Bill Mitchell's Minor League Ramblings

Minor League Ramblings For the week of :
February 18, 2002

Minor League Ramblings is produced by Bill Mitchell for Minor League Watch.

Flashbacks & Power Displays
February 21, 2002

It's a small world. I came across the name James Buckner last September as I was combing through the Northwest League's batting records in preparation for an interview with Chicago Cubs' prospect Syketo Anderson. Buckner's league record for hits in a season was in jeopardy of being broken by Anderson, who eventually fell a few hits short.

Former minor league hitting
star James Buckner

If Top Prospect Alert had been online 20 years ago, and if there was such a concept as being "online" then, James Buckner would have merited a feature article in TPA. The younger brother of major league great Bill Buckner still holds three Northwest League short-season records from his 1972 season with Lewiston (hits, total bases and triples).

Buckner, who now lives in Gilbert, Arizona and works as a UPS driver, struck up a conversation with me this morning at the Oakland A's training facility. The 10-year minor league veteran was on a break from his job and stopped by to catch a few minutes of baseball and to say hello to old friends like A's coach Ron Washington.

A very congenial and outgoing man, Buckner is quick to talk about his life, both inside and outside baseball, eagerly pulling from his wallet a dog-eared clipping about his Northwest League hitting records. While he never made the big leagues, Buckner is satisfied with his life and proud of his accomplishments, as well as the career of his more famous brother.

A new member of the Oakland A's also had a "flashback" on his first day in camp. Infielder Jason Grabowski, acquired last December from Seattle in the Rule 5 draft, was handed catching gear and sent to work with the catchers at the beginning of this morning's first full-squad workout. It's been four years since the 25-year-old left-handed hitter had been behind the plate, dating back to the 1998 season when he was in the low class A South Atlantic league with the Texas organization.

Jason Grabowski working on blocking pitches, while teammate Cody McKay watches

Grabowski didn't come to camp with his own catcher's mitt. "I think this is Scott Hatteberg's glove," he said during his first break. Coach Ken Macha told Grabowski that they wouldn't get him into anything for which he wasn't ready, but by mid-morning he was catching batting practice behind live hitters. Working with veteran reliever Jeff Tam, Grabowski handled himself well behind the plate. After the session, Tam remarked, "He did great!" Grabowski, obviously tired and still a little overwhelmed, countered by saying, "Tell my legs that!"

Minor League Ramblings will be following Grabowski's progress throughout spring training as he vies for a spot on the A's 25-man roster. Watch for a more detailed interview coming soon.

The A's Dominican Republic contingent was still missing in action, as Miguel Tejada, Esteban German, Luis Vizcaino and Franklyn German were not present for the full-squad workouts. Star pitcher Tim Hudson was seen hobbling around on crutches, the result of a sprained ankle suffered the previous day.

Julio Zuleta and Nate Frese await their turns in the batting cage

The big sluggers hadn't reported to the Chicago Cubs camp earlier this week, but you wouldn't have known it by watching batting practice with some of the early arrivals. Reserve first baseman Julio Zuleta was hitting ball after ball over the left field fence, landing on the street just south of the Cubs' Fitch Park complex. The big, lanky right-hander drew oohs and ahs from both fans and teammates. With Fred McGriff holding down the starting job and highly-rated prospect Hee Seop Choi close behind, Zuleta would probably fare better in another organization.

Stay tuned for more news from the camps next week.

--- Bill Mitchell