Back From Managing, Mordecai Ready to Help Marlins

Lakeland Ledger ^ | 9-20-05 | Hal Bock

[FlJoePa]

Back from managing, Mordecai ready to help Marlins

By HAL BOCK AP Sports Writer NEW YORK In his first year as a manager, Mike Mordecai took a little infield practice and a little batting practice, just for fun, just to show the kids in the New York-Penn League that he could still do it at age 37.

"I told my players I still felt like a player, just off the field," Mordecai said. "I told them, `I'm one of you.' I did it just in case. You never know."

Now, after spending the season at Class A Jamestown, Mordecai knows.

Summoned by the Florida Marlins last Monday, Mordecai will add to his pension rights by about $35,000 by being on a big league roster for three weeks. That seemed like a no-brainer.

"What businessman wouldn't do that?" he said. "Sit on the bench for three weeks and get $35,000."

Not so fast. Mordecai won't spend all that time on the bench. He arrived in the middle of the NL wild-card race and when Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo tweaked his hamstring Sunday night, it meant Mordecai could get significant playing time in significant games as the season winds down.

Manager Jack McKeon said he wouldn't hesitate to use the minor league manager and former major league infielder.

"I've got a second baseman with a bad hamstring," McKeon said. "We'll see."

Sure enough, Mordecai was in the Marlins' starting lineup against the New York Mets Tuesday night, batting seventh and playing second base.

So how will Mordecai handle it after not playing since last year?

"I'll try to help you win a ballgame," he said. "I'll take an extra base. I'll play like I can. I haven't played for a while, but I won't be nervous. I'll do whatever I can do, catch a ball, throw guys out, get a pitch to hit."

That said, Mordecai is rooting for a rapid recovery by Castillo.

"I hope Luis can get on the field," he said. "He gives us a better chance to win. We all know that."

Mordecai figured his playing career was over after 10 full seasons and a .245 batting average with Atlanta, Montreal and Florida. He never played more than 109 games and never batted more than 254 times.

He was a career utility player but he had his moments, including a big three-run double at Wrigley Field that helped sink the Chicago Cubs in Game 6 of the NLCS in 2003, when the Marlins went on to win the World Series.

He was eminently available after batting .226 in 69 games last season with Florida. The phone never rang. But the Marlins had this managerial opening at Jamestown and Florida GM Larry Beinfest offered Mordecai a chance.

"I never asked for this," Mordecai said, looking around the Marlins clubhouse. "Larry said, `If we need help, I'm going to call you.' Whatever their decision, it was all right with me. I never had the overwhelming desire to get back on the field and play. I wasn't offered a job. That's why I was managing."

His first year as a manager was sometimes a challenge. Jamestown finished 31-45.

"We started good and finished bad," Mordecai said. "I enjoyed it a lot.

"But I know what Jack is going through right now in his office, trying to figure out a lineup, who to play, where to bat each guy."

Will he manage again next season? Mordecai isn't sure.

"I'm keeping my options open," he said. "I don't close any doors."

[FlJoePa]

Classy move by the Marlins to sign him so he meets the pension minimums. Ironic that they now need him. Hope he gets a couple of hits tonight.

[twin2]

I always liked Morty, I'm watching him play tonight. He'll make a good manager one day, the guys in the club house have respect for him.

[MikeD]

I remember he was a decent bench player/pinch hitter for the Braves a few years back. Hit a few pinch-hit/game winning homers.