Winning homer an inspiration for Gonzalez

[PBMarlin]

Winning homer an inspiration for Gonzalez

 

By Tom D'Angelo, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Sunday, March 7, 2004

 

JUPITER -- The defining moment of the Marlins' stunning World Series victory in October was pitcher Josh Beckett with both arms raised and the baseball peeking out of his glove after he tagged out the Yankees' Jorge Posada to end Game 6.

 

But for many, the sight of Alex Gonzalez rounding first base, right fist pumping in the air as his ball cleared the left-field wall in the bottom of the 12th inning in Game 4, was the most dramatic moment of the Marlins' season.

 

"I think it turned the Series around, no question,'' manager Jack McKeon said.

 

For Gonzalez, the home run off the Yankees' Jeff Weaver was vindication for a uneven post-season. Gonzalez's home run tied the series at 2-2 and was only the 13th winning home run in World Series history.

 

"After the World Series was over, everybody in Venezuela was talking about that home run,'' Gonzalez said of his native country. "For me, it was special, (something) that I will remember my whole life, especially when you do something good against one of the best teams in the world, the Yankees.''

 

Gonzalez instantly became a factor after struggling at the plate. At the time, he was hitting.077 (1-for-13) in the Series and.094 (5-for-53) in the post-season. Gonzalez followed the home run with two hits each in Games 5 and 6, and he scored the first run in the 2-0 clincher on a perfect hook slide around Posada.

 

"That at-bat was really important for me,'' Gonzalez said. "I struggled at the plate, but you can't put your head down in the World Series. You still have to play good defense and make plays.''

 

Which is what Gonzalez, who is hitting.244 in five major-league seasons, did last season. He may be one of the better defensive players in the majors not to have won a Gold Glove.

 

"I don't think there's anybody better than Alex,'' hitting coach Bill Robinson said. "Gold Gloves are sort of a popularity contest.''

 

Gonzalez was fifth in the NL with a.976 fielding percentage. He is quick with his glove and gets to balls many infielders watch sail into left field.

 

Being snubbed provides motivation for 2004.

 

"That's my dream, to win the Gold Glove,'' he said.

 

After hitting.352 in April, Gonzalez's average slipped each of the next four months before bottoming out at.149 for August. McKeon believes Gonzalez started pressing as his average started falling.

 

Although McKeon never seriously thought about removing Gonzalez from the lineup, he occasionally pinch-hit for his shortstop late in games in which the Marlins trailed.

 

If Gonzalez's second-half slump continues this season, he'll find himself on the bench more often when Florida needs to rally.

 

"You want to root for him, but somewhere along the line you've got to help yourself and quit trying to put too much pressure hitting,'' McKeon said. "He wants to hit, who doesn't? But the harder he tries... you can't hit home runs. Sometimes the home runs hurt you.''

 

McKeon theorizes Gonzalez's early power -- six of his 18 home runs came in April -- made him think he was more like Alex Rodriguez.

 

Gonzalez is determined not to put pressure on himself despite hitting eighth in the order.

 

"Batting eighth is hard to stay consistent,'' he said. "This year I am going to be more relaxed at home plate and select my pitch. I want to be more consistent. I don't want to change anything, just be more relaxed.''

 

Despite the critical home run, Gonzalez has been passed by Marlins outfielder Miguel Cabrera in popularity in his native country.

 

Still, Cabrera said many people wanted to talk about Gonzalez's home run during the winter, and Gonzalez remembers hearing the excitement in the voices when he called home following the Marlins' World Series title.

 

"After the last game, I called my friend and he said everybody was in the streets. It was like a big party, like in Miami,'' Gonzalez said. "My father was in Venezuela, he called and said, 'It's like Marlins mania.' "

 

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[PBMarlin]

I still get excited when I see the replay on the WS DVD.

 

I'm looking for a breakout year for Sea Bass. :thumbup

[KJC]

"That's my dream, to win the Gold Glove'' - The Bass

 

this is the year

[PBMarlin]

Gonzalez instantly became a factor after struggling at the plate. At the time, he was hitting.077 (1-for-13) in the Series and.094 (5-for-53) in the post-season. Gonzalez followed the home run with two hits each in Games 5 and 6, and he scored the first run in the 2-0 clincher on a perfect hook slide around Posada.

 

I'm betting he carries that success into 2004!

[RossInfoMan]

I think a lot of people forget about that slide he made to score the first run in WS Game 6. It was really one of the best slides Ive seen, he barely touched the plate with his finger tips. When I saw it live, I thought he had clearly missed the plate, but the way he slid around Posada and then reached his hand over was amazing.

[Mephisto]

I think a lot of people forget about that slide he made to score the first run in WS Game 6.? It was really one of the best slides Ive seen, he barely touched the plate with his finger tips.? When I saw it live, I thought he had clearly missed the plate, but the way he slid around Posada and then reached his hand over was amazing.

I havent. Thats the best slide I've ever seen. At first I thought he was out, and that the marlins had gotten a huge break. It took me two replays to see he was really safe.

[hot4beckett]

That slider was the absolute best. Didn't forget it either.

[Shaq-Man]

"After the last game, I called my friend and he said everybody was in the streets. It was like a big party, like in Miami,'' Gonzalez said. "My father was in Venezuela, he called and said, 'It's like Marlins mania.' "

i love it