Gload Embraces Unsung Hero

Winning baseball teams load their roster with unsung heroes, and the Marlins display several of them.

Ross Gload is one of them. He performs when Fredi Gonzalez calls him off the bench to come in as a pinch-hitter.

We experience seeing Gload hit home runs late in the game to give the Marlins the lead or the win several times this year.

His last big hit was a walk-off home run that gave the Marlins a victory against the Braves.

Last night, Gload showed why Gonzalez can trust him by hitting a two-run home run that gave the Marlins a 3-2 lead in the eighth inning after the Reds took a 2-1 lead.

The Marlins pinch-hitter tied a single-season record for most pinch hits in a season set by Lenny Harris in 2005 by getting his 19th pinch-hit of the season. He also established a new single-season standard for pinch-hit RBI at 15.

When a hitter keeps doing this all the time, it becomes a habit to the point team expects good things when that guy comes off the bench.

It's no wonder why Gload has success.

Gload done this throughout his career, and that's why Larry Beinfest wanted him on this roster when he made the trade before the season started.

That acquisition did not cause a ripple with the fans, but anyone that understands baseball will realize what type of utility player Gload is when it comes to making an impact.

It's never easy to come off the bench because there could be days where an utility player may not play for weeks, and it can cause a player to be complacent or lose his timing with his bat.

There's something to be said for a manager to use all of his guys in his roster, and Gload shows why.

It's not just performing at the plate.

It's about what an utility player does in the dugout during the course of the game. He can be serving more as an aid to the coach.

If a coach can't get through to a player, guys like Gload plays a role in being the coach's messenger, and he does that well.

Gload also does well when he plays first base or in the outfield as a defensive replacement.

Role players often don't get the credit they deserve when it comes to contributing.

When fans read game stories or columns about a sport, it's rare to see anything about a role player. It's always about the stars.

Guys like Gload deserve recognition for the impact they have on winning teams.

It's a difference between a playoff team and a losing team.