Marlins look to injury prone Jacobs for big numbers

5/9/2008 10:52 PM

By SARAH LARIMER
Associated Press Writer

MIAMI (AP) -When Mike Jacobs pulled up limping on his way to second base Wednesday, his thoughts weren't on a 2007 injury that sidelined him for five weeks or a finger sprain from which he only recently returned. He was focused on the ball he had sent to the center-field wall.

``I was just wondering where the ball hit,'' Jacobs said. ``Wondering if it went out.''

It didn't - at least that's what the umpires said, although the ball appeared to clear the wall and bounce back on replays. Jacobs had to settle for his ninth double of the season instead of his 10th home run before leaving the game with a strained left quad muscle.

This year, the 24-year-old Jacobs is batting .271 and leads the Florida Marlins with 24 RBIs. The first baseman is likely to remain an important component of a surprisingly potent Marlins lineup - if he can stay healthy.

Jacobs was absent from Florida's starting lineup Thursday, when the Marlins completed a three-game sweep of Milwaukee, but said he expected to return shortly.

``Bottom line - it's tough,'' Jacobs said. ``You don't ever want to miss time. You miss time, you can't put up numbers, you can't help your team out. You can't do anything sitting on the bench.''

Jacobs played in 114 games last season, batting .265 with 17 homers and 54 RBIs. A broken right thumb rendered him a spectator from May 14 to June 22, and this season a sprained middle finger forced him to miss a few games. During Jacobs' rookie season with the Marlins in 2006, he missed time because of an ankle injury.

``We knew that he needed to stay healthy; he could put up some big numbers,'' Marlins manager Fredi Gonazlez said. ``So far, his little injuries haven't been prolonged, haven't been like last year.''

The Marlins (21-14) have won five straight to take over the NL East lead, in part thanks to Florida's bats.

Along with Jacobs, Dan Uggla is batting .264, and Jorge Cantu, who replaced traded slugger Miguel Cabrera at third, is batting .287. Hanley Ramirez is batting .336 and Jeremy Hermida has a .294 batting average.

Jacobs has helped in Florida's about-face from last year's dismal finish, said Uggla, who noted last year's Marlins ``led the league in so many different categories that you don't need to lead categories in.''

``He's a tough out. He makes the other team nervous when he comes up to bat,'' Uggla said. ``He's going to come up with big hits, he's going to hit with power, he's going to drive in runs. He's a big part of this lineup.''

The Marlins lineup has combined for 45 home runs this season, including four back-to-back blasts. It is the same lineup that was shaken up this offseason when the Marlins sent lefty pitcher Dontrelle Willis and Cabrera to Detroit.

``One person doesn't make a whole team,'' Jacobs said. ``(Cabrera) didn't personally win every single game we won last year, nor did Dontrelle. They won with all of us in here.''