Byrnes ready to play field -- for the A's
By Gregg Bell
Bee Staff Writer
(Published March 9, 2001)
PHOENIX -- The A's are so en vogue this spring, even their Triple-A players are becoming media darlings.
And the accent is on darlings.
It is all there in black and white inside this month's issue of Sacramento Magazine -- actually it's in a black, sleeveless, muscle-showcasing T-shirt, on page 67.
River Cats outfielder Eric Byrnes paused this week during his spring-training push for an A's roster spot to admire his place among the magazine's 25 Most Eligible People in Sacramento.
Byrnes is the only baseball player on the list, which includes local television personalities, an opera singer, a law student, a science teacher, a juvenile probation officer and other area singles.
The gregarious Aquarius, 25, is pictured in the Raley Field weight room in front of barbells. His 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame is leaning toward the camera for all of the River City to see, just above a section titled "Top Five Turn-Ons and Turn-Offs For Men."
"It's awesome," the dyed-blond Byrnes said. He then worked on another attraction -- modesty.
"It's not like I'm going to go around with a sign that says, 'I'm one of the 25 most eligible in Sacramento.' "
Byrnes, however, wasn't exactly bashful about showing his beefcake pose to reporters and teammates inside the A's clubhouse. The ribbing was surprisingly light. Of course, there are still three weeks left in camp to post the page on the team bulletin board.
Pitcher and locker neighbor Cory Lidle, who is married, sounded like a reader of a more risque publication than Sacramento Magazine.
"Yeah, I saw it," Lidle said of Byrnes' modeling. "But I didn't read the article. I just saw the picture."
Finally, a guy who actually admits it.
What's going on here? Why is Eric Byrnes, with all of 10 career major-league at-bats, starring in the same article as headlining Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof and Monarchs guard Tricia Penicheiro?
"We wanted a River Cat," Sacramento Magazine managing editor Darlena Belushin McKay said.
OK. But why was Byrnes, chosen after just a half-season in Sacramento?
"The River Cats' public relations guy told us that he was someone who was out there always signing autographs, with a throng of girls always nearby," magazine writer Dawn Blunk said. "I was like, 'Yeah, him, him.'
"Then he said he was really 'cut,'" Blunk said. "I said that was perfect."
Thus, a new Sacramento heartthrob was born.
Blunk e-mailed Byrnes questions that no sports writer would ever ask.
What qualities do you desire most in a date? "Confidence, attitude and class," Byrnes responded.
What are the one or two lines that might describe you best? "Outgoing. Fun-loving. Energetic," Byrnes said.
If you could trade places with anyone, who would it be? "George W. Bush."
Favorite book? "James and the Giant Peach."
"He seemed to have it all," Blunk said, gushing. "He was really kind of shy.
"He didn't have the ... overblown attitude that we've come to expect from athletes.
"I think the best answer that he gave was one that they didn't print. We asked what would be his ideal vacation."
Byrnes' response was "Being with someone you love."
"Isn't that just the sweetest answer?" Blunk asked.
Um, let's get back to baseball, shall we?
The irony here is that there is a chance Byrnes may not even be in Sacramento for Opening Day to reap what he has sown. He had hits in each of his first three exhibition games and is 3 for 7 overall after flying out Thursday in a split-squad game against Anaheim.
The A's love Byrnes' gritty, all-out play, a style he showed off during his two stints with Oakland last season. They also love his speed, a dimension the A's will feature more this season with the arrival of American League stolen-base champion Johnny Damon.
Those are the pros of Byrnes possibly being in an A's uniform on April 2 in Seattle.
The cons are his inexperience -- he has played just 1 1/2 seasons above Class A -- and the proverbial numbers game of spring training roster decisions.
Jeremy Giambi and Adam Piatt will take up two spots on the A's 25-man roster in a right-field platoon. That means the team will likely keep only one other reserve outfielder and two reserve infielders.
The A's are trying out first baseman Mario Valdez and his .344 Triple-A batting average in left field. Olmedo Saenz and Frank Menechino have the inside track to the two backup infielder spots, and first baseman Jason Giambi stands a fair chance of making the team.
That leaves Byrnes to battle Valdez and incumbent veteran Ryan Christenson for the remaining utility outfielder job.
Still, A's general manger Billy Beane warns the female population of Sacramento.
"A guy who plays like Eric does, you can't rule him out (of beginning the season in Oakland)," Beane said. "He has ways of getting himself noticed."
And not just on the field.
http://www.sacbee.com/sports/baseball/rivercats/articles/mar_01/20010309cats1.html