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Athletics: Five things to know
PHOENIX -- Last one out, turn out the lights. The Oakland Athletics packed up and headed for their season opener in Japan following Wednesday's Cactus League game and a couple of hours' worth of morning controversy, leaving behind third baseman Eric Chavez to continue rehabbing from his three (count 'em) offseason surgeries.
Last one out, turn out the lights. General manager Billy Beane boxed up his most attractive pieces over the winter and shipped 'em away in the Athletics' most dramatic rebuilding effort in a decade or more, leaving behind Chavez as the face of what has become a mostly unrecognizable clubhouse.
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| Chavez feels he would have been traded had he been healthy. (Getty Images) |
"That's what I'm saying," Chavez says. "If I was healthy, I think I would have been traded over the winter, too."
He pauses, then assesses.
"The young guys here, it's all about the future," he says. "We've done it before, been a surprise team. But if we were to do it again this year and anybody says they predicted that we'd win, they're full of s---.
"This team is for the future. If we win this year, it's a plus."
Chavez, as honest a man is there is in the game, does not say this with malice. His words do not drip with bitterness or sarcasm.
On the contrary, he says he understands why Beane was as proactive as he was, acquiring six prospects from Arizona in the Dan Haren trade (including spring phenom Dana Eveland, who is expected to open the season in the rotation); three players from the White Sox in the Nick Swisher trade (including Ryan Sweeney, who may start in center field); and two more from Atlanta in the Mark Kotsay deal.
This latest restructuring is not unlike the times Chavez watched Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon, Jermaine Dye, Miguel Tejada, Tim Hudson, Barry Zito and Tim Hudson depart via trades or free agency.
This is far more dramatic, though, because while the Athletics were mostly retooling on the fly then, this winter's moves essentially were an admission of not competing.
"Compared to other teams in the American League, they would be pieces of the puzzle, and then they'd add young players," Chavez says of the trio of key players the Athletics traded this winter. "When you have Dan Haren and Nick Swisher, they're young guys, too.
"When you say you're rebuilding, some people would consider those two as rebuilding. Here, it's not. They have affordable contracts. It's a little puzzling, because you've got pretty good players to build around. But I understand why they did it."
Exactly how this man is standing upright at this point in the spring, let alone walking, talking and lucid, is one of the Cactus League's great mysteries. Chavez, 30, underwent offseason surgery on both shoulders and his back.
The shoulders, he says, are 100 percent. His back, well, the spring got off to a rough start because it was hurting. But a cortisone shot helped, and Chavez is optimistic that he will be ready to re-join the lineup on April 1, when the A's play host to Boston after the two clubs begin the regular season with two games in Japan on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"Considering that he's had three surgeries, where is now is pretty remarkable," says Beane, who acknowledges that there is a chance Chavez could begin the season on the disabled list.
Whenever Chavez begins, one thing is certain: He will not be in the opening day lineup March 25 in Tokyo -- he's not quite ready, and the A's figured the long plane flight could wreak havoc on his back -- thus ending a nine-season run that leaves him tied with Sal Bando (1968-1976) and Terry Steinbach (1988-1996) for the club record of most consecutive opening day starts.
Rickey Henderson had 12 overall, but only Chavez, Bando and Steinbach made nine in a row.
Chavez, who has no idea of this when I deliver the news, momentarily seems crestfallen before mounting a defense.
"Yeah, but they're going to have to put an asterisk next to it because they're going to Japan," he quips. "April 1, I'll be ready to play. I'll talk to whoever the board of whoever does that is."
For a few fleeting moments Wednesday, the traveling party's bags packed and itineraries set, it appeared as if maybe Chavez would have a chance to keep his streak intact.
As the Athletics filtered into their clubhouse around 8 a.m., word slowly trickled over from Fort Myers, Fla., that Boston was threatening to boycott its Grapefruit League game and refuse to go to Japan because the Red Sox players had learned that coaches and trainers would not be paid.
"Hey, guys, two free wins!" veteran Mike Sweeney joked, already eyeing forfeit victories, a half-full clubhouse watching on television as the Boston-Toronto game was delayed while the Red Sox players were meeting. "We'll be 2-0!"
An hour later, the Athletics closed the doors and held a private meeting to discuss options but, even by then, it was obvious the situation was close to being resolved. Chief among the reasons: It would have been a colossal embarrassment to major league baseball if the Red Sox and Athletics, whose players are earning an extra $40,000 for the Japan trip, refused to go.
"I think it's kind of unfair the way it comes to an end," Chavez says of his opening day streak. "But I think it's a great idea to play in Japan. I just love what they're doing. Expanding the game, the World Baseball Classic ... it's phenomenal the way they're expanding the game globally."
Locally, however, it's another story. And until some of these young kids -- Eveland, first baseman Daric Barton, catcher Kurt Suzuki, outfielders Chris Denorfia and Travis Buck -- develop, and until the Athletics move into their new ballpark -- the 2011 season is the best guess right now -- it might be a bit before the Athletics themselves expand again.
Only Brooks Robinson (16), Mike Schmidt (10) and Scott Rolen (7) have won more Gold Gloves in major league history than Chavez (6). But if he can regain his health, Chavez expects to be dealt before 10-and-5 powers (10 years in the majors, the past five with the same club) give him full no-trade powers. Right now, he has a limited no-trade clause.
"Unfortunately, but fortunately for me, my goal this year is to get healthy," Chavez says. "I can step back and get healthy enough to perform at a high level.
"When you're rebuilding, you can be first on the list and the team can be second."
He chuckles.
"I have to make sure to take care of myself. Normally, you're thinking about the playoffs and World Series. But when you're rebuilding, your goals change a little."
Last one out ...
