JUPITER, Fla. ? (AP) ? Jack McKeon's head perked up at the crack of the bat, and he gestured toward a Florida player sprinting toward first base.

 

"Boy, Aggie really got big, didn't he,'' McKeon said, referring to outfielder Chris Aguila.

 

Actually, it was second baseman Dan Uggla, one of the many new faces in Marlins uniforms this spring. And later, McKeon referred to the film "Brokeback Mountain'' as "Bareback Mountain.''

 

"Typical,'' Aguila said.

 

Names were never McKeon's strong suit. That hasn't changed, but virtually everything else has for Florida since he stepped aside as manager five months ago.

 

He got his first look at the revamped, rebuilding team Monday in a 5-0 spring training loss to the Baltimore

Orioles. McKeon wasn't in a uniform, going instead with a patterned shirt, khakis and white loafers ? and naturally, his trademark cigars extended from a shirt pocket.

 

"I'm sure we'll smell them,'' Aguila said, "before we see him coming.''

 

Joe Girardi, who was hired to replace McKeon shortly before the Marlins began dismantling last year's roster and drastically cutting payroll, hadn't spoken to his predecessor since assuming the job.

 

And while McKeon probably won't be offering insight on many topics ? considering he doesn't know the majority of players in camp ? the first-time manager Girardi sounded eager to pick his brain.

 

"For the most part, it's all new faces,'' Girardi said. "Oh, he can help me. Obviously, he can help me because he's got a ton of baseball knowledge. But a lot of the players that we're running out there, he hasn't seen so it's unfair to ask him to make a judgment on someone he's never seen. He has a lot of wisdom in that head.''

 

But McKeon said he plans to stay out of Girardi's way, unless invited for a chat.

 

"This is Joe's team,'' McKeon said. "I'm from the old school. I don't like going in people's clubhouses, even when I was general manager. That's the manager's domain. ... If he wants anything, I'll be glad to help him.''

 

McKeon came to the Marlins in May 2003, took over a last-place team and delivered a World Series championship five months later.

 

Two straight 83-79 seasons followed, and McKeon decided it was time to step away. Weeks later, the Marlins began bidding adieu to players like Mike Lowell, Alex Gonzalez, Luis Castillo, Carlos Delgado, Josh Beckett, A.J. Burnett, Paul Lo Duca, Todd Jones and Juan Pierre.

 

In their place Monday were the likes of Reggie Abercrombie, Uggla, Robert Andino and Miguel Olivo. There's some talent on the club, but it's young and largely untested.

 

"Patience,'' McKeon said. "That's going to be the key.''

 

At 75, McKeon hasn't ruled out returning to managing. His current schedule is filled with speaking engagements, commencement addresses (he'll be at Elon on May 20) and most recently, he was grand marshal of a St. Patrick's Day parade in New Jersey.

 

He'll be around camp for about a week, getting his baseball fix. And the returning Marlins weren't blowing smoke when saying they looked forward to having McKeon around again, if only for a little while.

 

"Will it be fun? Of course, man,'' Aguila said. "Jack is Jack and we haven't seen him in a while. But there's one big difference in this clubhouse. You don't catch a whiff of cigar smoke anymore.''

JUPITER, Fla. ? (AP) ? Jack McKeon's head perked up at the crack of the bat, and he gestured toward a Florida player sprinting toward first base.

 

"Boy, Aggie really got big, didn't he,'' McKeon said, referring to outfielder Chris Aguila.

 

Actually, it was second baseman Dan Uggla

:lol Classic McKeon

At 75, McKeon hasn't ruled out returning to managing. His current schedule is filled with speaking engagements, commencement addresses (he'll be at Elon on May 20) and most recently, he was grand marshal of a St. Patrick's Day parade in New Jersey.

 

 

:mischief

 

and :lol at Jack's Aguila quote

hmmm...McKeon comes in, and we lose :mischief2 lol j/p! I love Jack! :thumbup :thumbup

I was standing right next to he and Loria today after the game. Ole' Jack still has some pep in his step. Pictures to come later.

I was standing right next to he and Loria today after the game. Ole' Jack still has some pep in his step. Pictures to come later.

 

did you grab Loria's ass? lol J/P!!! :plain :lol

So did Jack even go into the locker room? Or was he simply Loria's guest?