Fort Myers Miracle Notebook

With an injury plagued 2003 behind him, versatile Doug Deeds thriving

All Doug Deeds knew is that the bottom of his right hand hurt. Bad.

Not all the time, mind you, only when he grabbed a baseball bat.

Which not only made it hurt, but made it frustrating too.

Deeds couldn't figure it out. So the outfielder went to the visit the Minnesota Twins' doctors while in spring training with the Twins last spring.

Twice the doctors told him he'd suffered damage to the soft tissue in the palm of his hand.

Twice he followed doctor's orders and did all the physical therapy. He attempted a pair of comebacks last year, once in extended spring training and again with the Miracle late in the 2003 season.

Both times, however, his "comeback" only ended with more pain.

"It was one of those things where I could swing a couple times and nothing would go wrong," said Deeds, 23. "I'd make a couple of comebacks and then it would flare up and I couldn't swing for three or four days. The bottom of my fingers would go numb."

It wasn't until he was diagnosed correctly — one of the bones in his hands was fractured, and each time he swung before it properly healed he risked re-injuring it — and underwent surgery that Deeds was able to continue his ascension through the Twins' minor league system.

"It was the first summer I'd never really played since I was six," said Deeds, who played in just five games with the (Gulf Coast League Twins) last year, getting five hits in 15 at bats. "It was a learning experience."

And Deeds must have learned a lot. While the Miracle have struggled at the plate during the season's first-half, Deeds has thrived wherever manager Jose Marzan has put him.

"He's versatile," Marzan said. "I could bat him lead-off if I wanted to."

Instead he's opted to put Deeds in the middle of the order, where he's developed into the team's most consistent run-producer.

Deeds entered Monday night's game against Daytona leading the team in slugging percentage (.488) while batting .299 with a team-high 20 RBIs and a Florida State League-leading six triples.

"I've never hit that many triples in my life, but I'll take them," Deeds said. "I'm usually a doubles guy. I have gap power."

Yet Deeds has benefited in a way from his team's offensive woes. The FSL is a pitcher's paradise, and outfielders play extremely shallow, figuring the ball won't get by them.

"If I were playing us, I'd be shallow too," Marzan admitted.

But Deeds has been making opponents pay for their aggressiveness, driving the ball to the deepest part of the parks and hustling his way to third. He's not exactly a speed guy (he has four stolen bases in seven attempts so far this year) but he's fast enough.

"I've had a couple of close calls (with homers)," Deeds said. "But I just get out and try to cut the bases right."

ETC.: Former Miracle pitcher Scott Baker, who was promoted to Class AA New Britain on May 16, didn't take long to impress his new teammates. Baker pitched a seven-inning one-hitter in his first start.

The team is continuing to take suggestions on nicknames for its new mascot, a large orange dog that kind of looks like the Phillie Phanatic. Assistant general manager Andrew Seymour hasn't put a deadline on when he would officially name the mascot, but said it will be sooner than later.

One of the decent suggestions?

Barky Anderson.