Polanco on Brink of All-Star Nod

Originally published by NBC Philadelphia.

Only one Phillies hitter is likely to start the All-Star Game in Phoenix next month and the answer might surprise you.

As the voting for the 2011 All-Star Game draws to a close, Placido Polanco leads perennial fan-favorite and future Hall of Famer Chipper Jones by over 1.2 million votes to lead third base for the National League with just hours left to vote.

A career .302 hitter, it may appear that Polanco is struggling, batting “only” .289 after 77 games. However, as compared to his fellow Phillies, he is second only to Ryan Howard in RBIs and Shane Victorino in batting average and (of course) leads the Phightins with 87 hits.

But how does he fair against other National League third basemen?

The short answer is “not bad.”

The more complicated answer is that perhaps Chase Headley (San Diego) or Amaris Ramirez (Chicago) deserve the All-Star nod just a little bit more.

Polanco certainly has high marks when stacked against his competition. When Albert Pujols (who only played a few games at the hot corner this season) is removed from consideration -- Pujols is out 4 to 6 weeks with a fractured forearm and would be unable to participate -- Polanco is fifth in hits, third in RBIs, batting average, and on-base percentage. He leads NL third basemen in hits, but either Ramirez and/or Headley outrank him in nearly every other category.



Polanco has only been voted onto an All-Star team one other time -- in 2007 as a second baseman for the Detroit Tigers. It was hands down the best season of his 14-season MLB career as he finished with 200 hits, 67 RBIs, and a remarkable .341 batting average in 142 games, earning a Silver Slugger and one of his two Gold Gloves. Polly could potentially flirt with some of those stats in 2011, especially hits and RBIs.

So what gives Polly an edge over Ramirez and Headley in the voting?

The best fans in baseball, that’s what.

Whether you have voted once, 100 times, or not at all, you have until midnight Thursday to head over to Phillies.com or MLB.com to ensure Polanco's spot in the Mid-Summer Classic. Pin It Now!

Fave Phillies Moment So Far - Mayberry's Game-Winner

Originally published by NBC Philadelphia.

With the Phillies about a third of the way through the 2011 season Philthy Stuff will look back at our favorite moments from a memorable season so far.

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He may be racking up almost as many frequent flyer miles as Vance Worley lately, but there’s one thing John Mayberry, Jr. has on his resume that the Phillies can’t take away from him.

On Opening Day, Phils fans stood on their feet as Mayberry walked up to the plate with the bases loaded and one out as a tie game was in the bottom of the ninth. The Astros’ Brandon Lyon threw an 89 mph fastball for a ball. Then another that was fouled off. An 88 mph cutter was called a ball. Another 89 mph fastball was fouled away.

Then, on the fourth fastball of the series, the ball floated to center field and landed just past the reach of Michael Bourn. Ben Francisco scored as the team swarmed Mayberry at first base for bringing them their first victory of the season, and in walk-off fashion none the less.

The Phillies are no stranger to high-anxiety games and heart-stopping finishes, but it was Mayberry’s first ever walk-off hit and one he’s not likely to forget any time soon.

Mayberry has been part of the Phillies organization since 2009 and made his first post-season roster in 2010. This is the first year he had made the Opening Day 25-man roster after an impressive showing in Spring Training after picking up some extra innings following Domonic Brown’s hand injury.

But lately he has been shuffled between Triple-A Lehigh Valley and the Phightins.

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Victorino's Return -- Who Goes to Make Room?

Originally published by NBC Philadelphia.

The Phillies will be almost whole again as they kickoff a weekend series in Pittsburgh Friday night. When Shane Victorino was not in the Reading Phillies’ lineup Thursday morning, it was speculated and later reported that he would likely be activated from the disabled list on Friday and join the team on the last leg of their road trip this weekend.

After being plagued by early season injuries, Joe Blanton and Brad Lidge remain the only staff regulars left on the disabled list.

With Victorino back in center field, the club has to decide who goes and who stays on the 25-man roster, and the decision won't be easy.

The Candidates:

• Domonic Brown
• John Mayberry, Jr.
• Ross Gload
• Michael Martinez
• Ben Francisco

It’s probably safe to assume that Brown and Mayberry will remain with the team upon Victorino’s return. Ruben Amaro, Jr. and Charlie Manuel were heavily criticized for the use of top prospect Brown in 2010 heading into the post season, and after a long Triple-A tune-up following his hand surgery, Amaro was leery to bring him back up to the majors stating that "he wasn’t ready."

Since becoming a (mostly) regular fixture in the outfield, Brown has batted.324 OBP/.368 OBP/.898 OPS in 11 games. Chase Utley is .194/.324/.647 over nine games. A small sample size, yes, but Dom's been impressive nonetheless.

Mayberry is no stranger to the big club, having played 95 games since his debut with the team in 2009. So far this season he is batting a less impressive .231/.316/.682, but provides some hard to come by right-handed power off the bench. Keeping both Brown and Mayberry in the wings also allows for an easier platoon with Ben Francisco -- who has options but it would be hard to see him being sent down -- and Raul Ibanez throughout the season.

Ross Gload is a conundrum. He has a tear in his hip that has Charlie’s hands tied. Putting him on the 15, 30, or even 60-day DL won’t help anything. Surgery will end his season. But he’s the best pinch hitter the Phillies have on their bench. Kyle Kendrick even pinch ran for him on Tuesday night just because the team doesn’t know how far they can push Gload without injuring him further. However, he is unlikely to cover first base should Ryan Howard need a day off if he can’t run the bases without worrying the coaching staff.

At the end of the day Gload’s a lefty bat, batting .275/.275/.550 in 40 plate appearances. Perhaps deactivating him and getting him the surgery he needs makes sense if he’s going to be walking on eggshells the entire season anyway.

Michael Martinez provides a different scenario should the Phillies choose to cut him on Friday. Being a Rule-5 Draft pick, he isn’t eligible to be sent to the minors. The Phils would have to offer him back to the Nationals along with $25,000. 2010’s Rule-5 experiment, David Herndon, hung on all season but was optioned to Lehigh Valley during the ongoing game of bullpen musical chairs this year.

Martinez seemed like a lock to make the big club out of spring training as his versatility gave the Phillies some much needed depth in the infield and outfield. If he fails to make the cut this time around, however, Wilson Valdez would be left as the sole backup infielder (and outfielder, and catcher, and pitcher, and Phanatic...).

Hitting a measly .184/.212/.416, Martinez stands to be the opposite of Gload -- he can bat, he can field, and he ca run. Would he be merely a pawn? Just a run-of-the-mill pinch hitter for a pitcher when the game isn’t on the line? I can’t imagine anyone finds him terribly vital at the moment.

If I were a betting girl, I would guess that Martinez will be wearing a Nationals uniform as the Phillies take the field at PNC Park Friday evening, but crazier things have happened.

Cliff Lee, anyone?

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