December 7, 2001 Susan Slusser
San Francisco Chronicle
If the A's go into spring camp without a center fielder, a possible scenario should Johnny Damon depart as a free agent, one player within the system is making a strong bid for notice this winter.
Eric Byrnes, who has had several short stints with the A's and was on the playoff roster in October, is having a whale of a season in the Dominican Republic, batting .328 with nine homers and 29 RBIs for Licey.
He is among the league leaders in most offensive categories, including second in homers, RBIs and slugging percentage (.630), and he has put himself into contention for MVP honors. According to A's assistant GM Paul DePodesta, the exuberant Byrnes has been dubbed "Captain America" in the Dominican for his exploits this winter.
The power numbers are the result of increased weight lifting and Byrnes' decision to concentrate on improving his home run totals. He also hit 20 at Class AAA Sacramento and three for Oakland in 2001 after combining for 14 at Class AA and Class AAA the previous year and just seven the year before that. That gives the 25-year-old from UCLA some good versatility; he has stolen 25 or more bases in each of the past three seasons.
Another Class AAA player also is starring for Licey. Reliever Chad Harville, who could compete for a bullpen spot in the spring, is tied for the league lead in saves with six, and he has struck out 20 in 18 1/3 innings while compiling a 2.45 ERA.
The A's have signed a bundle of minor-league relievers this offseason, the most recent of which is Juan Ramos, a 25-year-old righthander who had a 2.63 ERA for Class A San Bernardino last season.
Oakland is in the process of trying to find a new scouting director to replace Grady Fuson, who left for the Rangers in early November. The team will be interviewing several candidates in the next week, including three from within the organization.
POSITIONAL ANALYSIS Left field: After spending a year-plus in center, then moving to right in late June, Terrence Long went to left in late July and after a few weeks of adjusting, looked like a good fit there, with excellent range for the position and a better-than-average arm.
But as much as the A's would like to keep Long in left, he might wind up back in center field should Damon leave and should the team fail to bring in a center fielder from outside the organization.
In that case, Adam Piatt, who missed most of the 2001 season after a devastating bout of viral meningitis, would be in the mix for left. Piatt converted from third to the outfield in the first half of the 2000 season, took to it quickly and now prefers the outfield.
DH Jeremy Giambi also can play left, and there are several quality outfielders in the system, including Byrnes and Ryan Ludwick. Byrnes will compete for a roster spot this spring, but Ludwick, 23, will need at least one full season at Class AAA after spending nearly all of last year at Class AA Midland.
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