CLEARWATER, Fla. — Tommy Joseph and Collin Cowgill slapped hands in center field Tuesday afternoon as they returned to their positions, jogging by each other like ships passing in the night.
Joseph, a catcher-turned-first baseman playing the outfield for the first time in his life, started the game in left field, with Cowgill in right. They swapped their corner-outfielder positions in the second inning when the Phillies opted to play the percentages against Detroit switch-hitter Victor Reyes.
Manager Gabe Kapler has put an emphasis this spring on defensive shifts using the data of every opposing batter.