Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Brewers rookie Hardy learning on the job
MILWAUKEE — No one ever told J.J. Hardy being a major league baseball player would be easy. He knew that went without saying.
It would be hard enough for the average 22-year-old getting his first sip of java in the big leagues to adjust to his new surroundings. For Hardy, the Milwaukee Brewers' starting rookie shortstop, it's really been a mind-numbing experience.
Four years ago, Hardy was a recent high-school graduate when he was drafted by Milwaukee in the second round of the June free-agent draft. Last week, he was the first Brewers rookie to make his major league debut in the opening day starting lineup since future Hall of Famer Paul Molitor in 1978. Now, Hardy is seven games into his major league career after the Brewers' 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night at Miller Park.
Is Hardy getting more adjusted to his surroundings every day? Without question, he said. Is he the player he wants to be? Not even close.
"I think I'm still making adjustments I need to make, and I think it's going to go on for a little while," Hardy said. "You're going to be making adjustments all the time, but you can't make the adjustments up here if you're not here. So every day I go out there and do what I've got to do."
The most important thing Hardy needs to do, said Brewers manager Ned Yost, is not to get too discouraged when dealing with the frustrations that come with being a rookie. Right now, that means working through a slump at the plate.
Entering Tuesday night's game, Hardy was batting .167 (3-for-18) with a double and two RBI. He had a solid debut in Milwaukee's season-opening 9-2 victory over Pittsburgh on April 4 by smacking a two-run single in a five-run sixth inning rally that put the Brewers in control. Hardy has struggled since, including an 0-for-4 showing in Milwaukee's 6-2 victory over the Pirates on Monday.
However, Yost isn't too concerned. He has stressed to Hardy that it's just as important to contribute in other ways. Hardy did just that in the first inning Tuesday by nabbing a soft line drive off the bat of Pittsburgh first baseman Daryle Ward that snuffed a two-out, bases-loaded threat. Hardy also had an inning-ending putout in the second.
"Statistics are for the fans to look at and talk about. I just tell our guys to do something every day to help us win," Yost said. "I tell J.J. and our younger guys you're helping us every day. You're doing something, so don't sweat the small stuff."
Still, Hardy is eager to make an impact in a Brewers lineup that includes veterans like left fielder Carlos Lee, right fielder Geoff Jenkins and catcher and West Salem, Wis., native Damian Miller.
Hardy had been successful at every level of the Brewers' minor-league system. He batted .293 for High Desert (Calif.), Milwaukee's high Class A farm club, in 2002. He batted. 279 with 26 doubles and 12 home runs for Class AA Huntsville (Ala.) in 2003 and was named to the Southern League's mid-season All-Star team. And Hardy was batting .277 with four home runs and 20 RBI in 26 games at Class AAA Indianapolis last year before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.
Even though Hardy has yet to find his groove with the Brewers, he believes in time he will.
"That (reassuring yourself) is something you do at every level. You go through slumps and you've got to get through them," Hardy said. "You have to have confidence in yourself and you can't get down on yourself. If you get down on yourself, things are just going to get worse.
"I'm not hitting great right now, but at the same time I have to stay positive and go out there and make the (right) adjustments."
Hardy is willing to do whatever it takes to improve. As a kid, he had a pretty good role model in Cal Ripken Jr., the Baltimore Orioles' Hall of Fame shortstop. He's watched film of Brewers Hall of Fame shortstop Robin Yount. And he's willing to listen to Yost, the Brewers' coaching staff or any teammate who offers a suggestion.
"I think what everyone seems to tell me — and it's always the same — is to just go out there and play your game because it is baseball," Hardy said. "It's still the same game; nothing really changes."
The only changes Hardy wants to make are ones that will make him an even better player. He's enjoyed his first seven games with the Brewers, and he's optimistic the rest will be just as enjoyable.
"Every day I think about it (playing in the major leagues), and it's an honor to be out here," Hardy said. "The way everything has gone for me the last four years, I couldn't ask for anything else."
Kirk Bey can be reached at (608) 791-8414, or at kbey@lacrossetribune.com
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