybe tomorrow would be a good time to sit Jayson Werth, mired in a 2-for-27 slump, against righty Burke Badenhop.
The Phillies need to give Mayberry a chance to succeed and show his value. In the long run, it would benefit the Phils in spades.
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