Fredi Gonzalez, who has said managers make a difference in only five games or so a year, assuredly knows the Marlins are winning more because of his players.
Still, players have noticed positive changes in Gonzalez in his second year. They see a manager who is more demanding and stricter (but still well-liked by players) and more aggressive.
''He's holding us more accountable for our actions and holding us to a higher standard this year,'' first baseman Mike Jacobs said, adding that was ''absolutely'' needed. ''When your manager expects more out of you, it brings more out of you.'' Agent Matt Sosnick, who has several Marlins, said players told him ''it's a more disciplined and structured environment'' now.
The changes began with Gonzalez banning loud clubhouse music, emphasizing defense this spring, and unlike last year, requiring about 30 minutes of defensive drills before most home games. Although Florida still led baseball in errors through Thursday, don't blame preparation. With Gonzalez setting the tone, ''there's less tolerance of stupid mistakes, mental breakdowns, lack of hustle,'' catcher Matt Treanor said.
Some internally said Gonzalez might have been too hands-off last year compared with Joe Girardi. But Josh Willingham said Gonzalez now ''keeps more tabs on what's going on.'' Others also credit the elimination of infantile behavior to Luis Gonzalez's arrival.
Last summer, one team official said he wished Fredi Gonzalez got angrier with his players more often. (Obviously, that's not an issue now.) ''I don't know where this nice guy stuff came from,'' he said earlier this year. ``I don't want to be known as Attila The Hun, either.''
In fact, his engaging, communicative style is an asset. One example: After Atlanta's John Smoltz told Gonzalez he likes Andrew Miller's stuff, Gonzalez relayed that to Miller, whose confidence was boosted. ''He genuinely cares about his players, and you want to play for somebody like that,'' Willingham said.
Armed with a better bench and bullpen, Gonzalez has been more aggressive. ''It seems we've already hit and run as much as we did all last year,'' Cody Ross said. ``He has a better grasp on the team this year.''
Even Gonzalez admitted last week, ''I feel more comfortable around the team'' now. ''Fredi,'' Marlins president David Samson told fans this spring, ``will be with us for a very long time.''
CHATTER
• Hanley Ramirez would have welcomed a no-trade clause in his new six-year, $70 million contract extension, but the Marlins likely will not grant one. ESPN analyst and former Mets general manager Steve Phillips -- calling Ramirez ''the National League version of Alex Rodriguez'' -- said off-air Ramirez likely would have commanded $18 million-$20 million annually as a free agent after 2011.
• Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he never objected to the Dolphins raiding his organization for coaches and front-office types ''because if you help people take advantage of an opportunity, that helps you get somebody else that's good, too. I was proud of everybody'' Miami hired. Jones, incidentally, planned to deal only tight end Anthony Fasano to Miami for a fourth-rounder, but linebacker Akin Ayodele was added in the last 10 minutes because the Cowboys -- who signed Zach Thomas -- wanted to dump Ayodele's salary and thought he didn't make enough plays.
• Ex-Miami Northwestern teammates Jacory Harris and Aldarius Johnson are so in sync that Harris admits there were times he flashed secret hand signals to Johnson during UM spring practice and identified plays with ''different names'' than UM coaches used so they would be more ''identifiable'' to him.
• Before speaking in Broward on Friday, FSU coach Bobby Bowden, 78, said he plans to coach at least two years, but retirement ''could'' happen after 2009. (An FSU official said belief there is that there is a good chance of that.) ''I haven't set a time,'' Bowden saidFSU must pay offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher $2.5 million if he hasn't been offered the head coaching job before Jan. 10, 2011.
• Several associates now fully expect Alonzo Mourning to play next season, barring a health issue. Random Zo factoid: According to opensecrets.org, he is the only local pro team athlete who contributed to presidential candidates -- $2,300 to Barack Obama, $1,000 to Hillary Clinton (both in '07).
