Florida's Dan Uggla staying focused as a run producer: Marlins second baseman has put up impressive numbers his first two full seasons, but he still focuses on improvement and consistency

Baseball Digest, June, 2008 by Patrick Dorsey

MARLINS MANAGER FREDI Gonzalez made a claim late last March that was, well, a little out there. "What he's done in the last two years," Gonzalez said, "if he does that another 10 years, we'll be talking about a pretty good career--maybe Hall of Fame-type numbers."

"He" is second baseman Dan Uggla.

As in ... Hall of Famer Dan Uggla?

"I don't know about that," Uggla said with a laugh. "But to be able to stay healthy and put up those numbers for 10 years would be a lot of fun, that's for sure."

So maybe Gonzalez is getting a little ahead of himself. After all, this is just Uggla's third year.

But already, the powerful 28-year-old is well ahead of expectations, so much so that Gonzalez said, "I don't expect anything more out of him," instead wanting Uggla to "just go out and do what he can do."

PRODUCING NUMBERS

Even veteran Marlins outfielder Luis Gonzalez, who knew the then-minor leaguer while both were in the Arizona organization a few years ago, said he was surprised with the former Rule 5 draft pick's production.

Production like his 31 home runs, 88 RBI and 113 runs scored in 2007, similar to the stats he posted a year before.

Also a surprise: those numbers came in a relatively disappointing year for Uggla.

Uggla only batted .245 last season, down from his .282 rookie-year average, which fell from the .307 midseason mark that got him named to the 2006 National League All-Star team.

"That's just from immaturity," 40-year-old outfielder Luis Gonzalez said. "He's growing up now ... I think he probably got late into the year trying to hit 30 homers and took a little bit away from his batting average."

Uggla hit just .214 last September, his worst monthly average.

So maybe Fredi Gonzalez could see a little more out of Uggla.

"I guess there's room to improve there," the manager said.

"(Hitting coach Jim Presley) and I have been in his ear about making contact, especially in situations with men on third, less than two outs."

Uggla, too, said he's focusing on plate discipline, trying to cut down swinging on two-strike counts in certain scenarios.

But his overall game, he said, is staying the same: Power--"That's a big part of my game, it's something I want to continue to get better in," he said--along with knocking in runs.

"He's a run producer," Luis Gonzalez said.

STAYING FOCUSED

Uggla even said he's keeping his leadership responsibilities the same, deferring to veterans like Gonzalez and new left-hander Mark Hendrickson, despite being one of the longest-tenured Marlins.

As for the idea that he won't see as many hittable pitches with All-Star Miguel Cabrera gone to the Tigers? Overblown, Uggla said.

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"When it comes down to it, a pitcher's going to throw a pitch to get you out, and you have to realize that each team's going to pitch you a certain way," Uggla said.

"All the stuff on who's hitting behind you and who's hitting in front of you, it plays a little bit of a part, but you can't just base your approach off that because you'll end up getting beat in the end."

And that's no way to put up Hall of Fame numbers.

By PATRICK DORSEY

The Miami Herald

Dan Uggla's Offensive Numbers in First Two Major League Seasons

Year    Team     AB     R     H    2B   3B   HR   RBI   SB   CS   BB

2006   Marlins   611   105   172   26   7    27   90    6    6    48
2007   Marlins   632   113   155   49   3    31   88    2    1    68

Year   SO     BA    OBP    SLG

2006   123   .282   .339   .480
2007   167   .245   .326   .479