Uggla moves on from gaffes

MIAMI – Dan Uggla went out to that familiar spot in the infield, got on his toes, bent his knees, put his glove to the dirt and fielded balls time and time again without error.

Too bad Dolphin Stadium was empty.

Coming off one of the worst All-Star games by a second baseman, Uggla took infield practice during a team workout Thursday evening, two days after making a record three errors and going 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in the Midsummer Classic.

He looked his casual self in the clubhouse, passing out Home Run Derby balls, jeering teammates and telling stories from New York. Now he looks to regain the prowess that has propelled the surprising Florida Marlins to within 1 1/2 games of the N.L. East-leading Philadelphia Phillies, who begin a three-game series in Miami tonight.

“I’m not worried about any carryover,” Uggla said. “I’ve made plenty of errors in my past, that’s nothing knew for me. … I’ve made three errors in a game plenty of times. It’s not going to be the last time. You just go with it. I’ve already forgotten about it.”

It’s been an eventful year for Uggla.

He hit his first game-ending home run, a grand slam to beat the Phillies. He witnessed the birth of his second child and participated in the Home Run Derby.

And Tuesday, he fulfilled a lifelong family dream when he played at Yankee Stadium in front of his dad, John, who grew up watching Mickey Mantle roam the same field.

“I was having chills, fighting back tears,” Uggla said. “I was just fortunate to be a part of it. There was so many high points the last few days, they outnumber the bad parts.”

Uggla also was sidelined nearly two weeks just before the break with a sprained left ankle after a bizarre slip while pulling up to go back to first base.

The two-time All-Star is batting .286 with 23 homers and 59 RBIs and is on pace to set career highs in all three categories. Despite his defensive gaffs at Yankee Stadium, his .985 fielding percentage and six errors this season rank 10th among starting second baseman.

“So what? He didn’t fare well there,” Marlins teammate Luis Gonzalez said. “He’s still an All-Star in our eyes and in the baseball world’s eyes. He’s been a big part of what we’ve done.

“Rather it happen there than during a real game.”