Sunday, March 24, 2002
Baseball insider
A's GM Beane not hurrying to pick up Howe's option
Enquirer news services
Owners of the Oakland Athletics believe general manager Billy Beane has proven himself, transforming a club that lost 97 games in 1997 into a powerhouse that won 102 last season and is expected to reach the playoffs for the third year in a row in 2002.
So what does Art Howe, who has managed the same Athletics through their turnaround since 1996, still have to prove?
That was the big question left unanswered last week in the wake of Beane's three-year contract extension. Beane, who turns 40 on Friday, has a contract that stretches through 2008, giving him the most job security of any current general manager.
Howe, who last year was the runner-up in American League Manager of the Year voting for the third year in row, can't even get the team to pick up his option for 2003.
“I brought it up to them during the offseason, and I still do not have my option,” Howe told the San Francisco Chronicle. “But I'm happy for Billy. It's nice to get some security in this game.”
Howe, 56, clearly believes he deserves the same consideration after leading the young Athletics through the growing pains of the late 1990s to championship-caliber status. Asked if he was frustrated by his situation, Howe said, “Yeah, I think it's fair to say that.”
There has been a sense of a rift between Beane and Howe since Beane took over for Sandy Alderson in October 1997. Under Beane, Howe has had to operate under a series of one-year contract extensions, even though the GM already was signed through 2005. Most organizations link contract terms of their general managers and managers to assure stability, and to prevent players from challenging the authority of a manager perceived as a “short-timer.”
Howe also hasn't seen enormous respect reflected in his paycheck. His $575,000 salary last season ranked 21st among the 30 managers who opened the season.
Even though Howe (497-474 in six seasons) is the second-winningest manager in Oakland history behind Tony La Russa (798-673), neither Beane nor club co-owner Steve Schott used the occasion of Beane's new extension to assure Howe his own is on the way.
“It's not an issue right now, as I see it,” Beane said. “We will address it when it becomes an issue.”
Said Schott: “I have no problem with the way Art's managed. But I think that's a decision that we will make as a group. I'm not the one who makes all the calls.”
AGELESS WONDERS: Not only does it look as if 43-year-old Rickey Henderson will be Boston's designated hitter, but Carlos Baerga, last seen in the big leagues in 1999, also might make the final roster.
Baerga, 33, could be Grady Little's DH when Henderson rests or plays left field. Baerga was hitting .389 in 17 games through Friday.
Henderson is hitting .344 with two home runs and six RBI in 19 games and bumped Johnny Damon into the No.2 spot in the order when they both play. They combined for 51 stolen bases last season but had 81 between them as recently as 2000. Their speed could be a huge plus with Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez hitting behind them.
STEPPING UP: No GM is better at recognizing and addressing his team's needs than Atlanta GM John Schuerholz . He did it again last week, stealing stole one of the top defensive catchers to back up Javy Lopez.
Seeing that the Brewers needed bullpen help with both Curtis Leskanic and Chad Fox headed for the disabled list, Schuerholz got career .226 hitter Henry Blanco from Milwaukee for Paul Bako and reliever Jose Cabrera. Blanco will serve as a personal catcher for Greg Maddux, who has dissed Lopez for years.
Blanco threw out 42 percent of base stealers last season and compiled a 4.25 catcher's ERA, which was almost a full run better than the Braves had when he wasn't behind the plate (5.18).
Schuerholz calls him “the best defensive catcher in all of baseball,” and Brewers manager Davey Lopez stops just short, ranking him behind only Ivan Rodriguez.
HONOR FOR OATES: Former Orioles manager Johnny Oates, who is battling a brain tumor, has accepted an invitation to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Baltimore's home opener. “I still dream that some day I'll work for the Orioles again,” Oates told the Baltimore Sun. “This might be the closest I get.”
AROUND THE HORN: Budget constraints are hampering an ongoing bullpen search of the Cubs and the White Sox, with the Rockies' Jose Paniagua perhaps the most intriguing reliever they have been offered. The Sox are believed to be interested in the Phillies' Dave Coggin, who appears squeezed out of Philadelphia's rotation and is out of options.
• Travis Fryman's 3-for-39 start this spring raises questions about the health of his elbow, which bothered him last season.
• Scott Hatteberg is beating out supposed rookie-of-the-year candidate Carlos Pena for first base for Oakland.
• Texas is studying the signing of the sticky-fingered Ruben Rivera, leading to speculation about a deal that would send Gabe Kapler elsewhere for pitching help.
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