PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- In the ultimate days of spring training, prior to the abrupt closure of camps because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Tampa Bay Rays two times deployed
a four-guy outfield against Ozzie Albies in a casino game against the Atlanta
Braves. That alone isn't remarkably exclusive, as the Rays used four outfielders
sometimes last season. That which was uncommon was the player the Rays deployed
it against -- and specifically the situation the next period they tried it. In
the first inning with one out and no one on, Albies, a switch-hitter batting
from the left side, came up, and second baseman Mike Brosseau relocated custom
MLB name stickers into right field, with the four outfielders fanned out
over the grass. Albies lined out to left-center, a straightforward play for
Randy Arozarena, whereas in a normal three-outfielder alignment, the ball may
have dropped in for popular. In the 3rd inning, Albies batted with two outs --
but this time around with a runner on 1st base. Albies demonstrated bunt on the
initial pitch, after that fouled off several pitches down the left-field line,
trying going to the ball the contrary way, before ultimately striking out. Rays
outfielder Kevin Kiermaier explained the philosophy behind the four-man
alignment. "It's more with the people having the ability to strike the ball in
the air flow, just trying to get rid of the extra-base hits," this individual
said. "We're ready to give up a single on a certain side of the field. We
perform it with some athletic guys, but generally it's more the big power-type
men -- where it's like if indeed they hit an individual, we'll gladly be Okay
with that because right now it does take two more hits to rating that guy." The
overall game against the Braves was a split-squad affair, and Kiermaier wasn't
in North Port that day. When informed the Rays utilized the alignment with a
runner on first, he was just a little surprised. "Generally we just do custom
stickers cheap it without one on foundation," Kiermaier said, "however in
spring training, Chicago
White Sox Super Heroes Logos diy heat transfers I assume you can sit right
here and do various things, so that may be the first time that we've carried out
it with a runner on bottom. We are not scared to be unorthodox."