02/09/2004 1:08 PM ET

McKeon sets pitching bar high

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

 

MIAMI -- Postseason success proved one thing to Marlins manager Jack McKeon: Titles can't be won if a team has tired arms.

The Marlins were able to complete their shocking World Series championship season in 2003 largely because their pitching held up in October.

 

Marlins pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Spring Training in Jupiter, Fla., on Feb. 21. The message being sent to the players is this: Come ready to work.

 

"Spring Training is the time to get ready," said McKeon. "There is going to be a lot of emphasis on conditioning. I want to get [the entire team] ready, but especially the pitchers."

 

No, McKeon isn't trying to run Spring Training's version of the movie Miracle, in which the late Herb Brooks, the coach of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, is depicted showing that hustle can produce golden results.

 

But McKeon wants his starters in shape to deliver early results. He doesn't want the Marlins to fall into a 10-games-under-.500 hole, as they did last May.

 

"I'd like to see a couple of [starters] going seven innings in Spring Training games," he said. "I want them ready to win. I want them thinking nine innings, not that they will pitch nine. I want them thinking they can."

 

McKeon made it clear that pitching will be a progression this spring. Starters will begin by tossing a couple of innings in Grapefruit League games, then build up, possibly to seven innings as the regular season draws closer.

 

McKeon believes that pitchers build up arm strength and endurance by pitching, and that hard work won't hurt them.

 

During the 2004 regular season, the starters once again will be on a fixed schedule, throwing every fifth game.

 

His formula paid off with a World Series title last year.

 

Time after time in 2003, McKeon went against the grain and managed according to who was getting the job done. Indeed, the line between starters and relievers blurred in the playoffs. The savvy manager never hesitated using Carl Pavano, Dontrelle Willis, Brad Penny and Josh Beckett in relief.

 

Whatever it took to win, McKeon did.

 

To the credit of Beckett, Penny, Pavano and Willis, they took the ball whenever asked. And they produced.

 

Beckett gained the most notoriety by tossing four innings of relief in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series to help close out the Cubs. In the World Series, on three days' rest, he blanked the Yankees in Game 6 of the World Series.

 

Beckett was an incredible workhorse in both the NLCS and World Series. In a 13-day span, the tough-minded Texan appeared in four games (three starts), tossed two shutouts, and in 29 1/3 innings gave up three runs (0.92 ERA) and 11 hits.

 

One reason why Beckett was strong in the end is because he threw 142 total innings during an injury-marred regular season. A right elbow sprain kept him on the disabled list for seven weeks, and the time off may have given the 23-year-old an edge.

 

A healthy Beckett is expected to be the starter on April 6, Opening Day, when the Marlins take on the Expos at Pro Player Stadium.

 

This season, McKeon places A.J. Burnett is a similar position to where Beckett was a year ago.

 

Last week McKeon watched the hard-throwing right-hander, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, toss a bullpen session. Burnett continues to be impressive, remaining ahead of schedule.

 

While Burnett hopes to be back in April, early May is more likely.

 

"I told A.J., 'I want you to be like Beckett,'" said McKeon. "Last year Josh was chomping at the bit to get back."

 

Despite the pleas, McKeon kept Beckett out another week, until close to the All-Star break.

 

With Burnett, a little more recovery time may be beneficial.

 

"I don't want any dead heroes out there," said McKeon.

 

The addition of free-agent signee Darren Oliver reduces the urgency to bring back Burnett early. The frontrunner to be the fifth starter, the left-handed Oliver is capable of logging a lot of innings.

 

Assuming the current rotation stays healthy, the Marlins could be in a surplus situation when Burnett returns. If so, they will have six seasoned starters. Most likely, Oliver will go to the bullpen.

 

If that is the case, it will be a luxury, because down the stretch the team that has the most durable arms has the best shot at reaching the playoffs.

 

"From the start of the season to August is the time pitchers maintain," said McKeon. "In the middle of August is when pitchers wear down. This is the time we have to work a little harder to stay strong until the end."

 

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

oliver signing===huge

 

anyways, the best thing to do is to have aj do some more bullpen sessions and give oliver 4-5 starts to keep aj both healthy and fresh going into august (it helped josh). youll probably see aj make his first start of the yr in the minors (rehab) before rejoining the staff

 

our rotation is scary: josh, aj, dtrain, penny, pavy

and our pen is shaping up: bump, tejera, oliver (after april), benitez, etc

i wish he was my abuelo

It's gettin' time for out pitchers to buckle down, and start training for 2004. I think they're ready for it.