Quote: Church is my Right Fielder
Yesterday, Ryan Church was hitless in two at bats against the left-handed Adam Loewen, but had a single to center off the left-handed Jamie Walker.
In 19 at bats this spring, he is batting .166 against lefties.
Following the game, Willie Randolph told reporters that Church will be his right fielder, “obviously.”
Randolph, on Church, talking to reporters:
“He’s getting better and better. He’s had a lot of at bats, he’s taking some pitches, and he’s good that way. I just want to keep seeing him make the progress hitting the ball the other way, and getting the ball through the middle, that’s where he’s gonna make his money…He’s a little bit behind, so he needs at bats, but he’s got plenty of time to get ready…If he just hits the ball the other way against against lefties, he’s gonna be fine…We want him to see him get his hits to build his confidence, but I’m not looking at him as having to get hits to get on our team, obviously. He’s going to be my right fielder.
“What I like about him and Schneider, both, is that they don’t give against lefties. You see some people, they lean a little bit and give…I don’t even mind that I have them back to back because they have decent at bats against lefties if they stay the other way – and that’s what we’ve been working on.”
In a report in the Journal News about Church’s efforts this spring, John Delcos writes:
“On Sunday in Port St. Lucie, Randolph walked up to Church behind the cage during batting practice, put his arm around the right fielder’s shoulder and talked things over. Church listened and every few minutes nodded. ‘He told me to stay within myself,’ Church said. He said, ‘You’re trying to do too much. Listen to the advice you’re getting.’”
In 144 games for the Nationals last year, the 29–year-old Church had 43 doubles and hit .272, but hit .229 against lefties.
