It's not that Mayberry had a chance to maintain a spot on the roster. But he hit .187 with a .580 OPS in 28 games since May 1. The Phillies view him as a potential bench cog down the line, but Manuel said Mayberry is not ready to be a full-time pinch-hitter. He still needs at-bats to stay sharp.
So that means Rule 5 pick Michael Martinez sticks, even with a .184 batting average in 49 at-bats. The Phillies, still devoted to resting Chase Utley and his balky right knee on a regular basis, want a second backup infielder in addition to Wilson Valdez. They also did not want to risk losing Martinez, 28, who would have had to clear waivers and then be offered back to his original team, the Washington Nationals, before being demoted.
It leaves a bench with questions and limited power in the form of Ross Gload and Ben Francisco. Gload, hampered by a hip injury, does not have an extra-base hit. Francisco is tied for third on the team with six home runs.
Manuel said he expects the team to bolster the bench before the trade deadline if it's deemed necessary.
That would be the main point to take away from Friday's roster move: By no means is this the bench the Phillies will carry for the rest of the season. It's possible Mayberry returns when the team needs a designated hitter in interleague play later this month. Even trades after the deadline, like the ones for Matt Stairs and Mike Sweeney, have added pop in the past.
Injury setbacks
