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Batting second has paid off for Giants' Aurilia
By Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com
article_id=mlb_20010710_allstaraurilia_news&team_id=sf#
SEATTLE -- Throughout most of his career, Rich Aurilia was a decent enough shortstop. A little bit of pop, he has hit at least 20 homers each of the past two seasons. That's tremendous production from a guy hitting seventh or eighth.
Then prior to this season, Giants Manager Dusty Baker decided to put Aurilia at the top of the order in the No. 2 spot. The thud Aurilia heard was opportunity knocking. Loudly. Aurilia answered and is the National League's starting shortstop in the All-Star Game as a result.
"A lot of players in this room are guys who made the most of their opportunities," Aurilia said in the clubhouse before the Midsummer Classic began. "I was reluctant at first to hit second. Then once I realized what was expected of me [it got easier].
"It's not bad hitting in front of Barry [Bonds] and Jeff [Kent]. I don't know if there's a better spot to be."
Aurilia's ability to settle into his new spot has helped him get off to the best start in his career. With a .356 average, .398 on-base and .558 slugging percentages, he's on pace to shatter his career highs in all three categories. A lot of it has to do with his approach at the plate.
"I think patience is one of the biggest reasons for his improvement," said Kent, his double-play partner. "I think he's a kid who tries to make himself better year after year. He tries to learn from his mistakes. If you make good on that, you improve as a ballplayer."
The 29-year-old Aurilia agrees that becoming less of a free swinger and not trying to do too much at the plate has keyed his breakout.
"Patience is part of the maturing process as a player," Aurilia said. "You understand yourself and what you're capable of doing and not doing. I've been able to stay within my gameplan."
Players often have things click into place for a period of time. But being able to maintain it over the course of the season is another story. Aurilia is learning not to abandon what's gotten him to this point when it doesn't go well for a game or two.
"If it's worked for a while, there's a reason it has," Aurilia said. "If it doesn't work one day, maybe it's not your fault. You might as well stick with it. It's a matter of consistency. That's what I hope to do in the second half, be as consistent as I've been [in the first half]."
The Giants certainly wouldn't complain with that kind of production ahead of their big boppers. Especially considering San Francisco has gotten almost nothing out of the leadoff spot this season, Aurilia's success at getting on base more has been a huge key to the team's offensive output.
"The role he has been asked to fill, hitting number two on a good offense, that's a [great] opportunity at this point of his career," Kent said. "There a lot of things going his way right now."
The biggest of which is starting in the All-Star Game. He dropped down to the bottom of the lineup again, hitting ninth for the N.L. Be assured it's a one-time return. Aurilia's spot in the two-hole for the Giants is very secure. And Aurilia looks forward to the challenge of providing RBI opportunities for Bonds and Kent.
"I'm not the fastest guy, but I try to get on base for them, so they can drive me in," said Aurilia , who is already approaching his career high in runs scored as well. "I want to keep my runs scored up with my runs batted in. Run production, that's the name of the game."
Jonathan Mayo is a senior writer for MLB.com based in New York.
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