Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez has used a different lineup in each of the team’s four games this season and, ideally, the roster would have enough everyday players that he wouldn’t need “soft platoons” at second base, third base and in the outfield.
That’s not how Gonzalez said he’s looking at the situation, though. Instead, he highlighted the what he saw are the benefits to having a lot of different pieces he can shift in and out of the lineup.
“It really is fun to come in every morning and in your mind think about the lineup and get everybody involved, and everybody’s going to produce, and put them in situations where they’re going to be successful,” Gonzalez said. “It’s been fun having multiple-position guys that you can run one in left field, at third base, second base.”
The Braves faced their first left-handed starter on Friday with Jonathan Niese on the mound for the Mets. In response, Gonzalez sent out right-hander hittersChris Johnson (third base), Cameron Maybin (centerfield), Jonny Gomes (left field) and Phil Gosselin (second base).
Maybin hit lead-off for the first time with lefty second baseman Jace Peterson and switch-hitting Eric Young Jr. out of the lineup. Righty Gosselin got his first start in place of Peterson.
But Gonzalez, reiterating the plan he outlined during spring training, said he doesn’t necessarily plan to always match up hitters against opposite-handed pitchers.
“If we are not going to see a left-hander in six days, guess what, we will match (right-handed batters) up and throw you in there against a right-hander just so somebody doesn’t sit around for five days,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said he’s also got options for late-game substitutions. For example, he can bring Maybin off the bench as a late-game defensive substitution in centerfield and move Young to left field in place of Kelly Johnson.
Gonzalez said the roster versatility also extends to catcher, where veteran A.J. Pierzynski is behind prospect Christian Bethancourt. Pierzynski started against the Marlins on Wednesday and clubbed a two-run homer in the 2-0 victory.
“I think the backup catching situation is awesome,” Gonzalez said. “We’ve got a young catcher who hopefully is going to keep developing and getting better and you’ve got a veteran who is not a guy who can only catch 40 games. If something happens, you can run him for a lot more. A couple nights ago we saw what he can do. He can still swing the bat a little bit.”
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