Giles becoming one of NL’s best

by Mark Bowman   --   MLB.com  --  May 19,  2003

Marcus Giles didn't know a whole lot about Glenn Hubbard's personality and Hubbard certainly didn't know much about this young 19-year-old kid,
who had been the Braves 53rd-round draft selection just a few months earlier.

But the first words ever spoken between these two men couldn't have been more appropriate.

"So I guess you're the one, who is supposed to make me a Gold Glove winner," the highly confident Giles said to Hubbard during the Braves Instructional
League in 1997.

Hubbard's eyes widened and he said, "I can't do it. But you can make it happen."

Those words certainly didn't intimidate the ever-dedicated Giles, who is the brother of Pirates slugger Brian Giles. Throughout his life, he has always been
viewed as the little man, who has had to prove that he belongs.

Hubbard, who many consider to be the best defensive second baseman in Atlanta history , and the younger Giles have spent countless hours, since their first meeting, developing the gutsy kid's defensive skills and at the same time forming a bond that will likely last a lifetime.

"I'd say he's like a best friend," Giles said of Hubbard, who currently is the Braves first base coach. "He's never told me, 'No'. He's always worked as long as
we've needed. His knowledge and effort have been invaluable. I can't say enough about him. I can tell you I wouldn't be where I am today without him."

Where Giles is today is a long way from where he was during his early days in the Braves organization. After he became a late-round selection in 1996,
top scout, Bill Lajoie, projected he'd never make it to Double-A.

"I just laughed at that, because I had never even heard of Bill Lajoie," Giles said. "But I did know that he wasn't the one out there hitting 0-2 fastballs and
taking grounders every day."

It's the fact that Giles has been able to shrug off this type of criticism that has allowed him to find the success he has this year with a Braves team that
has won 27 of its past 32 games. He ranks third in the National League in batting average (.338) and second on the team in slugging percentage (.576).
Giles' achievements, which have only been overmatched in the Atlanta clubhouse by Gary Sheffield, have made him a legitimate candidate for this year's
NL All-Star team.

"Right now he's playing better than anyone I've seen," Braves veteran leader John Smoltz said when asked if Giles is the NL's best second baseman.
"But I haven't gotten to see everyone yet."

This week, Smoltz will have the opportunity to see the Reds Aaron Boone, who has hit 13 homers and driven in 34 runs. But because Boone will primarily
play third base the rest of the season, he shouldn't be considered when arguing who has been the NL's best second baseman this year.

That would leave Jeff Kent, Jose Vidro and Luis Castillo as the only other NL second basemen who could be considered in front Giles in voting for this
year's All-Star team. But a quick look at the stats shows that the Braves infielder ranks first among these candidates in batting average, slugging percentage
and is tied for first in on-base-percentage (.418) and has committed the fewest errors (3).

Kent, who primarily hits third and fourth in the Astros lineup, has three more RBIs (30) and one more home run (7) than Giles.

But whether Giles is the NL's best second baseman or will be rewarded with an All-Star selection, is not the most important issue. What is important is the
fact that he is much happier person and better player than he was a year ago.

"He has a lot of confidence going for him right now," Sheffield said. "He's secure in his job. That's why as veterans I think it's important that we let him know
how to maintain it."

There was a time not long ago that Giles didn't have the support of a few of the Braves veteran pitchers, who last year thought he was an insufficient defensive player. But that thinking has changed over the past few weeks. His solid glove has evoked memories of the days when Hubbard and Mark Lemke manned the position.

"It's like night and day," Smoltz said in reference to Giles' defensive improvement. "He takes great pride in his defense."

Obviously knowing that there were some veteran pitchers that didn't want him in the lineup last year was trying, but not nearly as excruciating as the pain he felt
after losing his first born just weeks after her birth last June. Add the fact that he suffered an ankle injury in late May of last year, that all but ended his regular
playing time, and you can understand why he would consider it one of the worst periods of his life.

But once again, the Braves 5-foot-8-inch second baseman would stand tall and persevere through the adversity.

"You can either cry or rebound," Giles said.

Giles has certainly rebounded and seen his life become much more pleasurable. He and his wife, Tracy, experienced the birth of their second child, Arringtun
Mae, on May 6 and now have the healthy child to share their lives with in their home.

"That was better than anything that has ever happened to me on the baseball field," Giles said. Giles' jubilation that has been easily visible during the weeks
following Arringtun Mae's birth is similar to the joy Hubbard feels while seeing the fruits of the young infielder's labor.

"I'm just happy to see the smile on his mother and father's faces," Hubbard said. "They know just how much hard work he has put into getting to this point."

Giles' history indicates that he will continue to display a dedicated work ethic and further put to rest the many doubts that always seem to surround him.

"You can't listen to what people say about you," Giles said. "If you do, you're never going to get anywhere in life."