ST. LOUIS -- During the regular season, manager Charlie Manuel never wanted to use the word platoon when discussing the way he used outfielders John Mayberry Jr. and Raul Ibanez, but that was just semantics.
Manuel has started Mayberry exclusively against lefty starters during the second half of the season, which includes a game against the Cardinals Jaime Garcia on Sept. 16 in which he went 2 for 5 with an RBI double.
So when it comes to Game 3 of the NLDS on Tuesday night, Manuel says its likely Mayberry will be in there against Garcia.
Ive been thinking about that, Manuel said. More than likely thats probably what Ill do.
Mayberry belted 15 homers and batted .273 in 104 games this season with eight of his home runs coming off lefties. Moreover, Mayberry batted .306 against lefties in 2011 but just .250 against righties. Nevertheless, Mayberry will be making his first postseason start after making his debut as a pinch runner in Game 1.
The stakes are a lot higher, but the game is actually the same, Mayberry said. I feel like for the most part that I have gotten in there often. Ive gotten enough at-bats to stay sharp.
Meanwhile, Ibanez is 3 for 8 with a homer and four RBIs in the first two games of the series. Notoriously streaky, the 39-year-old lefty hitter has been wielding a warm bat during the past week. In his last six games, Ibanez has eight hits and seven RBIs. Over the last month, he is 30 for 106 with five homers and 25 RBIs.
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In one game against the Cards Garcia, Ibanez went 1 for 3 with a strikeout. Certainly if there is a resource for Mayberry to go to during his first playoff start, its Ibanez.
I said it all along that our relationship has been great. Over the past two years I had a chance to talk to Raul maybe more than anyone else and hes a great person -- even more so than a baseball player, Mayberry said. Thats kind of coincided in us sharing playing time.
The past, however, can be a poor prelude to the future during the playoffs. Even though Mayberry has had some limited success and has hit well against lefties lately, Garcia has given the Phillies fits in his two seasons.
He has good command and he uses all of his pitches and he keeps his cool against us, Manuel said about Garcia. What we have to do is take what he gives us.
We have to make sure we get good balls to hit, but at the same time dont try to jerk him and see how far we can hit him. We kind of have to go with the pitches and everything and see if we cant get him that way.
A Missouri native, Mayberry was born and raised in Kansas City where his dad was an All-Star and the AL MVP runner-up for the Royals in 1975. The Mayberrys will definitely make the trip across the state to see Tuesdays game.
Howard hits at home
Mayberry isnt the only Phillie with Missouri roots. Ryan Howard is from the St. Louis suburb of Wildwood and grew up rooting for the Cardinals when Ozzie Smith and Willie McGee were holding it down at old Busch Stadium.
At new Busch Stadium, Howard has worn out his hometown team. In 26 games at Busch, Howard has nine homers, a .368 batting average and 35 RBIs. Hes also slugged at a .695 clip and even stole a bag.
So what is it about playing in St. Louis that makes Howard rip the ball all over the yard?
Its just being home, he shrugged.
Actually, Howard said most players probably perform well in front of their hometown crowd.
I bet Jimmy Rollins has good numbers when he goes home, Howard said.
Actually, not really. Rollins is just 5 for 24 in his home city of Oakland and is slightly better across the San Francisco Bay, batting .233 in 33 games.
Maybe Howard was thinking of Cole Hamels, who is 3-1 with a 1.23 ERA in five career starts in San Diego? Or maybe he was thinking about Chase Utley, who in Los Angeles has batted .330 with five homers and 14 doubles in 27 games at Dodger Stadium with his friends and family looking on.
Either way, Howard is hoping for some home cookin at the yard in Game 3 and 4.
E-mail John R. Finger at jfinger@comcastsportsnet.com