Nothing new here, but nevertheless....

 

Choi a pleasant surprise for Marlins

 

By Joe Capozzi, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, May 4, 2004

 

Few expected the Marlins to be in first place during the first 25 games of the season, or Armando Benitez to snap off 10 straight saves or 21-year-old Miguel Cabrera to be one home run behind NL-leader Barry Bonds.

 

But the biggest surprise might be Hee Seop Choi, who is giving the Marlins the edge against the Cubs in the Nov. 25 trade for Gold Glove first baseman Derrek Lee.

 

Choi finished April with nine home runs, tied with Cabrera for second in the NL, a.277 batting average and 18 RBI.

 

Lee ended April hitting.233 with two home runs and 11 RBI.

 

"The power is surprising. At this rate, he's going to hit 75 home runs,'' said third baseman Mike Lowell, who bats cleanup in front of Choi.

 

"He's having consistent at-bats, getting on base, he's walking and he's getting big hits. I think he's definitely passed with flying colors for his first month.''

 

Choi, a native of South Korea, was a question mark in the eyes of many Marlins observers who wondered whether the unproven left-handed hitter could match the offensive and defensive skills of Lee.

 

Lee won his first Gold Glove and had 31 homers and 91 RBI for Florida in 2003, but Choi struggled for most of a rookie season that started off with such promise. He was named the NL Rookie of the Month for April for his five home runs and 14 RBI.

 

But he went on the disabled list from June 8-30 after suffering a concussion in a collision with Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood while the two chased a pop-up on June 7. Choi was never the same when he returned and he finished the season batting.218 with eight home runs and 28 RBI.

 

After the Marlins won the World Series, owner Jeffrey Loria ordered General Manager Admin Beinfest to keep the payroll on par with 2003. That meant trimming more than $20 million in salary obligations. Most expendable was Lee, who was due a pay raise after making $4.25 million in 2003.

 

The Cubs, who missed going to their first World Series in 58 years when the Marlins upset them in the NLCS, jumped at the chance to add Lee and his glove to a lineup with Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou.

 

They offered Choi, in part because many in the organization didn't want to wait for him to blossom.

 

In a way, the Marlins took a gamble by expecting Choi to help replace the power lost in the departures of catcher Pudge Rodriguez (free agent to Detroit) and right fielder Juan Encarnacion (free agent to Los Angeles).

 

Choi dominated the Pacific Coast League for Class AAA Iowa in 2002, batting.287 with 26 home runs and 97 RBI. But like the Cubs, many in the Marlins' organization were skeptical if he would regain that potential after his injury.

 

"I'd like to say as a hitting coach I'm not surprised but you are,'' hitting coach Bill Robinson said. "You go on past track records, the kid has never had a chance to play as much as he is playing.''

 

In spring training, Robinson studied Choi and worked on correcting flaws in his batting mechanics.

 

"That's not demeaning of any other guy he has worked with,'' Robinson said, "but once you do something and you see a person have success in it, he'll believe in it. Hee Seop believes in the things he had been working on.''

 

Choi, who on Friday became the fifth visiting player to hit a home run into McCovey Cove outside SBC Park, said he wants to be more of an all-round hitter than just a power threat.

 

He also wants the chance to start against left-handed pitching, saying it's the only way he'll learn to hit left-handers. Wil Cordero has gotten the majority of starts at first base against left-handers.

 

But there is no mistaking the impact he has had on Florida's success along with Lowell and No. 3 hitter Cabrera. The three have combined to hit 25 home runs, which was more than the team totals for at least 16 other clubs.

 

"That's good for us because if we hit a home that means, we help the team win,'' Choi said.

 

"Last year I had the injury and it was very difficult to come back. This year I want to work hard and stay healthy and consistent.''

 

The biggest asset for Choi might be his teammates, who have embraced him despite the cultural and language differences.

 

"I think it's a case of a guy getting comfortable and not putting too much pressure on himself to fill the shoes of Derrek Lee,'' manager Jack McKeon said. "Each week you can see him get more comfortable.''

 

Meanwhile, fans in Chicago are taking notice of Choi's success, especially after watching the Marlins snap up another Cubs prospect -- left-handed pitcher Dontrelle Willis.

 

"There's always going to be questions on a trade. You can't control that,'' Cubs manager Dusty Baker told the Chicago Tribune.

 

"When a trade like this happens, Derrek could have been doing the same thing Hee Seop was, and it would be like, well, that's too be expected. But when it happens the other way, (people) start to question it. It's a long year. We have a long way to go. Derrek is going to have plenty of time to shine.''

 

I don't expect him to be hitting 9 homers a month certainly, but if he can stay at anywhere near this pace, & keep up the OBP and defense, he'll be this year's DTrain.

 

At this point I'm already frustrated when I don't see his name in the starting lineup!

I think if he continues to perform, Lowell is going to get good protection at the plate all year.

Nice article. I also think he should get more chances to hit against lefties, it's his only way of improving against them. And didn't he hit a homerun off of a lefty at coors field on the very first pitch???

And didn't he hit a homerun off of a lefty at coors field on the very first pitch???

Off a great lefty specialist, too.

Then why Mckeon doesnt put him in the line up when a lefty is pitching if he made such a beutiful homerun the other day against one............. :mischief2

Then why Mckeon doesnt put him in the line up when a lefty is pitching if he made such a beutiful homerun the other day against one............. :mischief2

He'll get his chance don't worry.

If and When Cordero keeps stinking the joint up Choi will become the everyday guy

 

But I mean, he hasn't started everygame, and he's got nine jacks. How sick is that.

Pretty sick.

 

Nice article, thanks for posting it.

:marlins