Posted on Thu, Aug. 28, 2008

Chicago Cubs’ DeRosa learned much during stint with Texas Rangers

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Mark DeRosa has hit a career-high 18 home runs for the Cubs. Getty

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CHICAGO — When Mark DeRosa arrives at Wrigley Field for home games, he parks in the players’ parking lot, which is about a football field away from a statue of Ernie Banks, Mr. Cub.

In the compact Cubs locker room, there is not much room for a statue, but if there were, there is little doubt who would be immortalized in front of DeRosa’s locker — Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo.

"I will say forever that I will attribute all my success to Rudy," DeRosa said before a recent home game. "Without question, everything I do — everything I’ve done since leaving Texas — has been a direct reflection of what I learned there."

In his second season with the Cubs, DeRosa is doing plenty. In 2006, his second and final season with the Rangers, DeRosa had his best year as a pro with 13 home runs, 74 RBI and 78 runs scored.

With more than a month left in this season, however, he has established career highs with 18 home runs, 78 RBI and 87 runs scored. And last weekend, he became the first Cub in 17 years to hit home runs in four consecutive games — a feat that surprised even DeRosa.

"I can’t explain it, to be honest," DeRosa said. "I don’t know. I’m getting pitches to drive, and I’m not missing them."

DeRosa has been everything, and more, the Cubs hoped he would be when they signed him to a three-year, $13 million contract in November 2006.

The Rangers could have used DeRosa’s bat and versatility, but losing him was not a matter of misjudging talent. DeRosa wanted to play the infield every day, but with Ian Kinsler, Michael Young and Hank Blalock, the Rangers were set.

The Cubs gave DeRosa one more year and about $8 million more than the Rangers offered, so for him, it was a no-brainer. But he also knows that the Rangers dramatically increased his value and, besides Jaramillo, he credits former manager Buck Showalter for helping to advance his career.

When Showalter was fired after the 2006 season, he was not popular with many players, but DeRosa was and is a big fan.

"You come across certain guys in your career that change your career and can impact it in a huge way," DeRosa said. "Buck Showalter gave me an opportunity to play, and Rudy Jaramillo changed my entire philosophy. I didn’t even have one before I met him. ... Those two guys are very dear to my heart."

Showalter was the first manager to make DeRosa, who spent parts of seven years in Atlanta, an everyday player. DeRosa’s 520 plate appearances in 2006 were more than 200 more than his previous high, and he hit .296. In the previous three seasons, he had hit .243, .239 and .263, respectively.

DeRosa played six positions and designated hitter for Showalter, and although he has played mostly at second base for the Cubs, his versatility and hitting make him valuable.

He has also played third base and right and left field in Chicago this season.

"He’s a Gold Glove guy at third," Cubs GM Jim Hendry said. "But he’s played well defensively at all four spots. I think we went a stretch of 27 days when he didn’t play the outfield, then he went out there and on the first day, he made two good plays."

The Cubs were 30 games worse than .500 the year before DeRosa and premium free agents Alfonso Soriano and Ted Lilly arrived. They won a division title last season, but lost in the first round of the playoffs.

This season, however, they are competing for the best record in baseball, and the 100-year drought of not winning a World Series at least has a chance to end.

"I had a ton of fun [with the Rangers]," DeRosa said. "I watch their games constantly and it’s fun to watch those guys that I got so close to. But it’s amazing being here, playing in this historic ballpark and getting the opportunity to put on this uniform. I don’t take it for granted. I know this is a good point in my career and an opportunity to do something special."