August 31, 200323 yr Aug. 30, 2003, 1:13AM Marlins rejuvenated by unlikeliest of sources cantankerous manager McKeon By RICHARD JUSTICE When baseball's owners and players hammered out a new labor agreement last summer, they promised it would level the playing field a bit. They promised that teams like the Royals and Marlins would again have a chance to compete in a sport dominated by big-market clubs like the Yankees and Red Sox. They delivered. With a month remaining in the regular season, 17 of baseball's 30 teams remain in contention. The Yankees and Braves, as usual, are in first place, but for the first time in years, the Royals, Marlins, Expos, Cubs and Dodgers are also alive. Perhaps no team, certainly no National League team, has had a season as remarkable as the Marlins. They appeared dead in the water in mid-May when they were 16-22. Their pitching staff had been decimated by injuries, and their play on the field ranged from casual to sloppy. Enter Jack McKeon. Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria fired manager Jeff Torborg and brought in the cranky, cigar-smoking, 72-year-old McKeon. Where Torborg had babied a young club along, McKeon got in their faces, threatened to bench or demote the underachievers and pretty much changed the entire tone in a clubhouse that needed changing. McKeon has used tough love. He locked the clubhouse during games so no one would be sneaking inside to watch the game on television in air-conditioned comfort. After one loss, he told his players: "You want to keep enjoying this lifestyle, then wake up, look in the mirror and make some adjustments." He has had public spats with pitchers Brad Penny and Tim Spooneybarger and pretty much put everyone else on notice that there were no free rides. Something remarkable happened. The Marlins responded. They went on a 33-24 sprint into the All-Star Break and thrust themselves into contention for the National League's wild-card berth. Even as they entered the weekend having lost eight of nine, they remained in a tie with the Astros, Cardinals, Phillies and Expos for the lead in the wild-card race. Here's how they did it. ?Injuries to A.J. Burnett and Mark Redman forced them to rush 21-year-old lefthander Dontrelle Willis to the big leagues. He became an almost instant star in winning nine of his first 10 decisions, and he did it with such a flair that he got South Florida fans interested in their baseball team for the first time in years. ?Miguel Cabrera, 20, was promoted from Class AA ball and became the everyday left fielder even though he had played mostly third base in his career. He hit a game-winning home run in his first game and quickly establishes himself as an impact player. ?The rotation has solidified around Willis, Josh Beckett, Redman, Penny and Carl Pavano. Likewise, the offense, with leadoff man Juan Pierre and third baseman Mike Lowell having great seasons, is as good as anyone's. For McKeon, it's one last ride after more than a half-century in the game. He never expected the call to manage again, and if nothing else, has shown he's going to do it his way. The Marlins have responded. "I've had more fun this year than I've ever had in my career," McKeon said Link
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