Athletics -- 5/17/03

::F.I.C. Local Spin::
With Eric Byrnes lighting it up with his glove and his bat, trade rumors have begun swirling around Jermaine Dye, whose 11 million dollar contract this year makes him a potential trade target. If his production continues the way it was when he was injured (.189 batting average), which it probably will not, it will almost be a certainty that these rumors are realized. If his production resembles more closely the Jermaine Dye of 2001, we may see some kind of a platoon between Chris Singleton, Eric Byrnes, and Terrence Long.

::Latest Team Info::
Miguel Tejada is swinging the bat a lot better, and his batting average is now up to .210. Ramon Hernandez’s May has been hardly comparable to his April. Scott Hatteberg and Eric Chavez, both coming back from missing days due to injuries, continue to struggle. Mark Ellis has been having trouble with outside fastballs. Eric Byrnes continues to impress. Against the Indians on Saturday, he walked and singled in his first two at-bats, and stole second base each time. Erubiel Durazo is finally starting to hit on the road and plate runs. Terrence Long looks overmatched at the plate, while Chris Singleton seems to be thriving, with a batting average in the .300’s.

::Injuries::
Jermaine Dye should be back within a week to ten days from May 17, 2003.

::On the Farm::
Aaron Harang is now 7-1 on the year, with a 2.28 ERA in 8 games. He has worked 47.1 innings, allowing 41 hits and 12 earned runs, giving up only 2 homers while walking 11 and striking out 41. Opponents are hitting .229 against him.

Rich Harden is now 3-1 on the year, with an ERA of 3.86. In 25.2 innings pitched, he has given up just 18 hits while surrendering 11 earned runs. Although he allowed 3 homers, his BB:K ratio is 8:31. Opponents are hitting a measly .196 against him!

Mike Wood is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA. He’s worked 16 innings, surrendering 15 hits, 3 earned runs, and 2 homers. His BB:K ratio is 5:15. Opponents are batting .263 against him.

Joe Valentine, perhaps the A’s future closer, sports a 1-1 record with a 3.04 ERA and 2 saves. He has appeared in 18 games, pitching 23.2 innings, allowing 18 hits, 13 earned runs, striking out 24 and walking 11. Opponents are batting .205 against him.

::Quick View::
Add
~ Mike Neu is a relatively unknown rookie, but he’s been solid in middle relief this year. He may not get enough innings, which can be a problem. He’s worked only 9 games, pitching 11 innings while surrendering 6 hits and only 1 earned run. He’s hit two batters, but one of them involved him throwing a pitch into the dirt, and the baseball bouncing up and hitting the batter. He’s struck out 6 and walked 2, with an ERA of 0.82.

~ Eric Byrnes looks like he’s swimming thus far. Play him while you can, because Jermaine Dye will be coming back pretty soon. I highly doubt Macha will sit Dye in favor of Byrnes (how can you sit $11 mill?) , perhaps instead platooning the other three outfielders. He will likely see a decrease in playing time.

~ Chris Singleton hits righties extremely well, but lefties extremely poorly. Thus, Macha starts him when the opposing starting pitcher is a righty, helping to keep his batting average high and giving him a better chance to give you better stats.

Deal
~ Adam Piatt .. Yeah..the A’s are going to have enough problems as it is when Dye comes back. Piatt’s not going to get any playing time.