This may be more that The Powers That Be see DeRosa as a better RF backup or platoon option since he has experience there. I've heard that he has a good outfield arm. It would make more sense to have him play RF and Theriot 2B than the reverse if you want them both in the lineup. Eric Patterson will hopefully earn a look later this season. I'm all for positional flexibility when it makes sense. That's true, and I could see Piniella putting DeRosa in RF over Jones with Theriot coming in to play 2b against lefties. Man this team really needs another infielder. Theriot's sample size isn't really all that small. He's definitely earned an opportunity to show what he can do. Theriot just turned 27 in December, so it's not really fair to say he didn't make it until age 27. Brian Giles was 25 when he got his first decent sample size at the major league level. Paul LoDuca? 27. I'm sure there are many others. Will Theriot have an OBP over .400? Absolutely not. But, the guy gets on base at a very respectable level. 53 games is not a full season, but it's not just a total fluke either. DeRosa in RF while Theriot plays 2b against LHP is, IMO, a whole lot better than DeRosa at 2b, Jones in RF and Theriot on the bench. Ryan Howard was 24 when he saw his first time but didn't get full playing time until 25. And he didn't play his first full season until last year at 26. Not that Theriot is going to be Ryan Howard part II or anything.