By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon always reserves the right - and often uses it - to change his mind.
But he said Tuesday that his plan, as of now, is to keep John Jaso as the primary leadoff hitter and hit Johnny Damon second. When the Rays face a lefthander and Jaso isn't in the lineup, B.J. Upton appears the most likely candidate to hit leadoff.
This isn't major news, but Maddon had been saying he hadn't decided whether to hit Damon leadoff or second. So, for now, he appears to have made that decision.
"Without anything changing, I see it that way,'' Maddon said. "I still like the way (Jaso) works his at-bats, I like his baserunning skills.''
Maddon said, however, he wouldn't shy away from using Damon if circumstances did change. "I'm not anticipating that, but I would not run away from it if he was amenable and I thought it was necessary,'' Maddon said. "I still like Jaso up there.''