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Roger Mooney

Roger Mooney covers the Tampa Bay Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.

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Brignac top pinch-hitter in AL

Posted Jul 2, 2010 by Roger Mooney

Updated Jul 2, 2010 at 09:26 PM

ROGER MOONEY
MINNEAPOLIS - Reid Brignac’s 10th inning single Thursday night was his fifth this season in 14 at-bats as a pinch-hitter. His .357 average as a pinch-hitter is the best in the American League and his six RBIs as a pinch-hitter are the second most on the team.

Not bad for someone who said he pinch-hit once or twice during his minor league career.

“He’s been uncanny,” manager Joe Maddon said. “He’s done a great job.”

Gabe Kapler told Brignac to be ready to hit early in the count because relief pitchers want to throw strikes and get ahead of the hitter.

“And he likes to be an early swinger, too,” Maddon said.

On nights when he’s not starting, Brignac watches tape of the opposing relievers and starts hitting in the cage during the fifth inning.

“I kind of want to get a feel for what they’re going to do and just try to get a good pitch to hit and swing away,” he said.

That Brignac has picked up the ability to pinch-hit at the big league level doesn’t surprise Maddon.

“He didn’t play a whole lot second base, either,” Maddon said. “He’s done a lot of good stuff up here. He wants to be here. Every time I had to send him out, you could see it in his face, he didn’t like it. He believes he belongs here. He didn’t want to leave.”