A's Notes: Byrnes needs restraint
By Jim Van Vliet -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 a.m. PDT Thursday, May 1, 2003
CHICAGO -- Before this week, A's manager Ken Macha had never seen Eric Byrnes play every day. At this rate, he's not sure either one of them would survive a 162-game season.
Byrnes tripled home the A's first run Wednesday night and is 10 for 21 since replacing the injured Jermaine Dye in the A's lineup.
And although Macha allows that Byrnes has provided a spark during the A's six-game winning streak, the manager winces at all those diving, wall-banging catches. Macha is afraid he and A's trainer Larry Davis will end up spending a lot of time in the outfield checking on Byrnes' condition.
"Larry says he doesn't have an appearance clause in his contract," Macha said.
Although Macha admires Byrnes' "full-blast" style, he would like to see his young outfielder calm down -- at least a little.
"His focus should be on getting under control," Macha said. "It's a nice problem to have. But he's like a race-car driver. The experienced guys know how to slow down on the curves."
Dye update -- Macha said he telephoned Dye on Wednesday and challenged him to a footrace.
"I said I'd bet him $1,000 and I'd hop on one leg," Macha said. "He wouldn't take it."
Dye won't be able to accept Macha's challenge for at least one month after undergoing surgery to remove torn cartilage from his right knee Tuesday.
Davis called the surgery a success and stuck to his previous estimate that Dye will be out three to five weeks.
Money bags -- Rookie reliever Mike Neu received his second big-league paycheck Wednesday afternoon, and he's still amazed by the amount.
After earning $21,000 combined last year among Double A, Triple A, the Arizona Fall League and the Mexican Winter League, Neu suddenly finds himself making $300,000, the major-league minimum.
"You know what's incredible?" he said. "For two weeks, they take out more in withholding than I made last summer in Double A and Triple A combined.
"On one hand, it's ridiculous. But on the other hand, it's all right. I've never made that much in my life."
Neu has grossed $50,000 since Opening Day -- not bad for four innings of work.
Et cetera -- Adam Piatt, who hadn't been called upon since a pinch-hitting appearance April 18, made his third start of the year when Macha decided to rest Chris Singleton against Chicago White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle. Singleton is 1 for 10 against lefties this season.
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