Andrew Benintendi didn't exactly flourish in the leadoff role last year. Put in that top position in the lineup by then-manager Alex Cora to start the season, Benintendi struggled there and by the end of May, Cora gave up on that experiment and reinstalled Mookie Betts as the team's leadoff hitter.
Benintendi slashed just .256/.355/.412 when hitting first in the Boston order.
Now, Ron Roenicke is ready to give Benintendi another crack at the job. With Betts gone and no other logical candidates, Benintendi is again ticketed for the role.
This time, he believes, he'll be better prepared.
"I guess what I learned is getting into the dugout quicker so I can get out there on deck and watch the pitcher,'' Benintendi said. "I have kind of a routine when I'm on deck that I go through, watching pitches and things like that. But this time around, I think it will go a lot better. That's what I'm hoping for.''
Benintendi never could find the proper balance between aggressiveness and patience and found himself caught in between at times.
"In the past, your typical leadoff hitter would see pitches and work the pitch count,'' he said. "But pitchers are so good now and they throw so hard. For me, I'm just going up there attacking like it's my second or third at-bat. If that first (pitch) is there, I'm going to attack it; if it's not there, I'll let it go. I want to keep it as simple as possible and treat it like any other at-bat.''
Benintendi changed his swing a few times over last year before ultimately getting back to the one he used successfully at the University of Arkansas.
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