PHILADELPHIA -- Eddie Rodriguez arrives at Citizens Bank Park at around 11:30 a.m. ET. First pitch isn't for 7 1/2 hours, but he's got binders of information to pore over, with one task in mind -- turning would-be hits into outs.
To some, agonizing over hundreds of spray charts would be a mundane task. To Rodriguez, an assistant coach who -- along with Padres third-base coach Glenn Hoffman -- is in charge of the club's defensive positioning, it's just as essential as his pregame work with infielders.
"When hits get through, I take it personally," Rodriguez said.