Conine playing out of position

[FreshFish]

From theherald.com

 

Conine playing out of position

 

A regular for most of his career, Jeff Conine is trying to adjust to being a bench player who has been sparingly used this season.

 

BY CLARK SPENCER

 

[email protected]

 

Mr. Marlin has morphed into Mr. Invisible.

 

Jeff Conine spends more time in the dugout than on the field, frittering away the innings and wondering when -- if ever this season -- he'll play regularly.

 

He said he's healthy.

 

No question he's eager and willing.

 

But one of the most beloved players to wear a Marlins' uniform remains ensconced inside the dark recesses of the dugout, out of sight and out of mind.

 

''It's frustrating,'' Conine said. ``I just have to be patient and be ready for when they need me.''

 

Never did he imagine his career would come to this, that a two-position player wouldn't have a position to play. First base no is longer an option because that's the position now manned by Carlos Delgado. Left field is taken because Miguel Cabrera is, well, Miguel Cabrera. And right field belongs to Juan Encarnacion, who is off to a flying start.

 

''Pretty much everybody is at a position I play,'' he said.

 

Which leaves Conine, a regular for all of his major-league career until now, as the odd man out.

 

The experience has been discomforting, and it's one he terms ``a work in progress.''

 

'If you asked me if I would have 13 at-bats by April 22, I would have said `You're crazy, I'll have more than that,' '' he said.

 

Conine is now up to 18 at-bats, five fewer than pitcher Dontrelle Willis, who shows up to start once every five days.

 

He feels out of place and out of sync.

 

On Sunday, when Conine made his first start in left so that Cabrera could rest, he failed to take advantage of the rare opportunity. He went 0 for 4, stranding seven base runners.

 

The sitting has caused rust.

 

`AN ADJUSTMENT'

 

''I don't have sharp timing like you normally do,'' Conine said, ``but I had opportunities and pitches to hit, and I didn't do it. It's an adjustment. It's an adjustment I'm trying to adapt to.''

 

It's hard to pinpoint when exactly Conine fell by the wayside, but the explanations number several.

 

There was last July's trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers when Encarnacion returned to the fold, but even then Conine merely shifted to first.

 

Then came the blockbuster free agent signing of Delgado, and there went first base. Conine was one of several Marlins brought in as window dressing for the signing ceremony.

 

But the biggest blow for Conine likely came during the Thanksgiving weekend when, during a friendly game of paddleball, he slammed into a wall and injured his right shoulder, the shoulder that had been operated on only a couple of months before.

 

''If I didn't get the injury, I don't know if this is even a topic,'' Conine said of his reserve role.

 

What was billed as a position battle between Conine and Encarnacion during spring training never really developed. Conine didn't see action until the final two weeks of spring while Encarnacion, who also was on the rebound from offseason shoulder surgery, was receiving most of the playing time and making the most of it.

 

Encarnacion won the outfield job out of spring, and he has done nothing to relinquish it. He belted a grand slam on opening day, another a few days later and his 19 RBI ranks him among the National League leaders.

 

''He's playing well, and there's no reason to take him out of the lineup right now, because he's swinging the bat so well,'' Conine said.

 

That doesn't make the situation any easier for Conine, who is 38 and in the final year of his contract with the Marlins.

 

He said he hasn't given any thought to requesting a trade.

 

''I want to play, but whoever they might trade me to may not be able to guarantee that,'' he said. 'It would really depend on where, because there's only a handful of teams that are going to have a shot [at the playoffs] like this team has. Unfortunately, I think [another team would] look at the situation and say, `Well, we'll get him for a pinch-hitter.' I'm not ready for that yet.''

 

Conine wants to play for a winner. A member of both the 1997 and 2003 World Series champion Marlins, he covets another chance to win another title.

 

But the lack of playing time has Conine concerned about his future.

 

`JUST A BENCH GUY?'

 

''I don't think I've played myself into this role, so I don't know how it would affect my future role, whether it's here or somewhere else next year,'' he said.

 

'Just because I didn't get a chance to start this year and someone else did, does [another team] visualize me as `He's just a bench guy now?' '' Physically, I feel perfectly capable of playing every day.''

 

Manager Jack McKeon said he has ''admired'' the way that Conine has taken to his new role and abstained from complaint.

 

The Marlins open a three-game series tonight at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies. Conine always has hit well at Coors, where he owns a .423 average.

 

But chances are, he'll find himself inside the dugout, jacketed against the mountain cold.

[MRMarlin93]

Give Conine some starts dammit.

[SongInTheAir]

Give Conine some starts dammit.

755190[/snapback]

we gave him one. he went 0-4 and left 7 guys on base, remember?

[minus]

Give Conine some starts dammit.

755190[/snapback]

we gave him one. he went 0-4 and left 7 guys on base, remember?

755195[/snapback]

 

Ouch!

[Shamrock]

I love Jeff, but he's been done since 2002. If he can't adjust to a role coming off the bench, where he's valuable to us, the nwe can find someone else. However, the competitor and athleticism still residing in 9ner will not let that happen. By season's end he will have proved himself an able spot-starting pinch-hitter.

[TheTwoJuans]

I love Jeff, but he's been done since 2002.

755203[/snapback]

 

Did you miss the 2003 playoffs when he hit about .350? Without him the Marlins would be only one-time champs. :thumbup

[Shamrock]

60AB makes the other 1300AB all OK? He got hot at the right time and it was great, but that doesn't change my argument. Convenient that you didn't mention his numbers after the trade with Baltimore. What did he hit .238?

[FreshFish]

60AB makes the other 1300AB all OK? He got hot at the right time and it was great, but that doesn't change my argument. Convenient that you didn't mention his numbers after the trade with Baltimore. What did he hit .238?

755211[/snapback]

 

hmm,

 

 

How about looking at more recent info, convinient that you don't mention 2004

 

2004

 

.280 AVG, .340 OBP

 

He is not done.

 

Stop the hate

[rferry]

He's an average-hitter at positions where you can't be average and expect to win.

 

I still think we're a better team with Conine in left and Miggy in right though.

[rolando8291]

He's an average-hitter at positions where you can't be average and expect to win.

 

I still think we're a better team with Conine in left and Miggy in right though.

755239[/snapback]

 

are u crazy???miggy in right, what so he can cost us games like he did against atlanta last year...no thanx i'll stick with encarnacion in right and miguel in left and conine can ride the bench all year long.....

[Admin]

I love Jeff, but he's been done since 2002

755203[/snapback]

 

*sigh*

 

Career Averages - .287 19 92

2003 Numbers - .282 20 95

2004 Numbers - .280 14 83

 

Seems to me he's still hitting around his career average

[Shamrock]

I love Jeff, but he's been done since 2002

755203[/snapback]

 

*sigh*

 

Career Averages - .287 19 92

2003 Numbers - .282 20 95

2004 Numbers - .280 14 83

 

Seems to me he's still hitting around his career average

755246[/snapback]

BA tells very little of the story and RBIs even less so.

[MarlinsChik305]

I really hope they give him some playing time. I think they should take advantage of the fact that he feels healthy and knows hes capable. The Marlins should give him some AB's at Coors field, he might just show us what he can do. I dont like the fact either that other teams may see him as just a banch guy. I want Conine to be a regular at another team, if he was to leave. I think itd be a shame for Mr. Marlin to be in another team though.

[FreshFish]

I love Jeff, but he's been done since 2002

755203[/snapback]

 

*sigh*

 

Career Averages - .287 19 92

2003 Numbers - .282 20 95

2004 Numbers - .280 14 83

 

Seems to me he's still hitting around his career average

755246[/snapback]

BA tells very little of the story and RBIs even less so.

755254[/snapback]

 

still those numbers are above the average Major Leaguer.

[Craig]

Conine can still play, but you just can't make a case for him to be playing right now over anybody in the positions he is capable of playing, and it's as simple as that.

[rferry]

He's an average-hitter at positions where you can't be average and expect to win.

 

I still think we're a better team with Conine in left and Miggy in right though.

755239[/snapback]

 

are u crazy???miggy in right, what so he can cost us games like he did against atlanta last year...no thanx i'll stick with encarnacion in right and miguel in left and conine can ride the bench all year long.....

755242[/snapback]

Not to get into it again and hijack the thread, but rightfield is the perfect position for a poor defensive outfielder with a strong arm. Far less balls are hit to rightield, meaning far less to screw up.

 

 

Back on topic... well put Craig.

[geemoney]

Conine can still play, but you just can't make a case for him to be playing right now over anybody in the positions he is capable of playing, and it's as simple as that.

755276[/snapback]

Good post. I like Conine too, but I wouldn't put him out there ahead of everybody else, especially with the way he has started this season.

[legacyofCangelosi]

He needs more tha just one start, and enc wont play the way hes been playing all year. Conine is still a better hitter than enc, and he will get his chance this year. By the way hes far from finished. And also BA and RBI is very significant. Especially BA. Stop with all this OPS crap, that stat is only useful for comparing sluggers.

[rferry]

And Conine is a slugger, no? Team OPS has a high coorelation with runs scored. Larger than average or steals. Seems relevant enough.

[PBMarlin]

Hopefully Delgado will be ready for a day off this week and Jeff will get another start. He needs to make more of it to support any discussion of more playing time.

[rolando8291]

He's an average-hitter at positions where you can't be average and expect to win.

 

I still think we're a better team with Conine in left and Miggy in right though.

755239[/snapback]

 

are u crazy???miggy in right, what so he can cost us games like he did against atlanta last year...no thanx i'll stick with encarnacion in right and miguel in left and conine can ride the bench all year long.....

755242[/snapback]

Not to get into it again and hijack the thread, but rightfield is the perfect position for a poor defensive outfielder with a strong arm. Far less balls are hit to rightield, meaning far less to screw up.

 

 

Back on topic... well put Craig.

755287[/snapback]

deal with him in left conine won't start until ency struggles...and i don't see that happening anytime soon...

[legacyofCangelosi]

And Conine is a slugger, no? Team OPS has a high coorelation with runs scored. Larger than average or steals. Seems relevant enough.

755384[/snapback]

 

Lets say conine is a slugger, and lets compare him with the alternative, which is encarnacion. This year obviously enc has better numbers b/c conine never plays. But lets compare washed up Conine of the last few years with 5 tool player juan encarnacion.

 

2004 OBP 2004 OPS

Niner .340 .772

Enc .299 .704

 

2003 OBP 2004 OPS

Niner .338 .797

En .313 .759

 

The thing is people tend to make comparisons that are irrelevant, such as comparing niner to other teams' outfielders wont cut it, we need to compare him to the alternative which is enc or aguila. And right now the niner is still better than both of those