Notes: Girardi sees improvements

Hermida returns to roster; first base coach rejoins club

 

MIAMI -- For a manager whose team has lost seven straight games and is 11-31 for the season, the Marlins' Joe Girardi is surprisingly upbeat. For him, the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel is gradually exposing more daylight. He can see definite improvement in his club.

 

Never mind that the Marlins, who open a nine-game homestand Monday night against the Cubs, are coming off a 2-8 road trip and have lost leads heading into the ninth inning on four straight occasions.

 

"There's a lot of games we could have won in that road trip," Girardi said. "You can't always look at the score at the end of the game. I know that's what you're judged on, but there's a lot of good things happening here."

 

In citing the most impressive instances of improvement, Girardi reeled off the names of five of his starters -- first baseman Mike Jacobs, second baseman Dan Uggla, shortstop Hanley Ramirez, left fielder Josh Willingham and center fielder Reggie Abercrombie.

 

On Jacobs, who had a home run and 10 RBIs on the road trip, Girardi said, "The way he started -- now look at his last 10-12 games. He's been very productive."

 

Girardi said Uggla, who came out of Spring Training as a defensive concern, has improved dramatically on his ability to turn double plays. "And he's become a very productive No. 2 hitter."

 

Ramirez, who was inserted into Monday night's starting lineup for the first time since straining his left shoulder last Tuesday, has come on impressively, the manager said, since making two errors in his Marlins debut.

 

Girardi credited Willingham, who started out splitting his time between catcher and left field, with proving beyond a doubt that he could be a regular.

 

And of Abercrombie, he said the rookie has gone from a free-swinger at the plate to someone who now can get behind 0-2 in the count, then work the count full and get a base hit.

 

As Girardi spoke, he had just finished a teaching session with about a dozen of his players on the art of baserunning. "My message today: Take it out of the umpire's hands. Don't make it that close."

 

Against the Devil Rays last weekend, the Marlins had a runner picked off second base and a runner thrown out trying for third.

 

Girardi said the coaching staff had told Jacobs, the one thrown out going to third, that the Devil Rays' Travis Lee was arguably the best-fielding first baseman in the game. Then Lee threw him out.

 

"Now he probably believes it [about Lee]," Girardi said. "And what he did is he possibly took the bat out of Miguel Cabrera's hands in the ninth inning."

 

Girardi said the Marlins' improvement also can be measured by how easily the Braves' Tim Hudson handled them the first time they faced him, and "how hard we made him work" in a return challenge.

 

"You know what will make us all better people?" Girardi said. "If you get through losses like we went through and you're able to bounce back. I think we're showing we can do that."

 

Nearby, pitcher Dontrelle Willis predicted that the close games the Marlins are losing now will turn into victories in the second part of the season.

 

"I believe so, most definitely," he said. "Because we're going to be experienced in those games. Experience, if you can take it and learn from it, can really help you."

 

Hermida returns: Right fielder Jeremy Hermida rejoined the club before Monday night's game after being out since April 12 with a right hip flexor. Shortstop Robert Andino was sent to Triple-A Albuquerque to make room for him.

 

Hermida did not start Monday's game because the Marlins were facing a left-hander.

 

"He's going to get to play a lot of games," Girardi said. "But we're going to take it slowly with him. I'm not going to take a chance of him hurting that injury again. I feel we have four productive outfielders and we don't need to play guys 16 days in a row. I know that's hard on anybody's body."

 

Hermida, who had several injury setbacks as he worked to regain his form, acknowledged that he wishes he could have had a few more at-bats at Jupiter, Fla. He said he spent a lot of time just watching pitches.

 

"Mainly I took a lot of pitches just so I could get a feel for what was coming," he said. "So the results weren't what I would have liked them to be, but I got myself familiar with seeing a lot of different pitches."

 

Hermida smiled when it was mentioned that he might be the Marlins' X factor, since he began this season as one of club's most touted players.

 

"Naw," he said. "I just want to come back and do my small part."

 

Hill rejoins club: First base coach Perry Hill, who left the Marlins after last Thursday's game to be with his ill wife in Lantana, Texas, came back Monday after being reassured that she is doing better.

 

"My priorities are where they should be," Hill said. "I'm very happy to be with a class organization that understood my situation -- from Jeffrey Luria to David Sampson to Admin Beinfest to Joe Girardi. They all left it to me -- return when I could. Thankfully, I'm optimistic now about my wife's situation."

 

Hill said for the first four days, as his wife clung to life, baseball did not enter his mind. But as she began to get better, he said he began tuning in to the Braves series for updates.

 

"I'm very happy to be back," he said. "I love these guys. And I'm happiest to be with a group of people who have their priorities in order."

 

Glad to see everything is starting to come in order for Joe.. Also glad to see Hill and is wife are fine...

"My priorities are where they should be," Hill said. "I'm very happy to be with a class organization that understood my situation -- from Jeffrey Luria to David Sampson to Admin Beinfest to Joe Girardi. They all left it to me -- return when I could. Thankfully, I'm optimistic now about my wife's situation."

 

 

:lol

"My priorities are where they should be," Hill said. "I'm very happy to be with a class organization that understood my situation -- from Jeffrey Luria to David Sampson to Admin Beinfest to Joe Girardi. They all left it to me -- return when I could. Thankfully, I'm optimistic now about my wife's situation."

 

 

:lol

 

:lol :lol Shall we contact the writer? :lol :lol

some dude named Charlie Nobles wrote it... no idea what his e-mail is.

Who? :lol That explains it...

Hill said for the first four days, as his wife clung to life, baseball did not enter his mind. But as she began to get better, he said he began tuning in to the Braves series for updates.

 

"I'm very happy to be back," he said. "I love these guys. And I'm happiest to be with a group of people who have their priorities in order."

 

Wow I had no idea it was that serious. So glad to hear he's back & everything's okay.

Good to hear that everything's okay with the Hill family. Sounds pretty serious.

 

In all reality I'm impressed with how well some of these guys have hit. Reggie, I was ready to send down a month ago. In all reality the Hermida injury could be seen as a blessing because if not for it Reggie could have very well been sent down. Last night it was great having great ABs, earning two walks. He has adjusted real well and is hitting somewhere around .300 in May.

 

And Uggla even though he had an error it was only his 3rd and he turned one hell of a doube play last night. Good night all around. I hope they can continue some of this momentum on

We win one game and everything is okay now. I dont think so :thumbdown

Hill said for the first four days, as his wife clung to life, baseball did not enter his mind. But as she began to get better, he said he began tuning in to the Braves series for updates.

 

"I'm very happy to be back," he said. "I love these guys. And I'm happiest to be with a group of people who have their priorities in order."

 

Wow I had no idea it was that serious. So glad to hear he's back & everything's okay.

 

What happened to his wife? Anyone know?

glad the hills are alright and it will be good to have him back. He is the best infield coach in the major leagues.

He is the best infield coach in the major leagues.

 

 

Whats nice is that he wants to be here :thumbup .

We win one game and everything is okay now. I dont think so :thumbdown

Oh come on. Even in our losses on the road trip we weren't outplayed. We had about 7 bad pitches. This team is begeinning to turn a corner.