Not that it takes an act of genius to write a utility player into the lineup the night after he had a four-hit game but Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez is being watchful for how he uses Emilio Bonifacio.
The switch-hitter was back in center field in the series-opener Friday night against the Marlins. Regular center fielder B.J. Upton is hitting .115 this month. Bonifacio went into the weekend hitting .400 the last two weeks. Simple call, right?
“I guess what I’m saying is I don’t want to run (Bonifacio) into the ground,” Gonzalez said. “He’s one of those guys where if you play him a couple times a week, you match him up with the right guy, he’s going to be successful. I think if you run him out there every single day against everybody, then he’s not going to be successful.”
Gonzalez’s relationship with Bonifacio goes back to 2009, when he managed him while with the Marlins. Gonzalez ran short on third basemen that year and while Bonifacio had never played the position, he started 86 games at third that year, drawing his manager’s lasting respect.
Starting Bonifacio against left-handed opponents is a no-brainer. He is a career .290 hitter when batting right-handed, including .398 this year. But batting lefty is a tougher case (.254 for his career) and picking the nights he faces right-handers is done case-by-case.
Bonifacio had never faced Marlins righty starter Tom Koehler until Friday night. He started for the 14th time — seventh time in center — in the 26 games since he was acquired from the Cubs on July 31.
“Trying to match up and seeing what’s the best we come up with,” Gonzalez said. “He’s one of those guys who is a nice piece to have. If you match him up right, put him position where he can be successful, he can really, really be good for you.”
