Yesterday’s 6-5 win over the Cleveland Indians saw Terry Collins shake some things around with the line-up. In an attempt to spark the offense, Michael Conforto was moved up to the three-hole, and he took advantage of the opportunity.
Prior to yesterday’s game, Conforto wasn’t exactly hitting the baseball in a constant way. He was batting just .250 with no homers, and just three RBI. He had walked five times though and provided a formidable .423 OBP. The team needed to begin to get some more table setters going for Yoenis Cespedes. Conforto rewarded his manager with a productive night at the plate.
“He’s been getting on base,” Collins said. “So we thought we’d see if we could get another guy on base and see if we can create some offense. I saw what he did in the World Series. That spoke volumes that he certainly can handle the situation of hitting third. We decided to give it a shot.” (ESPN)
Conforto, 23, went 2-for-5 in his first start batting third this season. He scorched a solo shot out of the park in his first at-bat in the first inning off Cody Anderson. He later singled and scored due to Yoenis Cespedes putting on a “Yo Show” of his own. Conforto felt honored to get the opportunity to hit in the three-hole at the major league level.
“The three-hole guy is typically one of the better hitters, so that’s pretty cool,” Conforto said. “To be that guy today is very exciting. I pretty much hit three through the system, and in college and high school that’s where I’ve been.”
The question now becomes does the young left-handed hitter get to stay in this spot. Many have believed as the season went on he would ultimately end up in the third position of the batting order. Is Collins ready to commit to allowing Conforto some time to stay in this spot? Before last night’s game, Collins wasn’t ready to state just that.
“We’ll find out after tonight,” Collins said. “We’re trying to make sure we get guys in spots where we can get guys in scoring position, so the middle of the lineup can drive some runs in. We talked at length today with the coaches. They all kind of thought he’s swinging pretty good, he’s getting on base, and that he might have to move up a little bit. We’re going to take a look at it. When you’re not hitting, you’ve got to try to maybe do something a little different. We’re going to see how he handles it. Hopefully he gets some pitches to hit tonight with Yoenis [Cespedes] hitting behind him.”
Conforto, very mature for his age and lack of major league experience, doesn’t see any added pressure to his possible new spot in the batting order.
“I wouldn’t say they’re asking me to do anything more. I think all they’re asking me to do is go up there and have a quality at-bat,” Conforto said. “That’s kind of what we’re trying to do. … We just haven’t had that big breakout hit, kind of that big rally. We have driven up some pitch counts. We’ve gotten guys out of the game. We just haven’t had that big hit. Maybe we’re just shuffling things up a little bit, trying to get things going. I wouldn’t say I feel any extra added pressure or anything like that.”
It will be interesting to see if this was a one night thing just to shake up the lineup or if it continues. I happen to agree with Joe D. who said during the offseason, “Conforto is the team’s best choice to bat in that third spot. I hope it doesn’t take Terry Collins too long to figure that out.”
