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Day off helps Zobrist get back in the zone

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By MARC LANCASTER

mlancaster@tampatrib.com

Published: July 1, 2009

Updated: 07/01/2009 11:11 pm

TORONTO - Ben Zobrist had only six hits in his previous 40 at-bats before getting Monday off, but that one night out of the lineup worked exactly as Manager Joe Maddon hoped it would.

In eight trips to the plate Tuesday and Wednesday, Zobrist produced four walks, three singles and a sacrifice fly - each the product of a patient at-bat.

"That's what I was looking for," Maddon said. "Just take a break, step back, reevaluate what you're doing. Don't change anything; just think in a little bit clearer way."

It wasn't as if Zobrist was mired in a horrible slump - he has been one of the Rays' best hitters for the past month or so. But Maddon thought Zobrist had been expanding his strike zone, and he wanted to try to put a stop to it with a break.

"More often than not, when hitters go through bad moments, it's not because their swing's messed up mechanically; it's because they're probably swinging at bad pitches," Maddon said. "You hear the word 'mechanics' kicked around so much in this game, my goodness. It's like you need your tool box, you need Mr. Goodwrench. A lot of times the problem is what you're thinking."

Considering how much Zobrist has been playing lately, thrust into the lineup on an everyday basis by the injury to Akinori Iwamura, taking that step back can be difficult for a player to do on his own. So Zobrist appreciated the nudge.

"That helped a lot, just to clear my mind a little bit and get to relax and enjoy the game a little bit, which is what I did on Monday," Zobrist said. "So I was able to relax a little bit, and the next day come back and get my approach back and not focus too much on results."

Which, naturally, led to the best results he has produced at the plate in a couple of weeks.

On the rise

The Rays ranked first in "affordability" among all 122 MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL franchises in the latest edition of ESPN The Magazine's "Ultimate Standings" and 16th overall.

Not surprisingly, that's a big jump from last year's No. 75 overall ranking in a survey designed to measure a franchise's value to its fans. The Rays' "stadium experience" still sits near the bottom at 106th, leading only the Blue Jays, Twins, Marlins and A's among MLB franchises.

Tough to say goodbye

June was very good to the Rays, who not only posted the majors' second-best record last month (19-7, to the Rockies' 21-7) but also ranked at or near the top in several statistical categories.

The Rays' 41 homers tied the White Sox for the most in the majors, and Zobrist's eight long balls tied for the AL lead. The Rays led all big-league teams with a .284 batting average and were second with a 3.07 ERA (Mariners, 2.98).

Odds and ends

The three home runs James Shields allowed Wednesday matched the total he had surrendered in his previous nine starts combined. ... The Rays were shut out for the third time this season and the first time since April 23 at Seattle. ... Carl Crawford's seventh-inning single extended his hitting streak to seven games. ... Opponents have hit only .188 (12-for-64) off the Rays' relievers in the last eight games. ... Rangers OF Josh Hamilton, on the disabled list with a torn abdominal muscle, is targeting a Saturday return to face the team that drafted him first overall in 1999. ... All-Star Game voting on MLB.com concludes tonight at 11:59 p.m. ... Baseball's international signing period begins today, with teams free to sign amateurs in areas not covered by the draft - most notably Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.

Marc Lancaster

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