Anderson marked by desire

Hustle, versatility attract Rays after he gets squeezed out in Philly.

By ROGER MILLS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 26, 2003

ST. PETERSBURG -- It was the spring of 1998 and second baseman Marlon Anderson, along with Phillies teammates Wayne Gomes and Wendell Magee, sauntered to Lou's Tattoos in Clearwater.

Three baseballs ensnared in a barbed-wire wrap around the right biceps became the symbol of their friendship and their commitment to the game, regardless of where they played.

Five years later, Anderson is with the Rays. The tattoo still is there, as is the desire to get everything he can from the game.

One week into spring training, the Montgomery, Ala., native has made it clear the competition with incumbent Brent Abernathy for the starting second base job will be a good one.

"I'm going to go out there and play hard every day and that's what they're going to get from me," said Anderson, who signed with the Rays as a free agent a little more than a month ago. "I'm a guy with athletic ability who knows the game and knows how to play the game. The one thing I know how to do is to play hard."

Abernathy, who played 117 games, hit .242 with 40 RBIs and 10 stolen bases last season, isn't going to concede, but Tampa Bay could not resist the chance to see how, and where, Anderson's athletic versatility would fit in.

"We like his makeup, and he's always come across as a competitor and somebody who could fit in with what we're trying to do," general manager Chuck LaMar said. "He's the type of guy we've always wanted on the club. We like him especially from the offensive side of things. I think he can swing the bat. He had a breakout year a few years ago in Philadelphia and I think he's very capable of having a similar breakout year here this year.

"You don't bring in a Marlon Anderson to create competition. There may be competition when he gets here, but you bring him in here because you believe he can help this ballclub."

A Phillies second-round draft pick in 1995, Anderson emerged as one of organization's best prospects in 1998, setting Triple-A Scranton records for hits (176), runs (104), triples (14), extra-base hits (62) and total bases (284).

He spent the 1999 season in the major leagues and made 121 starts at second base. But for a short stint in Scranton the next season, it has been his home ever since. In the past two seasons Anderson has played 292 games, and he had 140 starts at second base last season.

But the Phillies, whose active offseason saw the arrival of first baseman Jim Thome from the Indians and third baseman David Bell from the Giants, had no room for Anderson.

Gomes, who also landed with the Rays and is in an uphill battle to make the team, said he wasn't surprised by what happened to his friend.

"It's the business of the game," Gomes said. "When you get the wrong people in an organization who don't like something about you, that's all it takes. It just takes one guy with a strong voice and then you're out of here. There might be four or five guys who think you have the world of potential but they may not have as strong a voice as that one dude."

Anderson, 29, holds no grudges.

"It's counterproductive," said Anderson, whose 20 errors last season were second to Alfonso Soriano (23) in the majors. "Second of all, I'm very blessed to be out of there. I'm blessed to be in a situation where I'm somewhere where they want me. I'm somewhere where they like the things that I do and they are happy to have me on the team.

"This is about opportunity. There's a new coaching staff here, a new attitude and they had interest in me. They talked to us and we talked to them, and then when I knew (manager) Lou (Piniella) was coming here, I said I wanted to speak to the manager and see what his take was on the whole thing."

Anderson said this offseason was particularly eye-opening.

"I learned a lot," he said. "First of all, you have to look out for yourself. You can come in with an open mind that things are going to be done the right way. As long as you do this, things will be done fairly. Well, it's not that at all. It's a dog eat dog world. You have to do things right, but at the same time, you have to take care of yourself."

One thing the Rays know they have in Anderson is a steady bat. In 2001, Anderson's offense came alive. He had career highs in home runs (11), doubles (30) and RBIs (61). Last season, Anderson's average dropped from .293 to .258, but he added 30 doubles and a career-best six steals.

"As a hitter, I think you get smarter and understand more of what you have to learn and master," Anderson said. "You understand the flow of the game, the speed of the game, you understand those things. I go out there and I'm relaxed. I'm having fun. I know where I'm supposed to be and what I'm supposed to do. I'm at a comfort level now where I understand the game of baseball, and that's where you have to get to in order to have consistent success."

The Rays believe Anderson has the chance to play a role similar to that of Mark McLemore, who played for Piniella the past few seasons in Seattle.

McLemore played more than one position, started and came off the bench.

"I want to make this a better team," Anderson said. "I can only do that by playing the way I play and doing the things I know how to do. If I do that, I think I'll have success this year, numbers-wise and we'll have success wins-wise."

Gomes said his friend will put everything on the line.

"He makes all the plays you need to get from a second baseman," Gomes said. "He runs hard, is a great athlete and he plays hard. Every single day he wants to play."