Sledge to start, Church to the bench

[smug]

I gotta say this is going to be a great move.

[smug]

from nationals.com

WASHINGTON -- Outfielders Terrmel Sledge and Ryan Church are about to switch roles, according to a team source. Starting Thursday, Sledge will be the everyday left fielder, and Church will be moving to the bench. Brad Wilkerson will stay in one position -- center field. Entering Wednesday's action, Wilkerson had played five games in left field and nine in center.


Manager Frank Robinson, who declined to comment on the situation, announced a few days before Spring Training that Church would be the starting center fielder. However, Church has been hitless in his last 10 at-bats. Overall, he is hitting .161 with one home run and three RBIs.

Church admitted that he doesn't have a plan when he steps to the plate.

"I'm supposed to know what I want to do before going up there," said Church. "Right now, I'm looking for the ball. I'm trying to work on some things early in batting practice. I have to look for the ball in my zone."

Robinson had a similar assessment of Church's performance.

"I was hoping he would swing the bat well and play well. It would have been a boost for us," said Robinson. "Pitchers are starting to pitch him a little differently, and he hasn't adjusted to it.

"You have to understand his side of it, too. He is seeing a lot of these pitchers for the first time. He has to fight through that battle also. He has expanded the zone instead of focusing in on a narrow zone and what type of pitch is being thrown in the count. He's swinging at whatever they throw. That's not going to get it done."

Sledge, on the other hand, has been productive off the bench, hitting .286 (4-for-14) with a home run and seven RBIs. Four of those RBIs have come off the bench.

Though he publicly accepted the role of bench player to start the season, privately, Sledge was reportedly upset about not being the everyday left fielder, especially considering the season he had in 2004. Sledge is coming off a season in which he was one of the top rookies in baseball, hitting .269 with 15 home runs and 62 RBIs.