Dan Uggla's chances of making the club and winning the starting second-base job hinge largely on his defense.

 

Battling seasoned Pokey Reese, a two-time Gold Glove winner, Uggla is refining his techniques with respected infield coach Perry Hill.

 

Hill has Uggla working on widening his base while fielding, or getting his feet farther apart and his glove down sooner. Turning double plays is another part of the game that is being broken down more closely.

 

"We're working more fundamentally," Uggla said. "I'm working on more double-play stuff. We're starting slow and then getting a little quicker. I'm always running around, trying to do things more quickly. We're just doing things gradually, so I can make sure I know what I'm doing every time, rather than trying to do things too quick and doing something wrong. Every day we're doing stuff a little bit quicker.

 

"My thing is, I have a tendency to get my feet a little too narrow. The biggest thing I'm working out is getting my feet out. I've been concentrating on getting as wide and getting as low as I can. It's been helping. What I did when I first got into pro ball, but I got away from it."

 

As a Rule 5 Draft pickup from Arizona, Uggla has to make the final roster or he will be returned to the Diamondbacks.

 

"I don't worry about him defensively," said Girardi, who claims Hills is the best defensive instructor in the business. "I think you'll see a lot better defensive player in six weeks. They're all going to school right now."

 

Uggla is considered a solid hitter with power. If he improves defensively, he could win the starting job.

 

"I feel like what I'm doing now should make me better," Uggla said.

 

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...t=.jsp&c_id=fla

He can work with Perry Hill all spring and won't be able to touch the defensive capabilties of Pokey.

He can work with Perry Hill all spring and won't be able to touch the defensive capabilties of Pokey.

 

and yet Pokey's 500 at bats worth of offense wouldnt even sniff Beast's 150 at bats

He can work with Perry Hill all spring and won't be able to touch the defensive capabilties of Pokey.

 

and yet Pokey's 500 at bats worth of offense wouldnt even sniff Beast's 150 at bats

 

That's pretty sad when Uggla will struggle to get a .650 OPS and not whiff once a game. If Pokey can match Uggla's OBP, he's probably the better play because of the massively superior defense versus higher slugging.

He can work with Perry Hill all spring and won't be able to touch the defensive capabilties of Pokey.

 

 

big deal.

 

if uggla shows that he is doing well defensively while still hitting he wins the job, i dont care how awesome pokey's defense is.

 

 

unless pokey has magically learned to hit.

Uggla has a greater chance to be a contributing (and substantially better) player in 2008 than Reese.

 

Therefore, Uggla > Reese.

 

For the love of God, winning isn't important this year, it's all about building for 2007 and 2008...there's no reason to give up on Uggla to let Reese flash some leather in the twilight of his career.

 

If Uggla weren't a rule V pick, then yeah I'd be in favor of Reese, but Uggla's got to play to stay, and that's all that counts.

Uggla has a greater chance to be a contributing (and substantially better) player in 2008 than Reese.

 

Therefore, Uggla > Reese.

 

For the love of God, winning isn't important this year, it's all about building for 2007 and 2008...there's no reason to give up on Uggla to let Reese flash some leather in the twilight of his career.

 

If Uggla weren't a rule V pick, then yeah I'd be in favor of Reese, but Uggla's got to play to stay, and that's all that counts.

 

 

I'm not so sure Uggla will be here in 2008 no matter what happens, unless he shows substantial improvement defensively and proves he can hit in the bigs. The most likely scenario this season, I think, is Pokey ending up starting at second come opening day with Uggla platooning throughout the season.

Uggla has a greater chance to be a contributing (and substantially better) player in 2008 than Reese.

 

Therefore, Uggla > Reese.

 

For the love of God, winning isn't important this year, it's all about building for 2007 and 2008...there's no reason to give up on Uggla to let Reese flash some leather in the twilight of his career.

 

If Uggla weren't a rule V pick, then yeah I'd be in favor of Reese, but Uggla's got to play to stay, and that's all that counts.

 

If we were talking about players whose ceiling isn't a career backup, sure. That's why if it's a Hanley/Pokey playing time debate, Hanley wins that every time. but Uggla? He will be lucky to be a career backup. If Reese's defense helps them win a couple more games, you play him. I'm much more interested in the pitchers developing with knowing they can count on their defense and not try to strike out everybody, then seeing a marginal bench player grow into his role. Uggla is probably going to be horrible defensively. Willingham at catcher horrible. He's probably going to have to turn into a 3B/1B type and make a living being a bench bat by 2008, if he's still in the league.

 

Having a "going through the motions" attitude; just playing youth for the hell of it and not trying to WIN is the worst thing they can do. They are going to be playing an outrageous amount of rookies regardless if a Mitre, or Pokey, or Olivo, or Borowski, get substantial amounts of playing time. They need to play the best player avaliable at every position, and if that turns out to be Uggla at 2B, good for him. Hermida, Jacobs, and Willingham should be the only rookies with secure jobs. They have nothing left to prove below the MLB level. The only other rookie you can legitimately argue for secure playing time besides them is Hanley, but he is easily the least progressed of the bunch. If somehow Amezaga or whoever beats him out in camp at SS, they should not hesitate to send him to AA/AAA for the time being until he is ready. It's ridiculous to assume these guys growth will be stuned for 2008 if they get less MLB AB in 2006. We will know if they are going to be good or bad in two years. They aren't not going to reach their ceilings' because of this, and it's pretty silly to think that way.

 

The point is, winning is always important. You play to win the game.

The point is, winning is always important. You play to win the game.

 

 

Hell yeah...way to go Herm...

 

:notworthy

The point is, winning is always important. You play to win the game.

 

Which is of course exactly what Girardi has been saying (and some here found fault with).

 

Whether Uggla contributes for one year or six, you get the feeling he (like so many others in camp) understands exactly the opportunity he's been handed. Clearly the manager is looking to get as much punch as he can out there, even at the cost of a little defense, realizing that pitching isn't going to win games this season, especially as the year wears on. Hopefully if we come up on the losing end of a 7-6 game it will at least be more entertaining than watching a group of $65 million superstars score two runs a night.

Hopefully we come up on the losing end of a 7-6 game it will at least be more entertaining than watching a group of $65 million superstars score two runs a night.

 

 

I almost feel like that's a given. You can just tell how excited these players are by the articles that are written about them. And Joe appears to be a very enthusiastic manager. I'll tell you what, they may lose 10-5 but you will see these kids play their hearts out each and every day. Gotta love that.

He's a 25 year-old AA prospect who strikes out at a frightening pace. 2B is going to be as big of an offensive concern for the Fish as CF.

He's a 25 year-old AA prospect who strikes out at a frightening pace. 2B is going to be as big of an offensive concern for the Fish as CF.

 

Frightening is Preston Wilson. Now there's a strike-out machine.

 

Carlos Delgado struck out 121 last season, Miguel Cabrera 125. Uggla struck out 103 times in 500 ABs and still managed a .378 OBP. While you may have no hope, I'll reserve judgement.

He's a 25 year-old AA prospect who strikes out at a frightening pace. 2B is going to be as big of an offensive concern for the Fish as CF.

 

Frightening is Preston Wilson. Now there's a strike-out machine.

 

Carlos Delgado struck out 121 last season, Miguel Cabrera 125. Uggla struck out 103 times in 500 ABs and still managed a .378 OBP. While you may have no hope, I'll reserve judgement.

 

How would that translate to the big leagues? He'll be facing better competition with the Marlins.

The Marlins pitchers would benefit from Reese playing 2B. There's no guarantees that Uggla can make the jump from AA to the majors......it took him 3 1/2 years of A ball to get through a season in AA.

The Marlins pitchers would benefit from Reese playing 2B. There's no guarantees that Uggla can make the jump from AA to the majors......it took him 3 1/2 years of A ball to get through a season in AA.

 

and is Reese the same player he was 5 years ago? 3 years ago?

Chum isn't here to talk baseball, Chum is here to stir the pot.

 

There's no guarantees affixed to any ballplayer, at least none I've seen. Who knows how a particular player will pan out? No one, including Chum.

The Marlins pitchers would benefit from Reese playing 2B. There's no guarantees that Uggla can make the jump from AA to the majors......it took him 3 1/2 years of A ball to get through a season in AA.

 

and is Reese the same player he was 5 years ago? 3 years ago?

 

Don't waste your time trying to reason with him...he still thinks slugging percentage is a better way than OBP to evaluate a top of the lineup hitter.

Reese is a better defensive player than Uggla will EVER be. That's the only reason I think he should play over Uggla.

Reese is a better defensive player than Uggla will EVER be. That's the only reason I think he should play over Uggla.

 

a few questions

 

when was the last time you saw Pokey play d, and when was the last time you saw Uggla play d?

 

just wondering

There's no guarantees that Uggla can make the jump from AA to the majors......it took him 3 1/2 years of A ball to get through a season in AA.

 

True, but if he can, we have a quality player to add to the Hermida-Cabrera-Willis an friends core

Every scouting report and story on Uggla says he has a long way to go to just be average as a fielder......Pokey Reese I last saw in 2004 when he was helping the Red Sox win a World Series as a defensive replacement, sometimes starter.

 

I don't think Reese will hit over .250, but his defense will be very good.....he has won a couple Gold Gloves.

I don't think Reese will hit over .250, but his defense will be very good.....he has won a couple Gold Gloves.

 

True, but we given that he was out for almost all of last season and he is known as being an injury risk, we have no idea what level of performance he is at now. Then again we should find out in the next week or so.

Every scouting report and story on Uggla says he has a long way to go to just be average as a fielder......Pokey Reese I last saw in 2004 when he was helping the Red Sox win a World Series as a defensive replacement, sometimes starter.

 

I don't think Reese will hit over .250, but his defense will be very good.....he has won a couple Gold Gloves.

 

"Every" scouting report and story?

 

I'm sure you wouldn't mind publishing them here. Otherwise I'll assume you're just making up more stuff as is your want. I'm dieing to see these scouting reports you have access to.

 

 

Here's the Year End All-Star team for the 2005 Southern League. Uggla was voted best second baseman AND utility player (he played three positions last season). It's an interesting list with a bunch of now familiar faces including Hermida. The Southern League is probably the premier AA+ level league in minor league baseball.

 

Check it out. http://www.southernleague.com/nm/publish/news_71.shtml

 

How he could be the best second baseman in the Southern League and still have "a long way to go to just be average as a fielder" is beyond me. Is he Luis Castillo in his prime? Nope. Is he going to leave fans in the seats breathless? Probably not. But does he have a chance to become a respectable major league second baseman, absolutely.

 

He also performed well in the post season AFL where he hit .304, had an OBP of .390 and hit seven home runs. Maybe the scouting reports you have didn't indicate how well he performed in 2005, but it's hard to miss, if you really have an interest in looking.

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/mil..._pbp&pid=462564

Every scouting report and story on Uggla says he has a long way to go to just be average as a fielder......Pokey Reese I last saw in 2004 when he was helping the Red Sox win a World Series as a defensive replacement, sometimes starter.

 

I don't think Reese will hit over .250, but his defense will be very good.....he has won a couple Gold Gloves.

 

"Every" scouting report and story?

 

I'm sure you wouldn't mind publishing them here. Otherwise I'll assume you're just making up more stuff as is your want. I'm dieing to see these scouting reports you have access to.

 

 

Here's the Year End All-Star team for the 2005 Southern League. Uggla was voted best second baseman AND utility player (he played three positions last season). It's an interesting list with a bunch of now familiar faces including Hermida. The Southern League is probably the premier AA+ level league in minor league baseball.

 

Check it out. http://www.southernleague.com/nm/publish/news_71.shtml

 

How he could be the best second baseman in the Southern League and still have "a long way to go to just be average as a fielder" is beyond me. Is he Luis Castillo in his prime? Nope. Is he going to leave fans in the seats breathless? Probably not. But does he have a chance to become a respectable major league second baseman, absolutely.

 

He also performed well in the post season AFL where he hit .304, had an OBP of .390 and hit seven home runs. Maybe the scouting reports you have didn't indicate how well he performed in 2005, but it's hard to miss, if you really have an interest in looking.

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/mil..._pbp&pid=462564

 

He sucks. Don't be fooled by his 2005. A lot of guys mash in double AA. What I see is a terrible K rate, how big league pitchers will challenge him, and his average and walk rate will subsequently drop severely effecting the one thing he has done great the last few years, slugging %. I'll be shocked if he does anything substantially better then .250/.300/.350 and doesn't average a whiff per game. If everything goes right, maybe a .700 OPS bench bat. But a starting calibre 2B? I think not.

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/pecota/UGGLA19800311A.php

 

Besides the fact prospectus hates his stick also now and long term, his 2005 double AA defensive ranking is UNCONTROLLABLY AWFUL. Prospectus is being very generous with his mean defensive value (or lack there of) for 2006.

 

There is only 1 thing I like about Uggla based on everything I have read and seen, he's a gamer. Seems like he has a great attitude, hustle, etc. I'm rooting for him because he wants it more then a lot of other guys. Hopefully for his sake, he can carve a nitch for himself as a slugging 2B bench/role player. But I think that is going to be tough for him. Concering 2006, I'd play pokey predominantly because he will have a similar OBP and his defensive gains outweigh Uggla's slugging (to me anyways). I'd spot Uggla in higher offensive parks such as Col, Philly, Hou, and Cincy where his huge defensive liability won't matter as much.