Tanner Concentrating on Bringing the Best Out of Virgil This Season

Ozzie Virgil was a flop last year in his first season with the Atlanta Braves, and the right-handed catcher is the first to admit it.

“I’m a better player than last year,” Virgil said last week from the Braves’ spring training camp. “It was a little bit of everything. Mentally, I was messed up, trying too hard. It breaks you a little bit, but you have to keep going.”

Virgil was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies after the 1985 season in exchange for reliever Steve Bedrosian and outfielder Milt Thompson. Virgil batted .223 with 15 home runs and 48 runs batted in last year.

“People had a right to get down on me last year,” Virgil said. “They expected more than I did. I expected more of myself than I did. I was in a hole and I’d try even harder the next time, but I couldn’t get out of it.

“I know I have the talent. I just have to let myself do it. I have to let it flow,” he said.

“We’re concentrating on him,” said Manager Chuck Tanner. “He has the ability. We have to bring it out of him. I know he’s a better player than he was last year. We’re going to make him a better player. He wasn’t here last year.”

The Braves have made Virgil a special project this spring. He spends time working individually with coach Russ Nixon on throwing and defense and with batting coach Bob Skinner on his swing.