OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) The novelty finally has worn off for
Scott Hatteberg. He feels like a first baseman now not a catcher
uncomfortably stranded 90 feet from his natural position.
Hatteberg spent the first 11 years of his pro career as a
catcher in the Boston Red Sox organization, laboring to earn a
regular big league job behind the plate. But Boston fans watching
their team's division series against the Oakland Athletics won't
recognize much about him.
``In a lot of ways, I'm a totally different player now,''
Hatteberg said. ``It's a new chapter in my career. We have a whole
different way of doing things over here than we did in Boston. It's
been a great change for me.''
Hatteberg has blossomed as a big league hitter in the two
seasons since the A's signed him as a free agent. He hit fifth on
Wednesday night as the A's played the opener of their division
series against Boston.
He holds no grudge toward the Red Sox, particularly since the
move has been beneficial to his career and his health but oddly
enough, Hatteberg would fit in splendidly with the Red Sox these
days.
New general manager Theo Epstein espouses most of Oakland GM
Billy Beane's theories on hitting, and Hatteberg is an archetypal
example of nearly everything a Beane hitter should be.
``It's funny how that works out,'' Hatteberg said with a grin.
``Maybe I'd be a top prospect over there.''
He set career highs in nearly every offensive category last
year, and he bested several more this season including games
(147), at-bats (541), runs (63) and doubles (34) while hitting
.253 with 12 homers and a .342 on-base percentage.
In his first conversation with Hatteberg before last season,
Beane informed the veteran catcher of his unusual plan: Hatteberg
would be the replacement for Jason Giambi, the A's MVP first
baseman who was lured to the Yankees by a massive contract.
Hatteberg knew almost nothing about playing the infield. He was
a solid defensive catcher for the Red Sox, but his approach at the
plate working the count, taking plenty of walks, rarely striking
out, prizing contact above power didn't mesh with Boston's ideas
about an everyday player.
After backing up Jason Varitek for three seasons, Hatteberg was
ready to move on.
``The A's didn't want to change the way I played,'' Hatteberg
said. ``They believed in me and let me do things the way I wanted
to. It sounds like a little thing, but it's great to be in a
position to do your own thing.''
Beane's approach to hitting perfectly fit Hatteberg. The A's
value hitters who do all the little things at which Hatteberg
excels, which made him the best available replacement for the
irreplaceable Giambi.
Hatteberg capped his strong first year with the A's by hitting
an incredibly dramatic game-winning homer in Oakland's AL-record
20th straight victory last September.
He hasn't been quite as effective this season, with a .253
batting average that was the second-lowest of his career but
again, he excelled at the little things. For example, he swung and
missed at just 8.8 percent of pitches the third-best mark in the
AL.
Hitting came easily in Oakland, but playing first base was
another matter entirely. Hatteberg needed several months to get
completely comfortable with the assignments and movements at the
position.
After steady practice on footwork and strategy, he has finally
settled in. In fact, new A's outfielder Jose Guillen wasn't even
aware Hatteberg had spent most of his baseball life as a catcher.
``He's a good hitter, very steady, and a good first baseman,''
Guillen said. ``He's an important part of this team.''
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)