June 8, 200620 yr I just read this article about our boy on Insider and thought you might enjoy it. Just the mere suggestion at the end that he could POTENTIALLY be mentioned in the same sentence as Kent and Sandberg speaks monumentally of Uggs and what he's accomplished this season. Anyway, enjoy the article. What's in His Name? By Tristan Cockcroft Every so often, a player comes along with a name so interesting, so unique, so colorful, that we can't help but root for him. This season, that individual is Marlins rookie Dan Uggla. He's one of the most overlooked first-year players of 2006, but lately, he's generating even more attention for his play than his distinct surname. Uggla (pronounced "UGG-la," or exactly as it looks) managed his first career multi-homer effort on Wednesday, hitting two and driving in five against the Giants. He's now the rookie leader in batting average (.308), hits (70) and homers (9, tied with Prince Fielder, Josh Willingham and Ryan Zimmerman), and ranks second in OPS (.842). Uggla is on pace for 26 homers, 99 RBI and 117 runs scored, numbers so good, they would help rank his among the best rookie seasons in baseball history. One might wonder how a player like this could have slipped so far beneath the radar. After all, he was only an 11th-round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001, and not once in his five seasons in their organization did he crack Baseball America's top 30 prospects. In fact, Uggla was so overlooked that Arizona failed to include him on its 40-man roster this past winter, allowing the Marlins to snatch him away in the Rule 5 draft. Only then did he finally make Baseball America's list, as Florida's No. 29 prospect. But the truth is that Uggla is a gritty player, one who batted .278 for his minor-league career, topped 21 homers and 87 RBI in both 2003 and 2005, and registered an impressive .297-21-87-15 campaign at Double-A Tennessee a year ago. Plus, he was an Arizona Fall League standout, batting .304 with a .988 OPS in 29 games. It was the latter two performances that caught the Marlins' attention, and Uggla was fortunate that a team with an opening at his position happened to notice. Will Uggla be able to maintain an All-Star-caliber pace, statistically putting him in Ryne Sandberg and Jeff Kent territory? That's asking a lot, as scrappy players like this often wear down with time; think Clint Barmes this season. But for every Barmes example, there's a David Eckstein, a player who has made quite the living as that type. Uggla should be able to bat at least .275 and probably closer to .300 in relative obscurity in Florida, though 20 homers, 75 RBI and 90 runs seem much more realistic rates in those departments.
June 8, 200620 yr Great article. Uggla winning the Rookie of the Year Award is basically a lock, but I rather focus on him making the All-Star team because it would be a travesty if he didn't make the team.
June 8, 200620 yr beautiful article just needs to keep playing the way he is now, hes on to a very impressive season.
June 8, 200620 yr Dan Uggla should be backing up Chase Utley at the All-Star game. Here are the stats to prove it. Link
June 8, 200620 yr I. Uggla is on pace for 26 homers, 99 RBI and 117 runs scored, numbers so good, they would help rank his among the best rookie seasons in baseball history. That made me cry :lol . I am so proud of him. Keep it up Uggla... Come on boy win ROTY!! Thanks for sharing.
June 8, 200620 yr Great article. Uggla winning the Rookie of the Year Award is basically a lock, but I rather focus on him making the All-Star team because it would be a travesty if he didn't make the team. Not sure how anyone can be a "lock" after two months & change, but he's definitely right there. Heck even on our own team we have Hanley, Willingham, JJ, Uggla, heck what if Nolasco even keeps this up? We could have 3 or even 4 guys in the hunt for rookie of the year.
June 8, 200620 yr No one likes Dan Uggla more than me but I would caution everyone that the season is barely 1/3 over and there's alot of games to be played. That said, it would be terrific for him to be in the running for this prestigeous award come the end of the season.
June 8, 200620 yr I'm not sold that he'll be able to keep it up over the longhaul but I'm hoping he can.
June 8, 200620 yr I. Uggla is on pace for 26 homers, 99 RBI and 117 runs scored, numbers so good, they would help rank his among the best rookie seasons in baseball history. Sweeeeet.
June 8, 200620 yr I'll tell you what's in his name -- the word COOL. :bandit I LOVE you siggy. :thumbup
June 8, 200620 yr I'll tell you what's in his name -- the word COOL. :bandit Yeah if his last name wasn't so fun, everyone would be calling him Cooley instead. :cool
June 8, 200620 yr I'll tell you what's in his name -- the word COOL. :bandit Yeah if his last name wasn't so fun, everyone would be calling him Cooley instead. :cool Uggla Cooley :lol ... Too bad his Cooley is not Uggla.
June 8, 200620 yr Great article. Uggla winning the Rookie of the Year Award is basically a lock, but I rather focus on him making the All-Star team because it would be a travesty if he didn't make the team. Not sure how anyone can be a "lock" after two months & change, but he's definitely right there. Heck even on our own team we have Hanley, Willingham, JJ, Uggla, heck what if Nolasco even keeps this up? We could have 3 or even 4 guys in the hunt for rookie of the year. you can maybe add in hermida too from us too.
June 8, 200620 yr Dan Uggla should be backing up Chase Utley at the All-Star game. Here are the stats to prove it. Link It's close between Phillips and Uggla. Right now I would agree, it's gotta be Uggla.
June 8, 200620 yr I forget who proposed the site's 2006 slogan should be "It's Gonna Be Uggla". Initially I was against it, but maybe they weren't referring to the team, but rather the 2006 Rookie of the Year results? :mischief2
June 8, 200620 yr He is our second best rule 5 pick ever 1st was traded Johan Santana Lets never speak of that again. It's like a kick to the man parts everytime it (and the name Jared Camp)gets brought up.
June 8, 200620 yr I forget who proposed the site's 2006 slogan should be "It's Gonna Be Uggla". Initially I was against it, but maybe they weren't referring to the team, but rather the 2006 Rookie of the Year results? :mischief2 I believe it was Mr. Swift.
June 8, 200620 yr Ugglaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! I forget who proposed the site's 2006 slogan should be "It's Gonna Be Uggla". Initially I was against it, but maybe they weren't referring to the team, but rather the 2006 Rookie of the Year results? :mischief2 I believe it was Mr. Swift. Yup, it was me. I've been Uggla's biggest fan since day one.
June 9, 200620 yr I forget who proposed the site's 2006 slogan should be "It's Gonna Be Uggla". Initially I was against it, but maybe they weren't referring to the team, but rather the 2006 Rookie of the Year results? :mischief2 I believe it was Mr. Swift. You gotta love Beetles sig :lol
June 9, 200620 yr I forget who proposed the site's 2006 slogan should be "It's Gonna Be Uggla". Initially I was against it, but maybe they weren't referring to the team, but rather the 2006 Rookie of the Year results? :mischief2 I believe it was Mr. Swift. You gotta love Beetles sig :lol Hopefully we will see some other pitchers on it in the next few days.
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