THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 27, 1996 TAG: 9604270510
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
The way manager Bobby Valentine regularly switches the Norfolk Tides' batting order, many a player has to check the lineup card daily.
Shawn Gilbert has to check where he'll be playing as well.
In the Tides' first 20 games, Gilbert has played five different positions - third base, second base, shortstop, leftfield and centerfield.
``We're short enough on players as it is,'' Valentine said, alluding to Triple-A's 23-man rosters as opposed to the major league limit of 25. ``We have to have one guy like that or there'd be no way we could play.''
Valentine has great respect for a utility player like Gilbert. He was one himself, playing every position but pitcher during his 10-year major league career.
``I think it keeps things from getting stale,'' Valentine said. ``It makes things exciting each and every night. Besides, guys like Tony Phillips (of the Chicago White Sox) and Bip Roberts (of Kansas City) do it all the time and thrive on it.''
Gilbert doesn't mind the assignment, adding he's ``done it before.''
``But it does mean more work to be prepared every night,'' Gilbert said. ``The thing about playing the same position every day is there's a comfort zone.''
The revolving positions haven't taken away from Gilbert's offensive performance. Heading into the Pawtucket series, Gilbert was hitting .309 and was second on the team in hits with 21.
CLINIC AT ODU: Valentine will be the headliner for the Greenwich Kitchens ODU Baseball Clinic today at Bud Metheny Baseball Complex. The two-hour clinic, which costs $2, begins at noon. Scheduled to join Valentine and ODU coach Tony Guzzo are Tides coach Bruce Benedict and Tides players Trey McCoy and Kevin Morgan. by CNB