Marlins' Hee Seop Choi took lesson from his predec

[dolfinfan305]

BERARDINO: Marlins' Hee Seop Choi took lesson from his predecessor Lee

Published February 25, 2004

 

 

JUPITER -- As the Marlins stomped out the dreams of Cubs fans everywhere last fall, as poor Steve Bartman went from obscure financial-services worker to international punch line with one fateful grab, Hee Seop Choi had a front-row seat in the Chicago dugout.

 

The big first baseman wasn't on the active roster, but he was in uniform and even took batting practice and infield before each game of the National League Championship Series.

 

At the time Choi never could have guessed how much that experience would end up helping him with his new team -- the Marlins.

 

"I learned a lot," Choi said Tuesday at his new locker, one slot down from Miguel Cabrera. "It was my first time at a major league playoff. I felt it was different than the regular season."

 

How so?

 

"More fun," he said. "More exciting. Lot more pressure. Everything is different."

 

And Bartman ... what did he think of that fiasco?

 

"Oh, the catch?" he said. "That's baseball. Bad luck sometimes, good luck sometimes."

 

As he spoke in halting English, the Korean slugger's expression turned thoughtful. Perhaps he was considering his role in a potential playoff rematch between the two pitching-rich clubs.

 

If it happens, the irony will be delicious. The Cubs almost certainly will have ridden the Gold Glove and 30-homer bat of their new first baseman, Derrek Lee, to get back to the brink of their first World Series since 1945.

 

Across the way will stand Choi, the young counterpart who joined Lee in the payroll-for-potential swap just before Thanksgiving.

 

It was Lee's father, Leon, who five years ago signed Choi to become the first Korean position player in North American baseball. It was Derrek Lee who gave his father's hulking find a pair of pep talks last July, one at Pro Player Stadium and the other at Wrigley Field.

 

"I feel like his brother," Choi said of the younger Lee. "He said the first year is very tough. You don't know the pitchers, everything. You try everything. Maybe you feel better your second year, your third year."

 

The biggest lesson Choi, 24, took from those discussions with a fellow power hitter who shares almost the exact physical dimensions?

 

"You have to play and not think too much," Lee told him. "Just play, enjoy. Don't worry about your average or your strikeouts. Don't worry. Every time, swing. Swing."

 

As a rookie last season, Choi struggled through a frustrating tour that was derailed by a mid-June concussion after a nasty collision with Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood. Choi wound up hitting a combined 14 homers for the Cubs and Triple-A Iowa, but he also hit .218 in the majors.

 

Veteran Wil Cordero was signed for insurance, but there might not be a more pivotal player in Marlins camp than Choi. If he flops, the Marlins still don't have any left-handed power and they'll be missing Lee's all-around excellence more than ever.

 

If Choi hears the cosmic click, however, the Marlins could get power production that at least approaches what Lee could have done at highly punitive Pro Player.

 

"I just want him to have fun," manager Jack McKeon said. "I want him to know that we trust him and we're going to give him the opportunity to do the job. I want him to know we believe in him. It's up to him."

 

Choi has been among the first position players to arrive at the complex over the past week. (Except for Tuesday, when a scheduling mixup caused him to apologize profusely for arriving a couple of hours later than he would have liked.)

 

No matter. Choi spent more than an hour in the batting cage and then worked further in the midday sun with infield guru Perry Hill. Scouts rave about Choi's soft hands and nimble footwork.

 

He's no D-Lee over there, but he's above average with the glove.

 

Also helping Choi make the transition is a handful of familiar faces in the clubhouse. Thanks to three consecutive years in the Arizona Fall League, Choi knows lower-profile Marlins such as Blaine Neal, Chip Ambres, Derek Wathan, Ryan Jorgensen and Nate Bump.

 

"It's like it's not a new team," Choi said. "I feel comfortable here."

 

Choi will feel even better once he finds a decent place to eat yunagi (a Korean eel dish) and, of course, a steakhouse.

 

"My first year here in America, I ate only steak," he said. "I think I ate 500 steaks."

 

He doesn't even mind the humidity of South Florida, saying it reminds him of home, where his parents owned and operated a watermelon farm until retiring after Choi signed his first pro contract for $1.2 million.

 

Choi occasionally helped out as a kid, sometimes even driving a truckload of melons across the farm, which was about the size of a baseball field.

 

"I wanted to work," Choi said, "but my father said, `No, you don't work.'"

 

Instead, Chan Yong Choi insisted the eldest of his three children spend his time studying and playing baseball. Smart man.

[miami15]

and they'll be missing Lee's all-around excellence more than ever.

 

Was DLee a super star, or what? Man, I hope he wears the Marlins hat when he is in the Hall.

[Marlins2003]

That's quite a lofty pedestal Mr. Berardino has placed D Lee on.

 

All those homeruns when we were winning or losing 7-1 aren't going to mean much in ChiTown.

[Fish Fry]

Was DLee a super star, or what? Man, I hope he wears the Marlins hat when he is in the Hall.

 

I wouldn't go that far, but I think Lee was undervalued by Marlins management. They would've been better-off keeping Lee and letting Castillo go. Lee is worth his money.

[FishFan24]

D Lee will always be a Marlin in my eyes. :notworthy

[BIG Z]

Hee seop choi will hit .315 with 32 hr's 110 rbi's...

[rferry]

I wouldn't go that far, but I think Lee was undervalued by Marlins management. They would've been better-off keeping Lee and letting Castillo go. Lee is worth his money.

Easier to find a 1B of Lee's quality than a 2B of Castillo's quality.

[Wild Card]

I wouldn't go that far, but I think Lee was undervalued by Marlins management. They would've been better-off keeping Lee and letting Castillo go. Lee is worth his money.

Easier to find a 1B of Lee's quality than a 2B of Castillo's quality. Exactly what I was thinking.

 

Luis Castillo is an All-Star at his position. Lee might be, but he never could have done it here.

[bman8316]

Out of the players gone from last years time D Lee is the only one I will miss seeing he was a great all around player, and was a force on the field and at the plate. Also the fact that he went through so much with this club, going from losing over 100 games to winning a world title, made it hurt even more to see him go. But as for Choi I think he will have alot of pressure on him to perform well because everyone will compare him to Lee and if he dosent perform than Cordero or Stokes will be taking his place. It should be intresting.

[Wild Card]

Out of the players gone from last years time D Lee is the only one I will miss seeing he was a great all around player, and was a force on the field and at the plate. Also the fact that he went through so much with this club, going from losing over 100 games to winning a world title, made it hurt even more to see him go. But as for Choi I think he will have alot of pressure on him to perform well because everyone will compare him to Lee and if he dosent perform than Cordero or Stokes will be taking his place. It should be intresting.

For one, dude, Stokes ain't gonna have a ML at-bat for a few years.

 

Two, Choi's power is tailor made for PPS. He'll be fine.

[Fish Fillet]

Ahhh, everyone sitting around a candlelit memorial to D Lee's Marlin years singing cumbaya. how heartwarming.

 

Where is the "Certified Crap" pic when you need it?

 

See ya Derrick!!!

 

All those homeruns when we were winning or losing 7-1 aren't going to mean much in ChiTown.

 

That's money right there. Thank the Gods of RISP that someone else remembers D Lee as Captain Irrelevance.

[Ramp]

D Lee was a force at the plate.

:lol :lol

[Jrod1]

now you guys wanna talk about how much you miss derrek lee. i could remember sometime last year there were things known as the "official hate d lee thread"

 

and im not lieing by saying this, it was about 4 people (including myself) defending him against about 25 bashing him. wow how crazy, ive noticed a few that have praised him since he is gone, those were the same people who were bashing him back in the june.

 

bandwagon anyone?

[rferry]

Out of the players gone from last years time D Lee is the only one I will miss seeing he was a great all around player, and was a force on the field and at the plate. Also the fact that he went through so much with this club, going from losing over 100 games to winning a world title, made it hurt even more to see him go. But as for Choi I think he will have alot of pressure on him to perform well because everyone will compare him to Lee and if he dosent perform than Cordero or Stokes will be taking his place. It should be intresting.

I miss Lee too. Maybe we can sign or trade for him later when we can afford him.

[Fish Fry]

Easier to find a 1B of Lee's quality than a 2B of Castillo's quality.

 

Not quite. Derrek Lee is legitimately among the top 3 or 4 1Bs in the NL. Who are you going to find out there that can replace him?

 

Castillo is overrated. He had a decent year last year at the plate last year, but undermined it with his awful stolen base %. His 2001 and 2002 seasons were nothing special. I'd rather have Lee at $7 million and replace Castillo with Mark Grudzeilanek than have Castillo at $5.5 million and have to replace Lee with Rafael Palmeiro.

[FreshFish]

Who are you going to find out there that can replace him?

Choi for 6.5 Millions less

[Fish Fry]

Choi for 6.5 Millions less

 

Maybe, 2 years from now. Right now - nobody.

[rferry]

Easier to find a 1B of Lee's quality than a 2B of Castillo's quality.

 

Not quite. Derrek Lee is legitimately among the top 3 or 4 1Bs in the NL. And Castillo is one of the top three 2B in the entire MLB. What's your point?

 

We had to cut payroll to try to resign Pudge and others. We did it, and got a stud 1B prospect who will make very little as we try to re-sign Beckett, Burnett, Penny, Pavano, Willis.

[Beinfest4Prez]

I see we have already the Hate Choi people going on.

 

 

Choi will never be Derrek Lee in terms of defense, but in offense, he has the potential to best Lee in every aspect, average, RBIs, HRs, and the like.