Spring Training Notes: In pain, Dye keeps sense of humor
By Gregg Bell and Jim Van Vliet -- Bee Staff Writers
Published 5:30 a.m. PDT Friday, March 22, 2002
PHOENIX -- Jermaine Dye limped after fly balls in the outfield Wednesday morning, more evidence that he may begin the season on the A's disabled list.
When the A's right fielder and cleanup hitter, slowly recovering from a broken left tibia, caught one ball that was shot out of a machine almost directly at him, he jokingly raised his index finger giving the "No. 1" sign.
But he wasn't laughing when thinking about Opening Day on April 1.
"If I feel similar to the way I do now, I'm not going to try to be a hero," Dye said. "We play 162 games, so missing 15 games (on the disabled list) is not going to hurt us."
Dye's DL dilemma gives former San Diego and Anaheim utilityman Mike Colangelo a chance to join Eric Byrnes on the Opening Day roster as the third and fourth outfielders behind starters David Justice and Terrence Long.
Mario Valdéz, who is out of minor-league options, and Adam Piatt are also in that competition. Piatt took full batting practice for the first time in two weeks before the A's sold-out game at Municipal Stadium on Thursday against Seattle.
But Piatt said he is only at 75 percent of full health because of a strained left oblique muscle. His chances to make the team are shrinking.
Manager Art Howe said Byrnes -- 5 for his last 29 spring at bats (.172) -- and Colangelo are "the two closest candidates. And we like them both."
No, Colangelo is not related to Arizona Diamondbacks and Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo. Nor is he a classic painter.
"And I get 'Are you a Ninja Turtle?' a lot, too," Colangelo said with a weak smile.
He was less than Cowabunga! in the fifth inning Thursday night. He fell over himself chasing a sinking Mark McLemore liner than became a Seattle RBI triple in a 5-2 Mariners' win.
Colangelo, 25 and a veteran of 93 major-league games, said he wouldn't be crushed by a demotion to the Triple-A River Cats. He said he sought Oakland as a free agent last winter because he saw that the A's "make a lot of transactions" between Sacramento and Oakland.
"I think I've played well enough to push (Byrnes) a bit," Colangelo said of his .375 on-base percentage in 18 spring games. "I play all three outfield positions. I get on base a lot, which I know they like. And I have adapted to playing off the bench (last year under veteran Dave Magadan's tutelage in San Diego).
"Eric is more of a 'tools' guy, has more power. It all depends on what Art wants."
And on what Dye can do.
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