(because we’re so very tired of using the same photos of Jack McKeon in unflattering polyester, here’s one of his lovely daughter, Nancy, instead)
With Florida having dropped 15 of their last 17, few are hailing Jack McKeon’s ability to light a fire under young players. A week after Twitter-happy OF Logan Morrison was banished to the minor leagues for unspecified attitude issues hitting .249, McKeon turned his attention to the Marlins pitching staff, who were victimized to the tune of 8 opposition HR’s during the Fish’s 5 game roadtrip, quotes provided by the Sun-Sentinel’s Juan C. Rodriguez :
“I would think we’re a better team,” McKeon said. “At least I figured we were a better team. Some of these guys better wake up. This is crunch time. This is the time of year you better be a salesman and sell your wares, show how good you are, show how bad you want to be a major league player. It’s not a picnic and they’re not on scholarship. Sometimes we treat them that way.”
Mike Stanton further legitimized his pursuit of a home run title. In the fourth inning of Sunday’s 4-3 loss to San Diego, he lined a Cory Luebke pitch off an advertisement on the facing of the second deck in left field for his 30th homer.
“You knew eventually he was going to do that,” McKeon said. “He’s better than that and he’ll hit more than that on certain years unless pitchers make an adjustment. I imagine he’d sure as hell like to hit against our staff. They’d get behind and lay them in there.
“Ridiculous. I’m embarrassed, and they should be, too, because they’re better than that … I’m up to my ears with it.”