Posted March 31, 200519 yr Palm Beach Post PORT ST. LUCIE ? Dolphins Stadium's right-field wall won't be the only challenge for Carlos Delgado in his first National League season. On Wednesday, the New York Mets used a defensive shift against the left-handed slugger, with shortstop Jose Reyes playing on the first-base side of second base, second baseman Kaz Matsui playing in short right field and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz guarding the line. It was the second game this spring in which the Mets used a Delgado shift. The Baltimore Orioles did it at least once this spring. The Marlins will face the Mets 19 times this season. "Let them do it,'' Marlins manager Jack McKeon said. "They did that to Ted Williams all the time. Ted was stubborn enough that he wouldn't hit the ball to left field or bunt.'' Delgado went to 2-for-4. He grounded out to Matsui in the first inning, then poked an opposite-field double over third base in his next at-bat. "That's not news to me,'' Delgado said of the move. He said teams played a shift on him "every single" day through his past six seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays. "I try to use the whole field, but when you're swinging better, it's better because you can literally wait a little longer and push the ball. Sometimes when you jump out front, you end up pulling everything and making them look like geniuses.'' McKeon hinted that Delgado might try to bunt for hits a few times this season, something he has never done in his 12-year career. Castillo to lead off? Second baseman Luis Castillo said he'll be ready to bat first in the lineup if Juan Pierre isn't ready when the season starts Tuesday. "We want Juan Pierre to be ready for the season. If he's not, I know I'll have to lead off,'' said Castillo, who was Florida's primary leadoff hitter until 2003, Pierre's first season with the Marlins. "I have two years batting second. I've been leadoff before, but I want Pierre to come back.'' Pierre has been out since March 7, when he strained his right calf chasing a fly ball. He resumed running drills Wednesday for the first time in a week and felt fine. But he has not tried full-speed drills yet. Team officials Wednesday were discussing whether to put him on the disabled list, and they plan to start the season with rookie Chris Aguila in center field. Manager Jack McKeon said a decision could be made as late as Tuesday morning. "My gut feeling is knowing him ? and maybe I'm optimistic ? that he'll find a way,'' he said. "On the other hand, I don't know. It's better to be on the safe side if you're not (feeling) right. So you miss the first series. If you're not right, let's not have a chance at prolonging that injury.'' Valdez improving: Right-hander Ismael Valdez still has the cough that forced him to start spring training two weeks late. In fact, he passed the virus on to pitching coach Mark Wiley, who spent the March 23 off-day at the doctor's office. "Believe me, this has been hard,'' Valdez said after allowing one run in six innings Wednesday. "I still was coughing today. But we are right on pace. I don't feel as sick but I haven't gotten rid of it.'' Valdez, Florida's fifth starter, will pitch in a minor-league game Monday while the rest of the Marlins are working out at Dolphins Stadium. Barring a setback, he will make his first start Saturday against the Washington Nationals.
March 31, 200519 yr heard jp ran today without any discomfort..thats certainly good news. as for delgado..it seems as though teams only use shifts when there is a very good hitter at the plate. no rocket science there but true eh?
March 31, 200519 yr I have confidence that JP will be in the starting lineup on Opening Day, but I dont want him coming back too soon and making it worse, I would not have a problem with Aguila in the opening day lineup because this kid can play.
March 31, 200519 yr While I can change up 'til Opening Day, I've already switched my Fantasy teams CF from Pierre to Aguila for the opening week or so. A few weeks ago, I might have chosen Encarnacion for CF. But, he has not lived up to my optimism for him. (I know it's just ST, but I have more confidence right now in Aguila.) Now the fun is who starts in RF? Enc or Niner? Think that decision will go right to the wire. I don't like platooning but I see it coming.
March 31, 200519 yr The "Delgado shift" was orginally called the "Williams shift" as it was first employed against Ted Williams who had such bat control he simply hit the ball through the left side frustrating teams for years. Williams was a man among men, who once hit a homerun on a pitch thrown too close to the plate during an attempted intentional walk. Shortly afterwards the rules were changed to keep batters in the batters box as Williams stepped on homeplate as he swung and knocked it into the rightfield bleachers. As Delgado knows, these shifts are almost never successful (they are employed to get inside the head of the batter and dare him to hit it to right, but the smart ballplayer ignores it and hits it where they ain't) and my guess is will never be employed during the season with men on base.
March 31, 200519 yr Ted Williams is and always will be my favorite hitter, Marlins2003. You're not alone :thumbup The bunting is actually I would yell at my tv last season everytime Rafael Palmeiro would come up to hit and they put the shift on him. With the shift, you essentially have the third baseman playing shortstop and no one covering the bag. If you get down in the count, let's say 1-2, drop one down and jog your way to first base. If you hit the ball hard enough down the third base line the catcher can't come up with it, and the 3B is way too far past the bag anyway to catch it. Hey, it's not an out and he's on base, what more could you ask for? That'll also prevent the shift from being used much after that as well.
March 31, 200519 yr It's odd that teams would try that against Delgado, who has the ability to spray the ball. I'd love to see him bunt just to rub it into their noses a bit. :lol
March 31, 200519 yr Yeah. That's what you want. A $50M bunter. 725062[/snapback] Did someone say waste money? you Mut fans have no room to talk
March 31, 200519 yr JP should take it slow and come back when hes ready. Hopefully he doesnt do what Conine did last year and force himself to play opening day
March 31, 200519 yr Yeah. That's what you want. A $50M bunter. 725062[/snapback] Did someone say waste money? you Mut fans have no room to talk 725224[/snapback] How's Al doing? :cool
March 31, 200519 yr Yeah. That's what you want. A $50M bunter. 725062[/snapback] Did someone say waste money? you Mut fans have no room to talk 725224[/snapback] How's Al doing? :cool 725473[/snapback] :whistle hows Castro doing?
March 31, 200519 yr Author How's Kazmir doing? 725511[/snapback] Better than Zambrano's 7.62 ERA this Spring I'd bet since he wants to rate guys in ST.
April 1, 200519 yr Al's walk rate's not all that off from what it was last season... 13 walks in 16 innings.. Jack McKeon says the walks better stop in spring training... me thinks Jack should get a tape of Al last year.. d.
April 1, 200519 yr So the met's are playing delgado as a pull hitter..Yet he's been trained since he was young to hit the opposite way,now we see why the mets don't have delgado,they're illiterate they can't read his profile and stats!
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