Josh Hamilton is not concerned by Tampa Bay Rays’ infield shift strategy
Josh Hamilton and Ron Washington took the opportunity on Sunday, October 2 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, to talk to the press concerning their approach to Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Texas Rangers are tied 1-all with the Rays in the series and they are hoping to go up in the tally on Monday, October 3.
The Rangers’ duo had a lot to talk about and one thing they discussed was the Tampa Bay Rays infield shift strategy against Hamilton. The philosophy at the ball club has always been to strike the ball hard and the Texans are taking the infield shift as a
challenge. They are not going to change their approach in the game.
"They shift Hamilton, he'd still beat it," Washington said. "If that's your strength, you hit into it. I know when I played, I used to hit the ball to right field, and if everybody shifts to right field, at least I'd know they were throwing me away. That
was my strength. ... Sometimes I made outs, and sometimes I beat 'em."
Mitch Moreland has seen the same shift in the infield and there are various reasons for the tactics being employed. Hamilton tends to hit a lot towards the middle of the park but his success rate is high towards hits to right-field. His hitting average on
that end is .464 and he has seen the Rays employ the same tactic earlier this year.
At that time he gave it a bit of attention. Now, he doesn’t bother taking a look at it.
"Yeah, I noticed it earlier in year, that's just because you see a big gaping hole," Hamilton said.
The player explained that the situation is not different from any other case scenario. The fielders will still miss on the ball if it was hit hard enough. The player affirmed that there is no point trying to guide the ball through a certain region. The main
objective should and will be to hit the ball where it is pitched.
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