Brad Miller still thinks of himself as a shortstop, but for now getting into the lineup means playing elsewhere with Chris Taylor having taken over that role for the Mariners.
On Thursday, that means playing left field for the first time for Miller.
“No real emotion I guess, just trying to go out there and do it,” said Miller, who has also been a DH since Taylor was called up. “I’m not reading into anything too much, I’m just going to try to continue the work we’ve been doing in BP, just continue that and take it into the game.”
Despite the move, Miller said, “I’m a shortstop, no question.” That being said, he realizes being in the lineup as a left fielder beats not playing.
“I’m a player; I don’t make the lineup,” he said. “I obviously want to be playing… whatever’s on my plate, I take it in stride and go get it. So I’m excited.”
Miller struggled at times defensively this season, hence Taylor taking over at shortstop, but Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon is looking for ways to get Miller, who went 2 for 4 Wednesday with a home run and a double, into the lineup.
“He’s swinging a good bat,” McClendon said.
McClendon, who himself switched from an infield role to outfield during his career, downplayed the move.
“Listen, you catch a popup at shortstop, you catch a popup in left forward. He can screw up at short, he can screw up in left; it’s the same thing,” he said. “It’s baseball… It’s that simple, it’s baseball. If it’s hit to you, catch it. If you screw that up, pick it up and throw it back in.”
McClendon started playing outfield when he was traded to the Cubs, telling manager Don Zimmer he had experience in left.
“Yeah, I lied,” he said.
Asked what he has seen out of Miller in pregame outfield work, McClendon said, “He’s OK. He’s not a Gold Glover, he’s OK.”
Still, if Miller hits, any defensive shortcomings will be easier to overlook.
“I tell him just like Zimmer told me, if he hits three-run homers, he’s going to be a hell of a left fielder,” McClendon said.
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