Talking baseball. Cracking jokes. Telling stories from the motivational speaking tour.

Praising a Marlins team that enters the 2004 season as the defending World Series champion.

"I just make the lineup up. There's no need to stroke my own ego," the 73-year-old manager said Sunday, white smoke streaming from the right corner of his mouth. "The players deserve all the credit, all the attention. All I did was encourage them."

Plucked from retirement May 11 to inherit a 16-22 team going nowhere, the former Reds manager provided more than encouragement.

"He focused a lot on winning and believing in ourselves, trying to get guys to give a little bit more," catcher Mike Redmond said. "He said, 'Hey men, it's not going to be easy but you guys can play in October if you want.' "

And they did.

McKeon steered the Marlins to the franchise's second World Series title.

That has energized a skeptical South Florida fan base that turned its back on the Marlins after previous ownership dismantled the 1997 championship club.

Spring training ticket sales are up 53 percent, and as many as 60,000 fans are expected at the regular-season home opener and when the Marlins receive their 2003 championship rings.

Florida drew an average of 16,290 per game at Pro Player Stadium last year, and averaged 10,038 in 2002.

"I think people in South Florida are excited, but not so much around the country," said McKeon, who was voted the National League Manager of the Year. "That's fine if people feel that way.

"Nobody paid attention to this club last year and look what happened."

With an infusion of young talent and a proven core of veterans, Florida won 61 percent of its remaining 124 games after McKeon took over, and made the playoffs as the National League Wild Card.

The Marlins beat the Giants and Cubs in the playoffs before winning four of six games against the Yankees in the World Series.

"I didn't think this was ever something that we'd ever be able to do here in Florida," Redmond said. "It was looking pretty grim.

"We had that Mojo, or whatever you want to call it, last year. On paper we weren't the best team, but we were the team that got the breaks and took advantage of them."

This year's club closely resembles the 2003 version, which makes it unlike the last time the Marlins followed up a championship season.

There are some exceptions.

Catcher Ivan Rodriguez elected free agency and signed with the Tigers. Outfielder Juan Encarnacion was traded to the Dodgers and first baseman Derrek Lee was traded to the Cubs.

The trio accounted for 261 of the team's 751 runs last season and played an average of 151 games.

The bullpen also lost four relief pitchers, including Ugueth Urbina and Braden Looper.

Redmond and Ramon Castro are competing for the starting catcher's job. Armando Benitez is the team's new closer. Hee Seop Choi takes over at first base and the Korean should make up for some of the power lost with Lee's departure.

"All good clubs are going to lose players from time to time," McKeon said. "But we picked up some good players."

Starting pitcher A.J. Burnett will return sometime in May. His 2003 season ended after four starts and Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery.

"I'd take our five pitchers over anybody," Redmond said.

Burnett likely will replace veteran Darren Oliver in a rotation that rivals anything the Astros, Cubs or Red Sox have assembled.

World Series MVP Josh Beckett, Brad Penny, Dontrelle Willis and Carl Pavano went a combined 49-37 with a 3.77 ERA in 87 games and are all in their 20s.

"We won the World Series, but that's in the past," outfielder Miguel Cabrera said. "We need to do like last year, play hard and play for the team."

A look at the Florida Marlins

2003 RECORD/DIVISION FINISH: 91-71, 2nd in NL East.

MANAGER: Jack McKeon, second season with Marlins (75-49) and 14th overall (845-782).

KEY ADDITIONS: RP Armando Benitez (FA-Mariners), IF Hee Seop Choi (T-Cubs), SP Darren Oliver (FA-Rockies), IF Wil Cordero (FA-Expos), RP Mike Neu (T-Athletics).

KEY LOSSES: C Ivan Rodriguez (FA-Tigers), IF Derrek Lee (T-Cubs), SP Mark Redman (T-Athletics), OF Juan Encarnacion (T-Dodgers), RP Ugueth Urbina (FA), RP Braden Looper (FA-Mets), OF Todd Hollandsworth (FA-Cubs), RP Armando Almanza (FA-Braves), IF Andy Fox (FA-Expos), SP Rick Helling (FA-Twins), RP Vladimir Nunez (FA-Rockies).

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E-mail kkelly@enquirer.com

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