Wake-Up Call: Coghlan's versatility cleared path to the big leagues

The Wake-Up Call greets you each weekday with news, views and a few Tampa Bay area sports offerings to anticipate for the day and night. We encourage suggestions and contributions.

Good morning!

For nearly a dozen years - from Little League to East Lake High School to Ole Miss to every step of the minor leagues - Chris Coghlan worked to become a proficient infielder. He mastered the hot shots hit down to third base. He became a more-than-adequate second baseman.

On May 6, while playing for the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs, Coghlan was summoned to the office for great news. Within days, he would be called up to the Florida Marlins. He was going to the big leagues.

One more thing.

"We want you to try left field.''

The last time Coghlan had played in the outfield?

He was 12.

It wasn't particularly surprising on Monday afternoon when Coghlan learned he was named National League Rookie of the Year. After all, he batted .321 to rank sixth in the NL. His average was .372 after the All-Star Break, when he collected an outrageous 113 hits during that juncture.

Postseason honors weren't shocking.

But how he got there?

Unlikely.

And pretty inspirational.

The Marlins wanted Coghlan to get some work in left field before the call-up. "It was one game,'' he said. "The ball never got hit my way. Not once.''

The next night, he was at Coors Field, starting in left field for the Marlins against the Colorado Rockies.

What gave the Marlins confidence that Coghlan could handle the challenge?

"Our player development guys always said, 'This guy is a baseball guy,' '' Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez told the Miami Herald. "They were right.''

Coghlan may never be confused for a Gold Glove outfielder. But he made the adjustment effectively - only five errors - and two-time All-Star Dan Uggla remained at second base.

With Uggla's future now in question - the budget-conscious Marlins might unload the high-priced player - Coghlan might get another opportunity at second base.

"Hopefully, we can retain Danny,'' said Coghlan, 24. "If there is a change, I'd like to be looked at, given some consideration. But it's up to whatever is best for the organization.''

Even if Coghlan's left-field stint ultimately goes down as a one-season experiment, it still will be remembered with fondness by the Marlins' brass.

"A lot of people think I'm pretty bad out there,'' Coghlan said with a laugh. "I don't think I'm bad out there at all. It was a situation I embraced. Whatever would get me to the big leagues the fastest and help the team, I was all for it, even if that meant playing a position I had (rarely) played before in my life.''

Cameron Maybin fell short of expectations in the early season. Cody Ross moved from right field to center. Jeremy Hermida went from left field to right. Suddenly, the Marlins had a spot for the hot-hitting Coghlan.

If only he could play left field.

If only he could embrace the demanding adjustment.

He could.

"Confidence is such a huge thing,'' Coghlan said. "When you get up to the big leagues, there are so many aspects - media, the travel arrangements are different, it takes a while to know when to hit in the cage, when to work out, what it's like to be in a different city.

"All those things go into adjusting to major-league life. Plus, the talent you're facing, it's a lot better. If you believe in what you can do, it's a matter of getting comfortable.''

Coghlan maintained that unshakable belief - even when asked to change positions, even when being shifted to leadoff hitter, another unfamiliar role.

That flexibility alone made it a memorable rookie season.

Coghlan's offensive output assured it would be remembered with the highest honor for a first-season player - Rookie of the Year.

Gruden's 2010 home: The booth?

Former Bucs coach Jon Gruden has agreed to a multiyear contract extension with ESPN and he'll have an expanded role, continuing his "Monday Night Football'' analyst duties, and also serving on ESPN Radio's coverage of the Rose Bowl and BCS Championship Game.

Gruden has been linked to potential job openings with the University of Louisville, Notre Dame, the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys (are we forgetting anyone?).

It was widely assumed that Gruden's ESPN job was a one-season lark before he returned to somebody's sideline next season. What to think now?

A few weeks ago, Jay Gruden was asked about the future of his brother, Jon.

"The trick is whether or not he'll want to go back and deal with all that stress, all the media and fans bashing him if you don't get a first down on the first third down,'' said Jay Gruden, who is offensive coordinator with the United Football League's Florida Tuskers. "That was a stressful job he was doing. Now he's into a job where he can have a pretty fun life.''

He also has the luxury of time.

Gruden is 46. He's still being paid by the Bucs. He's a television star. His oldest son, Deuce, has two more seasons of high-school football at Carrollwood Day School. He gets time with his three sons, watching them grow up.

Whenever Gruden wants a return to football, some team will hire him - guaranteed. He could work in TV three more years and he still wouldn't be at his 50th birthday.

Unless the job is perfect, unless he can't live without a immediate return to coaching, what's the rush?

Brown-out in Cleveland

Speaking of "Monday Night Football,'' if you turned in a bit early and missed the Baltimore Ravens-Cleveland Browns tilt, here are two words:

Great decision.

Ravens 16, Browns 0.

The Browns, who almost certainly are the NFL's worst team, managed just 160 yards of offense. Their deepest penetration was Baltimore's 45-yard line.

"I was part of a team like this in 1986 when I was with Tampa Bay,'' said ESPN postgame commentator Steve Young, reflecting on a 2-14 season with Coach Leeman Bennett's Bucs. "I remember thinking to myself when I got really depressed, 'Maybe I should go to law school. Maybe I should do something else.'

"It reminds me of what's going on with the Browns. You can not say enough about the disaster that is happening in Cleveland right now.''

McCluster honored by SEC

It probably was a foregone conclusion, but Ole Miss running back Dexter McCluster (Largo) was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week, following his 282-yard rushing performance on Saturday against Tennessee. It was a school record and the 11th-best rushing game ever by an SEC back.

Kuzdale comes up big

Charleston Southern defensive back Chris Kuzdale (Plant) was named Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Week. He had two interceptions and three pass break-ups in helping a 30-27 overtime victory against Stony Brook. His second interception was on the first play of overtime, giving Charleston Southern the opportunity at locking down a win. Kuzdale had a pass break-up on third-and-goal from the 1-yard line that forced Stony Brook to kick a game-tying field goal in the fourth quarter and prevented a go-ahead touchdown.

Huge game for Waggoner

Dartmouth University freshman strong safety Garrett Waggoner (Sarasota Riverview) was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week after registering a career-high nine tackles in the Big Green's 14-7 loss against Brown University.

In the final seconds of regulation, Waggoner ran across the field to bat the ball away from a wide-open receiver near the goal line, preventing Brown from wrapping up the game.

Birthday wishes

Happy birthday to Tampa native Jerome James, a 7-foot-1, 280-pound NBA center who has yet to play for his current team, the Chicago Bulls, as he recovers from a torn right Achilles tendon. James, who played at Florida A&M, was a second-round pick of the Sacramento Kings in 1998. He also played for the Seattle SuperSonics and New York Knicks. Today, James turns 33.

The Answer Man

Here's the answer to Monday's trivia question:

Greg Allen holds Florida State University's single-game rushing record - 322 yards against Western Carolina in 1981.

Tuesday trivia

Here's our daily sports trivia question, featuring a Tampa Bay/Florida spin. Try your luck by commenting below.

Chris Coghlan is the third graduate of a Tampa Bay area high school to earn a Rookie of the Year award in major-league baseball. Who are the other two?

Check for the answer in Wednesday's Wake-Up Call.