Tampa Bay Rays Opening Day Centerfielder: Ben Zobrist?
by Tommy Rancel on Mar 23, 2009 9:39 AM EDT
28 comments
Following up on something I wrote about yesterday, the Rays are looking at Ben Zobrist as the potential opening day centerfielder. He could also see the lion's share of innings in center until B.J. Upton returns from hand/shoulder injuries. Zobrist started yesterday in center field and has logged more innings (28) at that position than any other this spring. He has played every position except pitcher and catcher so far. Zobrist, a switch hitter, would allow the Rays' "Gabe of the Day" right field platoon to continue as planned; Gross starting versus right handers and Kapler starting against lefties. Kapler is another option to start in centerfield in Upton's absence.
Another 
reason Zobrist is being looked at as the temporary centerfielder is roster flexibility. I mentioned this earlier this weekend, but the Rays really have two options here. First, they could keep Justin Ruggiano on the roster and have him be the primary backup in the outfield. Second, they could use Zobrist as the centerfielder and keep Adam Kennedy as a utility infielder along with Willy Aybar. Kennedy has played second base, third base and some outfield this spring. He played 10 games in the outfield and three games at first base for the St. Louis Cardinals last season. We all know Joe Maddon loves a flexible roster so this could be the way he goes.
While Maddon seems comfortable with Zobrist in center field, we just don't know how good or bad of a defender he will be out there. Last year, Benzo logged 113.1 innings in the outfield with most of those coming in left field (79.1). Zobrist looked to be about average in left with a UZR of 0.7 in limited action. He did play five games in center field last year including three starts. He had a -0.7 UZR in 27 innings in center, however, that is a very small sample size. There is a chance Zobrist has made some defensive strides in the outfield this spring, so we'll have to trust the opinions of coaches and scouts for now.
The effect of the Fernando Perez injury is really starting to show right now. None of this would even be necessary had Perez not suffered a dislocated wrist injury along with ligament damage. Perez is expected to miss 4-5 months, meaning a July or August return. However, Andrew Friedman acknowledged the injury could cost Perez the entire season, but it's too early for that type of speculation.
Photo By Dennis Adair
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I have total faith in Maddon, BUT
I just don’t get his fascination with low ceiling OFs. Kapler, Gross, now the converted infielder Zobrist…why all the noise about needing another DH/OF-type when Johnson and Ruggiano absolutely tore it up in Durham last year? I know that Johnson is in Japan now, but still…why not throw Ruggiano out there for a few games to get him some regular Major League ABs to see what he can do? He’s never had that up in the Show and he’s struggled…I’d be real interested to see what he can do with consistent ABs. Kapler, et. al., are known quantities and nothing to get too excited about.
by smithhasaname on Mar 23, 2009 10:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ruggiano is a low ceiling OF.
He doesn’t have any more upside than anyone they are currently running out there and his downside is greater (i.e. he hasn’t proved he can hit big league pitching). He has zero plus tools and nothing that would make him stand out over proven guys. I’m all about youth and upside, but Ruggs isn’t really that young and doesn’t have all that much upside.
Tools Whore
by Tyler on Mar 23, 2009 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
As good as his season might have been last year in AAA his Major League Equivalent is quite a bit lower
His K/PA last year was 27.6% while his BB/PA was 7.9%. There is nothing wrong with average, but Zobie saves a spot for another bullpen arm with his flexibility and we already have above-average (when used correctly) in the Gabes.
Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it's business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don't love what you're doing and you can't give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You'll be an old man before you know it.
-Al Lopez
by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 23, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good points...
I am not trying to say that Ruggiano will come up and kill and go on to a HOF career. I do think that, especially this early in the season, there’s no reason not to roll the dice and see what he can do. He’s only had 90 Major League ABs and, given time, has adjusted at every level. Again, I’m not saying he’s a superstar, but he should be solid.
Kaz, thanks for the ML Equivalent chart! It’s interesting, but I’m assuming the sample sizes it’s based on are what skew the numbers. I mean, Longoria has a .169 BA LOL. I think the argument you make about the extra bullpen spot takes the day. I’m not a big fan of Zobrist or the Gabes, but hanging on to the arms is more important. Well done!
by smithhasaname on Mar 23, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thank you
If you like that check out my post on the Durham Bulls. It features that chart as well as others and a somewhat comprehensive writeup. If you like that a similar one will be coming this afternoon on the Biscuits.
I agree with everything you say in the first paragraph, even more so, because eventually we are going to have to see what we have with the guy, but with that said I also think the best thing for Ruggs the player is to be in an everyday lineup and continue to work on cutting his K’s and increasing his BB’s. I think we can all agree that he could probably step in and produce at a league average rate.
Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it's business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don't love what you're doing and you can't give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You'll be an old man before you know it.
-Al Lopez
by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 23, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"If you like that a similar one will be coming this afternoon on the Biscuits."
by R.J. Anderson on Mar 23, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I give nothing away. Well OK I have the data all set so far just need to find time to do the write up.
Check your e-mail.
Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it's business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don't love what you're doing and you can't give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You'll be an old man before you know it.
-Al Lopez
by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 23, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Durham is a hitter's park at last check.
Look at Chris Richard and Kevin Witt as well. Bashing in Durham doesn’t always lead to bashing upwards.
by R.J. Anderson on Mar 23, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Another point:
If we take Kennedy on the 25 man he first has to be put on the 40 man roster and second has to clear waivers in order to be allowed to be sent down to AAA!
If Kennedy plays well he won’t clear waivers and we’ll lose him for nothing!
Ruggi on the other side has an option left!
by BurGi on Mar 23, 2009 10:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
second has to clear waivers in order to be allowed to be sent down to AAA!
He signed a MiL deal didn’t he? He might have a clause that allows him to seek a ML contract before accepting his assignment (doubt it), but I’m pretty certain he won’t need to be sent through waivers.
by Vin on Mar 23, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, he's on a minor league deal.
Same with Izzy.
Not sure if either has an opt-out clause, but given that they settled for a MiLD and nobody has reported such, seems unlikely.
by R.J. Anderson on Mar 23, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
But they're both 10-year veterans
And 10-year veterans with minor league contracts may refuse assignment and become a free agent. It doesn’t happen much, but it does happen occasionally.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on Mar 23, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
A thought...
You know, Weber has had a really decent spring, so if this is a short term fix until BJ is ready…keeping Weber around for the first few games may not be a horrible idea. He IS a career minor leaguer, but its hard to argue with a .375 average and 12 RBI’s this spring.
Elliott Johnson has spent some time in the OF, and can play the infield also…and again, he hasn’t looked too shabby either.
Zobrist is DEF the super utility guy, but I do not see him as a starting OF for the team.
by tscogemkow on Mar 23, 2009 10:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
keeping Weber around for the first few games may not be a horrible idea.
Eh, it kinda is though.
by Vin on Mar 23, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Odd, I always thought of him as a career minor leaguer.
Yet he’s only played in 100+ AAA games once.
by R.J. Anderson on Mar 23, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Twice - 2006 and 2008
The fact that he’s 30 and has never played in the majors does make him a career minor leaguer.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on Mar 23, 2009 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Whoever plays center isn't going to make too much of a difference.
If we’re rolling with Kapler/Ruggiano versus lefties, put Kapler in center, if it’s Gross/Zobrist, I’d probably put Gross in center. Either way, none of them are Upton.
by R.J. Anderson on Mar 23, 2009 12:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Imagine if Upton had Kapler's arms?
Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it's business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don't love what you're doing and you can't give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You'll be an old man before you know it.
-Al Lopez
by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 23, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're going to hell for massacreing kittens.
Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it's business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don't love what you're doing and you can't give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You'll be an old man before you know it.
-Al Lopez
by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 23, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
This is all Upton's fault.
He just had to go and make the transition from SS to CF look so damn easy. Clearly, the coaching staff figures it worked so well the first time that it’s worth trying again.
by acelion on Mar 23, 2009 2:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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