The Starting Nine: Zorilla, Keystones and the Bat

3 - 2 questions, 1 answer

Rays manager Joe Maddon is pretty good at shifting his defense. Just ask Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, who has had just about enough of Maddon's maneuvering aimed at putting as many defenders on the right side of the field when he comes to bat.

Yet, even Maddon can't come up with a plan that would allow Ben Zobrist to play right field and second base at the same time.

Zobrist proved last season that he is more than a good major-leaguer, but even Zorilla can't cover two places at once.

So, that leads to a pair of questions: What are the Rays going to do in right field? And, what are the Rays going to do at second base?

The answer to both is Ben Zobrist.

"Ben, obviously, is going to play all the time, whether it's at second base or right field," Maddon said. "How we work through that we're not sure yet."

Let's look at right field.

Gabe Kapler and Matt Joyce join Zobrist in that mix.

"It's going to be a platoon. I'm almost 100 percent sure it's going to be a platoon," Maddon said. "I don't see anything really changing. Of course, Ben's part of that. Kapler can be a part of that. Matt Joyce can be part of that. There are so many different options out there, and we're going in there expecting it to be that way."

Kapler bats right-handed. Joyce is left-handed. Zobrist is a switch-hitter. So, each brings something different to the position.

Kapler played 66 games in right in 2009. Zobrist played 59. Joyce made four starts during two brief stints with the Rays.

How the playing time in right field is divided may hinge on what's happening at second base.

So ...

2 - Who's on second?

Zobrist, sure. He started 91 games there in 2009, when he took over for the injured Akinori Iwamura. Zobrist also played second base during the 2009 All-Star Game.

The Rays also have Sean Rodriguez, acquired from the Angels in the trade for Scott Kazmir, and Reid Brignac, the shortstop who made three starts at second base in 2009.

Maddon said it's not optimal to platoon at second, since it is ideal to have the same double-play combination in the lineup on a daily basis. But Zobrist's ability to play so many position leaves Maddon little choice.

Plus, Maddon likes the flexibility the platoon system brings to the lineup.

Like the situation in right field, the candidates for second base provide options: Rodriguez bats right-handed; Brignac, left-handed.

"It's certain, but uncertain," Maddon said. "We know what we want to do, but we don't know how we're going to work it, yet."

Pat the Bat

The Rays hope that's the case this year, as designated hitter Pat Burrell begins the final year of his two-year contract.

Burrell didn't meet the expectations in 2009, when he hit just .221 with 14 home runs and 64 RBIs, far off the pace of the 31 home runs and 99 RBIs he averaged over the four previous years.

Burrell, who missed 29 games early in the season because of a neck injury, had trouble adjusting to American League pitching and his new job as designated hitter.

It all added up to one big out in the heart of the Rays lineup.

Maddon thinks an offseason for Burrell to catch his breath and a better understanding of the league and his position will make the second time around, if not the charm, at least better.

"I'm expecting (Burrell) to closer resemble the (Burrell) we thought in the first place," Maddon said.

"I don't expect him to exceed his average numbers from his past in Philadelphia, but I think we're going to see more of his numbers from his past in Philadelphia."