Baseball Guru
02-12-2002, 10:05 AM
SPRING CLEANING
(Five pressing questions that need to be answered)
1. Is Carlos Pena the answer?
Jason Giambi led the A's in just about every significant offensive category last year, so perhaps it's unfair to ask if Pena, a rookie, can adequately replace him. Nevertheless, fans will be asking. The answer likely won't come for some time, but all indications are that Pena, picked up in six-player deal with Texas, is a star in waiting. Defensively, he's already better than Giambi. If he can hit .280 with 25 homers and 85 RBIs, the A's and their fans will be thrilled to no end.
2. Who leads?
Giambi ruled the roost in Oakland in every way, but now he's in New York. Most assume Oakland's leadership will come by committee -- veterans Jermaine Dye and Miguel Tejada are among the position players with clout, and Tim Hudson's ultra-competitive demeanor will keep everyone in the dugout juiced. David Justice and Randy Velarde could emerge here, too.
3. Who leads off?
Then-rookie Terrence Long was Oakland's leadoff man when the A's won the division in 2000, and it seems logical to assume that he'll return to the top of the order to replace departed free agent Johnny Damon. But a monster spring from outfielder Eric Byrnes -- or second base prospect Esteban German -- could change that. Byrnes is the more likely of the two to make the big-league club; he was up with Oakland four times last year and made the playoff roster, and he has an enticing combination of power and speed.
4. Who's at second?
General Manager Billy Beane has publicly defended incumbent Frank Menechino, but Beane also brought back -- as a free agent -- Randy Velarde, who was the starting second baseman for Oakland's division champs in 2000. Menechino faded in the second half last season, eventually dropping from second to ninth in the batting order, and Velarde's presence will make for an interesting competition in Phoenix. Add to that mix German, who had a big winter in the Dominican Republic.
5. Can David Justice stick as the full-time left fielder?
Most people who watched Justice's strikeout-a-thon in the 2001 World Series are surely wondering if the veteran star has much left in the tank. But Beane jumped at the chance to get him and said Justice will bat third -- Giambi's old spot -- and take over in left. Justice, however, spent considerable time on the DL last year, and if Byrnes comes into his own it will allow manager Art Howe to use Justice as the DH on a regular basis and put Byrnes in left.
NEW FACES
(Players acquired via trade or free agency)
1B Carlos Pena -- Think A-Rod at first base. That's what Pena hopes to be, and you won't hear too many scouts betting their notepads against it. He's as polished as a 23-year-old has a right to be, and if he lives up to his considerable promise, he'll be an immediate fan favorite.
OF David Justice -- The guy's got a serious resume, but he's coming off an unimpressive, injury-riddled year and has a lot to prove. Acquired in a trade with the New York Mets just a week after being traded to the Mets from the Yankees, he's expected -- according to Beane -- to bat third and play left field.
RHP Billy Koch -- Owner of a 100-mph heater and a slightly off-center personality, Koch should fit right in with Oakland's fun bunch of young stars. He saved 36 games in 44 opportunities for Toronto last year, allowing 69 hits in 69 1/3 innings, and he'll step right into the closer's role vacated by Jason Isringhausen.
LHP Mike Venafro -- Acquired in the six-player deal with Texas that also brought Pena, Venafro led the Rangers with 70 appearances in 2001. A sidearm pitcher, he went 5-5 with a 4.80 ERA, allowing 54 hits in 60 innings. He'll be expected to help make up for the loss of left-hander Mark Guthrie, who went to the Mets in the Justice deal.
LHP Mike Holtz -- A set-up man signed as a free agent, Holtz went 1-2 with a 4.86 ERA for the Angels in 2001, allowing 40 hits in 37 innings over 63 appearances. He, too, probably will get some of the situational work previously handled by Guthrie.
IF Randy Velarde -- Velarde, 39, got off to a nice start last season with Texas (.297 through 78 games and 296 at-bats), but after getting traded to the Yankees he hit .152 in 46 at-bats. He was picked up by Beane as a free agent to provide some insurance should incumbent second baseman Frank Menechino struggle, and he's capable of playing several positions.
C/1B/DH Scott Hatteberg -- A free-agent signee who hit .245 in 278 at-bats with Boston last season, Hatteberg was tabbed as Giambi's replacement at first base -- for about two weeks, before the Pena trade. Now Hatteberg, who has never played first base in the Majors, will compete for precious at-bats with returners Jeremy Giambi, Olmedo Saenz and Greg Myers.
(Five pressing questions that need to be answered)
1. Is Carlos Pena the answer?
Jason Giambi led the A's in just about every significant offensive category last year, so perhaps it's unfair to ask if Pena, a rookie, can adequately replace him. Nevertheless, fans will be asking. The answer likely won't come for some time, but all indications are that Pena, picked up in six-player deal with Texas, is a star in waiting. Defensively, he's already better than Giambi. If he can hit .280 with 25 homers and 85 RBIs, the A's and their fans will be thrilled to no end.
2. Who leads?
Giambi ruled the roost in Oakland in every way, but now he's in New York. Most assume Oakland's leadership will come by committee -- veterans Jermaine Dye and Miguel Tejada are among the position players with clout, and Tim Hudson's ultra-competitive demeanor will keep everyone in the dugout juiced. David Justice and Randy Velarde could emerge here, too.
3. Who leads off?
Then-rookie Terrence Long was Oakland's leadoff man when the A's won the division in 2000, and it seems logical to assume that he'll return to the top of the order to replace departed free agent Johnny Damon. But a monster spring from outfielder Eric Byrnes -- or second base prospect Esteban German -- could change that. Byrnes is the more likely of the two to make the big-league club; he was up with Oakland four times last year and made the playoff roster, and he has an enticing combination of power and speed.
4. Who's at second?
General Manager Billy Beane has publicly defended incumbent Frank Menechino, but Beane also brought back -- as a free agent -- Randy Velarde, who was the starting second baseman for Oakland's division champs in 2000. Menechino faded in the second half last season, eventually dropping from second to ninth in the batting order, and Velarde's presence will make for an interesting competition in Phoenix. Add to that mix German, who had a big winter in the Dominican Republic.
5. Can David Justice stick as the full-time left fielder?
Most people who watched Justice's strikeout-a-thon in the 2001 World Series are surely wondering if the veteran star has much left in the tank. But Beane jumped at the chance to get him and said Justice will bat third -- Giambi's old spot -- and take over in left. Justice, however, spent considerable time on the DL last year, and if Byrnes comes into his own it will allow manager Art Howe to use Justice as the DH on a regular basis and put Byrnes in left.
NEW FACES
(Players acquired via trade or free agency)
1B Carlos Pena -- Think A-Rod at first base. That's what Pena hopes to be, and you won't hear too many scouts betting their notepads against it. He's as polished as a 23-year-old has a right to be, and if he lives up to his considerable promise, he'll be an immediate fan favorite.
OF David Justice -- The guy's got a serious resume, but he's coming off an unimpressive, injury-riddled year and has a lot to prove. Acquired in a trade with the New York Mets just a week after being traded to the Mets from the Yankees, he's expected -- according to Beane -- to bat third and play left field.
RHP Billy Koch -- Owner of a 100-mph heater and a slightly off-center personality, Koch should fit right in with Oakland's fun bunch of young stars. He saved 36 games in 44 opportunities for Toronto last year, allowing 69 hits in 69 1/3 innings, and he'll step right into the closer's role vacated by Jason Isringhausen.
LHP Mike Venafro -- Acquired in the six-player deal with Texas that also brought Pena, Venafro led the Rangers with 70 appearances in 2001. A sidearm pitcher, he went 5-5 with a 4.80 ERA, allowing 54 hits in 60 innings. He'll be expected to help make up for the loss of left-hander Mark Guthrie, who went to the Mets in the Justice deal.
LHP Mike Holtz -- A set-up man signed as a free agent, Holtz went 1-2 with a 4.86 ERA for the Angels in 2001, allowing 40 hits in 37 innings over 63 appearances. He, too, probably will get some of the situational work previously handled by Guthrie.
IF Randy Velarde -- Velarde, 39, got off to a nice start last season with Texas (.297 through 78 games and 296 at-bats), but after getting traded to the Yankees he hit .152 in 46 at-bats. He was picked up by Beane as a free agent to provide some insurance should incumbent second baseman Frank Menechino struggle, and he's capable of playing several positions.
C/1B/DH Scott Hatteberg -- A free-agent signee who hit .245 in 278 at-bats with Boston last season, Hatteberg was tabbed as Giambi's replacement at first base -- for about two weeks, before the Pena trade. Now Hatteberg, who has never played first base in the Majors, will compete for precious at-bats with returners Jeremy Giambi, Olmedo Saenz and Greg Myers.