Ben Zobrist will start in right field instead of Gabe Gross in Sunday's Game 4 of the World Series, according to MLB.com.Zobrist primarily plays at shortstop but is known as a bit of a super-utility man. He has played all outfield positions this season but has started only once in right. He is 1-for-7 in the playoffs.
With Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels on the mound, Rays manager Joe Maddon went with Zobrist instead of right-handed-hitting Rocco Baldelli, who is 0-for-2 off the Phillies lefty. The switch-hitting Zobrist emerged as the team's super-utilityman down the stretch and closed out the regular season hitting .253 with 12 homers and a .505 slugging percentage. The extra face time only helps his chances of seeing more at-bats next year.
With Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels on the mound, Rays manager Joe Maddon went with Zobrist instead of right-handed-hitting Rocco Baldelli, who is 0-for-2 off the Phillies lefty. The switch-hitting Zobrist played all over the diamond for Tampa Bay, emerging as the team's super-utilityman down the stretch. This only helps his chances of seeing more at-bats next year.
Marc Topkin, of The St. Petersburg Times, reports Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon opted for OF Ben Zobrist in Game 1 of the World Series on Oct. 22 because he believed OF Rocco Baldelli would be best going up against Philadelphia Phillies SP Brett Myers in Game 2.
Ben Zobrist will be in tonight's starting lineup against the Phillies in Game 1 of the World Series, according to the St. Petersburg Times. He will start in right field.This lineup move comes as a bit of a surprise. Although Zobrist is a switch-hitter, which matches up with the left-handed starter Cole Hamels, Rocco Baldelli bats right-handed as well. Baldelli, who started the Rays last game in right field, had the game-winning RBI against Boston in Game 7. Defensively, Zobrist only has seven innings in right field this season, and just 18 total in the outfield.
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