Ben Zobrist, A Man for All Positions

Ben Zobrist is Joe Maddon's kind of player, playing anywhere and batting in any spot.

Last season, he played four positions

Split	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
as 2B	52	163	24	33	8	1	4	11	29	30	.202	.323	.337	.660
as SS	47	170	29	53	13	2	8	31	25	30	.312	.396	.553	.949
as RF	67	213	33	61	18	4	7	29	41	38	.286	.404	.507	.911
as DH	4	14	2	4	0	0	1	3	2	5	.286	.353	.500	.853

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table Generated 3/19/2013. 

And in 2012, he batted anywhere between first through sixth in the batting order

Split	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Batting 1st	15	71	57	7	14	5	1	2	5	13	7	.246	.394	.474	.868
Batting 2nd	17	73	61	10	11	2	1	3	9	11	16	.180	.301	.393	.695
Batting 3rd	61	266	225	31	63	16	2	6	35	35	46	.280	.375	.449	.824
Batting 4th	15	58	51	8	13	5	1	0	5	6	9	.255	.328	.392	.720
Batting 5th	46	186	155	27	46	11	2	6	15	29	25	.297	.409	.510	.918
Batting 6th	3	14	11	5	4	0	0	3	5	3	0	.364	.500	1.182	1.682

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table Generated 3/19/2013.

 

In a recent interview, I heard Zobrist say that when he comes to the clubhouse on game days, he never knows where he'll play or when he will bat.

While none of us can even pretend to think like Joe Maddon, here's your chance to use some of the data that Maddon plays with in his magnificent mind.

Over the last five seasons

• When playing the infield, Zobrist hit .260 with 58 homers.
• When playing the outfield, Zobrist hit .277 with 27 homers.

Over the last five seasons when leading off 

• When playing the infield, Zobrist hit .222 with two homers.
• When playing the outfield, Zobrist hit .240 with five homers. 

Over the last five seasons when hitting second 

• When playing the infield, Zobrist hit .229 with nine homers.
• When playing the outfield, Zobrist hit .274 with three homers. 

Over the last five seasons when hitting third

• When playing the infield, Zobrist hit .262 with seven homers.
• When playing the outfield, Zobrist hit .310 with three homers.

Over the last five seasons when hitting fourth

• When playing the infield, Zobrist hit .252 with 10 homers.
• When playing the outfield, Zobrist hit .344 with five homers.

Over the last five seasons when hitting fifth

• When playing the infield, Zobrist hit .303 with 16 homers.
• When playing the outfield, Zobrist hit .248 with four homers.

Over the last five seasons when hitting sixth

• When playing the infield, Zobrist hit .322 with eight homers.
• When playing the outfield, Zobrist hit .232 with four homers.

Over the last five seasons when hitting seventh

• When playing the infield, Zobrist hit .042 with one homer.
• When playing the outfield, Zobrist hit .276 with two homers.

Over the last five seasons when hitting eighth

• When playing the infield, Zobrist hit .300 with two homers.
• When playing the outfield, Zobrist hit .308 with one homer.

Over the last five seasons when hitting ninth

• When playing the infield, Zobrist hit .257 with three homers.
• When playing the outfield, Zobrist hit .250 with no homers.

 Don't you see why Maddon loves Zobrist so much?