SEATTLE — Matt Joyce hadn’t played center field in so long, he’d forgotten when it happened.
“I was pretty sure it was high school,” Joyce said Saturday before the A’s game at Safeco Field.
Actually, Joyce played four games in center for the Rays in 2009. And Saturday, he made his first start there for the A’s, with Chad Pinder taking over Joyce’s usual spot in right field. Pinder has played seven innings in center but has made no starts there; Saturday was the rookie’s 18th start in right.
“A guy who’s come from the infield and is so comfortable in right feel - I think we’ve thrown enough at him this year,” said Melvin, noting that Pinder still might go to center occasionally as part of an in-game move.