A's keep Colangelo, not Byrnes
By Marcus Thompson II
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
OAKLAND - Carlos Pena made it. Eric Byrnes did not.
The A's announced their opening day roster Saturday after losing to the Giants 11-1 at Network Associates Coliseum, and it featured a couple of mild surprises.
Oakland will keep 12 pitchers on its 25-man Opening Day roster, including all three left-handers in the bullpen -- Mike Magnante, Mike Venafro and Mike Holtz.
In addition to those Mikes, the A's opted to keep only four outfielders, selecting the versatile Mike Colangelo over Byrnes. David Justice, Terrence Long and Jeremy Giambi will be the other outfielders, while Jermaine Dye will begin the season on the 15-day disabled.
While keeping Pena was not a surprise, there was some debate about his status because of a .151 spring training average before Saturday's game. That average did not go up after he went 0-for-2 against the Giants.
Pena, acquired in a six-player offseason trade with Texas, impressed the A's with his defense, but he could have been optioned to Triple-A Sacramento to work on his hitting. Scott Hatteberg, who hit over .400 this spring, then likely would have started the season at first.
Knowing pressure was a factor in Pena's spring slump, A's general manager Billy Beane said there was some "temptation" to make a decision earlier -- one way or the other -- to take some of the pressure off of Pena.
"We've been a club that has tried to find the long-term answer and bite the bullet," Beane said. "Every one of our young guys have struggled, but we've been disciplined enough to find the long-term answer. We're trying to solve that position long term and I say he's a good bet for that."
As for the three lefties in the bullpen, Beane wouldn't speculate on any trade possibilities. They have been trying to move one of them.
The 12 pitchers leave the A's with Giambi, Long and Justice as the starting outfield from left to right, with Colangelo the lone backup. Dye was placed on the disabled list retroactive to March 22. Colangelo beat out Byrnes as the lone back-up.
"Byrnes ... that was my toughest call," manager Art Howe said. "He's disappointed. He had his heart set on making this club. He was basically good enough to make this club. He brings something to this team nobody has -- speed. It's just pitching is more important now. We just decided to go with 12 pitchers. If we would've gone with 11 pitchers, he would've been here."
Howe said Colangelo will be a defensive substitute. In addition to being adequate in all three outfield spots, the 25-year-old showed some life at the plate, hitting .400 with a .426 on-base percentage in 50 plate appearances. Byrnes hit .217 in 60 at-bats with a .294 on-base percentage.
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