Different look

Manager Joe Maddon promised a different look to the lineup during the final weekend series, and he meant it, posting a card Friday that has Greg Norton batting cleanup and playing leftfield, rookie Justin Ruggiano making his first major-league start in center and Joel Guzman at third. B.J. Upton and Jonny Gomes are on the bench and Akinori Iwamura is the DH for the first time in his pro career (U.S. and Japan) for a regular season game.

Maddon said he might talk to Iwamura about playing one of the two remaining games at second, where he is expected to be moved next season.

The lineup:
Iwamura, 3b
Velandia, 2b
Pena, 1b
Norton, lf
Young, rf
Casanova, c
Guzman, 3b
Ruggiano, cf
Wilson, ss

Comments

[Billsatard]

Great, the Rays will go out in a blaze of glory with three major leaguers in the lineup and one of them not playing his natural position. The manager is a laughingstock and with the exception of the seven good core players, so is the team. As for the owner, he's laughing all the way to the bank--especially at the fans who say there isn't a free agent the Rays (worst record in baseball) can use.