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NEW YORK— Marlins manager Jack McKeon on several occasions has been asked to draw parallels between taking over in 2003 and this season. One similarity keeps coming up: the catalyst atop the order.
The more McKeon watches Emilio Bonifacio, the more he's reminded of the impact Luis Castillo had on his 2003 World Series Championship club. Marlins fans have been fed that comparison since the club acquired Bonifacio from the Nationals in the Scott Olsen-Josh Willingham deal in 2008.
Bonifacio finally is living up to it.
"He's my man now," McKeon said before the Marlins-Mets makeup game Monday. "I lost Luis, so now he's my man. He listens and tries to do things you want him to do and he's been very successful at it. …This kid will be a very decent hitter, similar to Luis in time because he's identifying pitches now and taking pitches."
Bonifacio has been a decent hitter most of the season and especially of late, riding a career-best 17-game hitting streak after Monday's victory over the Mets. Over that stretch, Bonifacio is 26-66 (.394) with 17 runs, 10 walks and 12 strikeouts.
Thanks to his recent run, Bonifacio's average has climbed 31 points to .290. He's also seen a 35-point spike in his on-base percentage to .363. It's no coincidence the Marlins are 11-5 during Bonifacio's hitting streak.
"It's helped us win games and that's the important thing," said Bonifacio, 26, who missed one game July 8 for the birth of his son. "I haven't had the long term in mind, just going game to game and day to day."
McKeon loves that Bonifacio is working counts. Though his pitches per plate appearance are down from 4.08 in 2010 to 3.87 this season, he's got a 56 percent take rate. His career take rate entering this season was 51.5 percent.
Bonifacio also has become more comfortable hitting behind in the count. His strikeout rate is down. His walk rate is up. This season he's batting .258 (39-for-151) after falling behind 0-1. From 2008-10, his average in those situations was .202 (87-for-430).
"Everything was always there," President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest said. "The makeup was always there for Boni to be successful. If the on-base stays where it is now, there's no reason why he cannot graduate into more of a full-time role, and I know Jack is very positive he's going to be in there every day somewhere.
"When you look at the last couple of weeks, a lot of it has been because of Boni and his ability to get on base and make innings more interesting for us. You saw the offense pick itself up when Boni started to ignite at the top. All of a sudden, the offense looked a lot more productive."
Among McKeon's priorities when he took over was making sure the Marlins utilized Bonifacio's game-changing speed. Under Edwin Rodriguez, Bonifacio had four stolen bases in seven attempts. Under McKeon, he's been successful on 14 of 15 tries.
McKeon was sure Bonifacio would clear the 30-steal plateau before season's end, saying "he can go when he wants to go and if he doesn't go I make him go." Bonifacio's versatility gives the Marlins options moving forward. In the long run, McKeon sees him at second. He could be the every-day guy there as soon as 2012 if the Marlins don't re-sign free agent Omar Infante. Third base and center fielder also are possibilities depending on roster composition.
"Within the organzation there was always the thought this guy could be an every-day player," Beinfest said. "He needed to do what he's doing now, which is find a way to get on base. Jack has done a great job forcing him to believe he needs to find a way to get on and he's responded. He's a great kid. He's a winner. Great attitude and he wants to do well."
The more McKeon watches Emilio Bonifacio, the more he's reminded of the impact Luis Castillo had on his 2003 World Series Championship club. Marlins fans have been fed that comparison since the club acquired Bonifacio from the Nationals in the Scott Olsen-Josh Willingham deal in 2008.
Bonifacio finally is living up to it.
"He's my man now," McKeon said before the Marlins-Mets makeup game Monday. "I lost Luis, so now he's my man. He listens and tries to do things you want him to do and he's been very successful at it. …This kid will be a very decent hitter, similar to Luis in time because he's identifying pitches now and taking pitches."
Bonifacio has been a decent hitter most of the season and especially of late, riding a career-best 17-game hitting streak after Monday's victory over the Mets. Over that stretch, Bonifacio is 26-66 (.394) with 17 runs, 10 walks and 12 strikeouts.
Thanks to his recent run, Bonifacio's average has climbed 31 points to .290. He's also seen a 35-point spike in his on-base percentage to .363. It's no coincidence the Marlins are 11-5 during Bonifacio's hitting streak.
"It's helped us win games and that's the important thing," said Bonifacio, 26, who missed one game July 8 for the birth of his son. "I haven't had the long term in mind, just going game to game and day to day."
McKeon loves that Bonifacio is working counts. Though his pitches per plate appearance are down from 4.08 in 2010 to 3.87 this season, he's got a 56 percent take rate. His career take rate entering this season was 51.5 percent.
Bonifacio also has become more comfortable hitting behind in the count. His strikeout rate is down. His walk rate is up. This season he's batting .258 (39-for-151) after falling behind 0-1. From 2008-10, his average in those situations was .202 (87-for-430).
"Everything was always there," President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest said. "The makeup was always there for Boni to be successful. If the on-base stays where it is now, there's no reason why he cannot graduate into more of a full-time role, and I know Jack is very positive he's going to be in there every day somewhere.
"When you look at the last couple of weeks, a lot of it has been because of Boni and his ability to get on base and make innings more interesting for us. You saw the offense pick itself up when Boni started to ignite at the top. All of a sudden, the offense looked a lot more productive."
Among McKeon's priorities when he took over was making sure the Marlins utilized Bonifacio's game-changing speed. Under Edwin Rodriguez, Bonifacio had four stolen bases in seven attempts. Under McKeon, he's been successful on 14 of 15 tries.
McKeon was sure Bonifacio would clear the 30-steal plateau before season's end, saying "he can go when he wants to go and if he doesn't go I make him go." Bonifacio's versatility gives the Marlins options moving forward. In the long run, McKeon sees him at second. He could be the every-day guy there as soon as 2012 if the Marlins don't re-sign free agent Omar Infante. Third base and center fielder also are possibilities depending on roster composition.
"Within the organzation there was always the thought this guy could be an every-day player," Beinfest said. "He needed to do what he's doing now, which is find a way to get on base. Jack has done a great job forcing him to believe he needs to find a way to get on and he's responded. He's a great kid. He's a winner. Great attitude and he wants to do well."
Some high praise there.
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