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Gonzalez Still Having Fun On Diamond

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By JOE HENDERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 8, 2008

It would have been understandable if Luis Gonzalez had called it a career. He had 18 big-league seasons in his rear-view mirror and there was basically nothing left he hadn't accomplished. He has a World Series ring and a place in the record books.

He has millions in the bank.

But he also still has the fire to play.

So at age 40, Gonzalez was looking to join a team for the season that will soon be upon us. He found one with the Florida Marlins. It's not quite all the way back home for the pride of Jefferson High, but it is close enough.

"This is a unique opportunity," he said. "Growing up in a Hispanic community like I did in West Tampa, it'll be good going to Miami. Hopefully some fans will want to come out and watch us play."

Well, the dozens who do venture to Dolphin Stadium most nights will be treated to everything Gonzalez can give them. That includes gut-busting hustle on all ground balls, even little taps back to the mound.

"Luis not only plays the game the way it should be played, but he also does things inside the clubhouse that are very good things to have," Marlins bench coach Carlos Tosca said. "With the youth we have, I told him it would be a very big boost for us to have him on the club. He is still a dangerous hitter.

"He has a real strong conviction to how the game should be played. He sees himself as a guy who can still play but can also make other contributions."

Tampa Connection

Tosca lives in Valrico, and his father was Gonzalez's pediatrician way back when. They were also together in Arizona for a couple of years while Tosca was a bench coach and Gonzalez was on his way to becoming a superstar. That connection paid off when the Marlins were looking to complete their roster.

They are in another rebuilding mode after trading stars Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to Detroit for prospects. Tosca figured having a role model like Gonzalez in the clubhouse would give the young Marlins a good example to follow.

"He had to kind of go through the whole process - he has been in both leagues, made position changes, made adjustments. He has a great ability to look at a situation and look at the fun side of it, but at the same time he is chastising you when he says it. That's a gift," Tosca said.

"Whether you want to call him the rudder or the mainsail, or whatever, I think guys like Luis are huge contributors to young teams. We're very fortunate to have him."

He won't be playing every day - the Marlins need to develop their young players - and that can be an adjustment. Playing time became an issue toward the end of last season in Los Angeles, when Gonzalez began to lose time to some of the Dodgers' younger players.

Teammate Jeff Kent questioned the dedication of those youngsters, and pretty soon it became an "old school-new school" deal. It became a bit messy.

"All the stuff last year was blown way out of proportion. There was no animosity. We all understood our roles. Just in midseason the organization wanted to go in a different direction," Gonzalez said.

"I understand my role with the Marlins. I'm 40 years old now, but I want to play and go out there and produce. I still want to play every day. But when I'm not in there, I'll be preparing the way you're supposed to and trying to be a positive example."

Looking Ahead

Gonzalez has never strayed far from his West Tampa roots and the role models he saw while growing up. His parents told him to watch players like Fred McGriff and Dave Magadan, so he would go to the park just to see them play and study the way they hit.

In a lot of ways, he is still that kid with a thirst for baseball that likely will never be quenched.

"Honestly, what I'd really love to do when I'm done is to be a roving guy for an organization, go to the minors, spend some time there and show them the right way to do things," he said.

"I've already beaten all the odds, people in West Tampa wondering how long I could play or even make it to the majors. I still feel like I have a lot left in the tank. I still love to put the uniform on. It's like showing kids there's hope out there. Even if you're not the most talented kid, if you work hard and do things the right way you can make it."

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