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Who's Batting First? Rays' Maddon Considers Options

Tribune photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

The Rays made their first appearance in the Bay area since the World Series today at Steinbrenner Field.

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By TONY FABRIZIO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 26, 2009

Updated: 02/26/2009 11:59 am

TAMPA - The addition of free agent designated hitter Pat Burrell has Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon contemplating a batting order that would drop second baseman Akinori Iwamura out of the lead-off spot.

Iwamura led off throughout the regular season and postseason last year and was a catalyst for the American League champions, He paced the Rays in hits (172), runs (91), at-bats (627) and games played (152), setting club records for a second baseman in several categories.

Burrell, the team's most significant free agent acquisition after averaging 31 home runs, 99 RBI and 103 walks the past four years with Philadelphia, batted in the cleanup spot in his first spring training start.

"You put Pat in the lineup somewhere, which then can impact how you're going to set it up," Maddon said during this morning's batting practice at Steinbrenner Field before Tampa Bay played the New York Yankees in Grapefruit League play.

"So there's the potential to maybe move B.J. [Upton] up and Aki down, leave it where it is, leave Aki on the top and then fudge it a little in the middle. I'm just not sure what I want to do yet. But I'm not going to say Aki is absolutely going to hit first when I'm considering other things."

The topic came up with a Japanese journalist asked Maddon whether he was going to return Iwamura top of the order when he finishes playing for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.

"When he comes back, we may consider moving the lineup around a bit, I'm not sure right now," Maddon said. "And again with the personnel, that's something I have been considering, but I'm not sure."

Upton batted mostly second and third last year, leading off in six games Iwamura missed. The fleet and athletic center fielder, who is recovering from shoulder surgery and hoping to make the Opening Day lineup, led the Rays in on-base percentage (.383) and finished second in the American League in stolen bases with 44.

Iwamura bats left, and Upton and Burrell bat right.

After starting several of their regulars in Wednesday's 7-0 loss to Cincinnati at their new spring home in Port Charlotte, the Rays are playing the second Grapefruit League game with several backups and guys trying to make an impression.

Adam Kennedy got the start at second, Willy Aybar at designated hitter, Morgan Ensberg at third base, Ben Zobrist at short, Gabe Kapler in center, Chris Richard at first, Shawn Riggans behind the plate and Justin Ruggiano in right. Left fielder Carl Crawford was the only starter in the lineup.

The starting pitcher was Wade Davis, who spent all of last year at Class AA Montgomery and Class AAA Durham.

New York started many of its big guns in its home spring opener, including Johnny Damon in left, Derek Jeter at short, newcomer Mark Teixeira at first and Alex Rodriguez at third.

Right-hander Phil Hughes started for New York.

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