Lincecum unfazed by arbitration process

SAN FRANCISCO -- Of all the things that come naturally to Tim Lincecum, bitterness doesn't seem to be one of them.

Lincecum said Friday that he's aware of the rancor that a player might harbor toward club management following a salary arbitration hearing. But the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner, who appears bound for such a hearing with the Giants, sounded devoid of any potential ill will as he discussed the process and seemed almost curious about it.

"I've already heard [about] things that could go on in that room," said Lincecum, one of dozens of Giants in town to participate in Saturday's KNBR 680/Giants FanFest at AT&T Park. "I'll try to take it as constructive criticism, I suppose."

It's difficult to comprehend how the Giants might attempt to demean Lincecum, 25. The right-hander became not only the fourth National Leaguer to win the Cy Young Award in consecutive seasons but also the franchise's premier performer, capably filling the void left by all-time home run leader Barry Bonds.

But minimizing Lincecum's achievements would indeed be the Giants' task if they hope to have arbiters settle on the $8 million they offered for a one-year salary. Lincecum filed for $13 million, which would be the highest sum awarded to a first-year arbitration-eligible player. Teams and players typically compromise, but once they enter the hearing, all negotiating ends and the arbiters must select one figure or the other. In Lincecum's case, the vast $5 million gulf between the sides increases the challenge of forging a pre-hearing compromise.

A close associate of Lincecum's said earlier this week that the Giants ace was approaching this process with his typically easygoing attitude -- "Business 101," the person said. Lincecum indeed exuded calm when he was asked if the apparently impending clash with the Giants angered him.

"I think the business side of it is what we're scraping at right now," said Lincecum, who earned $650,000 last year. "Going through arbitration, everybody knows what can happen and the feelings that can get hurt. I'm just trying to keep an open mind. If anybody knows my flaws, I do. If they're going to point them out and that has to happen, then whatever. I know I have to get better. It's not like my feelings are hurt."

That's easy to say now, before the hearing that must be held by Feb. 20. What about afterward?

"I try not to have ill feelings about anything," insisted Lincecum, who plans on attending the hearing. "... The whole purpose is to help the team win. It's not about a grudge match."

Don't mistake Lincecum's placid outlook as outright indifference. He doesn't speak to his agent, Rick Thurman, each day. But he's monitoring the situation. Lincecum said that he's "not being too oblivious to everything, but not getting too involved either. I'll let my agent do his job and I'll just do mine."

One ominous item of evidence the Giants could use against Lincecum is the charge brought against him for misdemeanor marijuana possession. Not even that prospect was enough to boil Lincecum's blood.

"If they do [raise the subject], I just know that's one thing I said I'm going to not let happen again," he said. "I feel like I've made a step forward from it and I've become a better person from it. I have to stop making stupid decisions. ... It's like, it's time to grow up now."

Giants manager Bruce Bochy wasn't the least bit worried about Lincecum's attitude.

"Knowing Timmy, he'll be fine," Bochy said.

Lincecum addressed other subjects, including:

• His hair, which was slightly shorter. He said that he trimmed it three inches for the recent Baseball Writers' Association of America dinner in New York, where he received his 2009 Cy Young trophy. "It looked unhealthy," Lincecum said of his pre-dinner 'do.

• Catcher Bengie Molina's return. "He's half the reason I got those [Cy Young] awards," Lincecum said. "Sometimes you lose your focus out there, and sometimes the catcher has to come out there and tell you, 'Hey, wake up.' He's always there for me. He reads me really well."

• His Cy Young hardware, which happened to be sitting in the back of his car as he spoke. He intends to give his 2008 trophy to his father, Chris, who has served as his pitching mentor. "Maybe Bengie and I will split the other one," Lincecum said.

Baseball celebrates Babe's 115th birthday

The face of Major League Baseball for three quarters of a century is looking a little faint these days.

Babe Ruth's place in history is indelible, but not so his place in the record book. The Bambino wrote that book during his influential 1914-35 career, but a generation of neo-sluggers have been doing their own edits.

Then, one day the sobering fact suddenly hits that the Sultan of Swat is no longer the Sultan of Stat. Most of his significant records have been erased. A few years ago, the Boston Red Sox even threw off his identifying curse by winning a World Series.

The Babe just can't seem to catch a break these days.

And now his birthday party gets snowed out.

The Babe Birthday Bash planned by the Babe Ruth Museum in Baltimore for today -- George Herman's 115th birthday -- had to be postponed with an approaching storm expected to dump as much as 20 inches of snow. The event was re-scheduled for next Saturday.

Nonetheless, happy birthday, Babe. Here's hoping your remaining records survive longer than the wax in those 115 candles.

When Ruth retired in the middle of the 1935 season after taking the last swings of his half-season cameo with the Boston Braves, he owned 17 major single-season and career records -- many he had already held for a long time, having shattered the existing standards early in his career.

He is down to four:

• Highest career slugging percentage: .690
• Highest career OPS (on-base plus slugging): 1.164
• Most extra-base hits, season: 119 (in 1921)
• Most times reaching base, season: 379 (1923).

That's it.

All the magic numbers are gone. But the magic will never fade. For decades, Americans reacted with instant recognition to 60-714, Ruth's homer records for a season and for a career.

Quick test: What is the new career number? (762, but the hunch is you had to look it up.)

The good news is, Babe's diminished role in the record books is safe. No one will touch his career slugging mark in an era in which normal people do not even reach .690 for a season. Similarly, an OPS of .900 any season is considered exceptional. And to put his remaining season marks into modern perspective: The most extra-base hits Albert Pujols has had in any season is 99, and the most times Ichiro Suzuki has reached base is 315.

The Bambino's role in baseball's evolution, of course, can never be diminished, or measured. Although some have tried: In 1919, the season prior to Ruth's game-changing trade to New York, the 16 MLB teams drew an average of 408,277 fans; by '27, Ruth's captivating 60-homer season, that average was up to 620,179.

Last season, the 30 MLB teams had an average season draw of 2,447,736.

Just part of the Bambino's legacy.

As are the records he did own, which at least presented a noble target for which his heirs to aim.

Gammons: A's faced with obstacles

It's not like Oakland was ever a baseball town like St. Louis. Even when the Athletics were in the midst of winning three consecutive World Series titles from 1972-74, owner Charles O. Finley had members of the front office distributing box lunches in the press box, and the Coliseum was hardly ever filled.

Then, after they won their fifth consecutive divisional title in 1975, Finley saw with free agency coming that he couldn't survive by trying to hold onto his very talented veteran players. He cited how Connie Mack twice won and then dismantled the team in Philadelphia and tried to follow his lead, attempting to sell Vida Blue, Rollie Fingers and Joe Rudi to the Yankees and Red Sox on June 15, 1976 -- a month before a historic labor agreement took effect giving teams six years of Major League control over players before they could go to free agency -- only to be blocked by then-Commissioner Bowie Kuhn. By the late '70s, the Coliseum had been nicknamed "The Mausoleum" and about all that was memorable was M.C. Hammer giving Finley the play-by-play via a press box phone.

The Haas family bought out Finley in 1980 and through the creative genius of team president Roy Eisenhardt and his subsequent hiring of a brilliant attorney named Sandy Alderson, the franchise was revived in the early '80s. Rickey Henderson, Dave Stewart and the now-Bash-terisked "Bash Brothers" team won one World Series, three pennants and four division titles from 1988 to 1992.

They once again stripped the roster down and Alderson and general manager Billy Beane rebuilt the club. With Beane at the helm, the Athletics began a run in 1999 of eight consecutive winning seasons, including five playoff appearances.

Hey, the A's have a 110-year history of being down at the crossroads of relocation in Philadelphia, Kansas City and Oakland (Finley once tried to move the club to Louisville, as well), and after three seasons averaging 75 wins, they are back at that crossroads, a day away from where they want to be.

The Coliseum has been trashed by the NFL's answer to Hell's Angels. The A's drew slightly over 1.4 million fans last season, the fewest in the Majors. Matt Holliday hated the place. Beane offered more years and more money to free agents Adrian Beltre and Marco Scutaro than did the Red Sox, and both ended up in Boston. Unless a compromise can be struck with the Giants on territorial rights in San Jose, to save the franchise owned by his college roommate Lew Wolfe, the future may once again raise the specter of contraction.

Beane is trying to restore the Athletics to take the Bay Area's eyes off Tim Lincecum and The Kung Fu Panda, Pablo Sandoval. It's not as if they were dreadful; they won 75 games, more than eight other teams, and their run differential (-2) was better than 13 teams. Andrew Bailey won the American League Rookie of the Year Award.

But because their payroll must remain in the mid-$50 million range, their resources are far from that of the Angels ($120 million), Mariners ($100 million) or even the Rangers ($80 million). Beane signed Ben Sheets for $10 million, Coco Crisp for $5.25 million, and then ate $1.3 million in the Aaron Miles-Willy Taveras deal to grab left side utilityman Adam Rosales. He then re-signed Michael Wuertz and Justin Duchscherer to deals that were two years, $5.25 million and one year at $2 million, respectively.

Yet, whether it's Baseball Prospectus' PECOTA or the numerology used by different teams, the A's are considered serious contenders in the AL West. These prognostications for the upcoming season show the A's win totals ranging anywhere from 80-82 and six games out of the AL West, to one team's formula, which has them winning 89 games, more than any AL team not based in New York, Boston or St. Petersburg.

What Beane tried to do in 2009 was get Holliday, Jason Giambi, Orlando Cabrera and some veteran players to join what turned out to be the youngest pitching rotation in the league. That didn't work; after winning two of their first three games (against the Angels), the A's never got over .500 for the rest of the season. But some development occurred, as Brett Anderson became one of the best young left-handed pitchers in the league and Bailey (1.84 ERA, 49 hits in 83 1/3 innings and a 91-24 strikeout-to-walk ratio) closed for a bullpen that was one of the two best in the league, with Wuertz (52 hits, 102 strikeouts in 78 2/3 innings), Brad Ziegler and Craig Breslow. And this bullpen should be better with Joey Devine coming off injury.

Now with Sheets, Anderson, Duchscherer, Dallas Braden, Trevor Cahill and Vin Mazzaro, the staff should be good from start to finish.

OK, the offense didn't work, finishing ninth in the AL in runs, last in homers and 12th in OPS. But between the ninth, first and second holes, manager Bob Geren can play around with Crisp, Ryan Sweeney and last year's revelation, Rajai Davis. Kurt Suzuki can hit second or third, Kevin Kouzmanoff, DH Eric Chavez, Jack Cust and Daric Barton can all bat somewhere in the middle. The pitching, theoretically, will cushion the pressure as they bring their young position players up from Sacramento during the season. Some of the prospects who could see time in Oakland this season are outfielder Michael Taylor (acquired from Philadelphia through Toronto in the Roy Halladay trade this offseason), first baseman Chris Carter (92 home runs over his last three Minor League seasons), infielder Adrian Cardenas, first baseman-outfielder Sean Doolittle and second baseman Jemile Weeks, a former first-round Draft pick.

"By the late part of the season, we should have a pretty good young team," Beane said. "We just have to have some patience."

If the Athletics do win the division, perhaps it will attract enough attention to give the franchise the hope of a real ballpark. But it will not be easy. The Angels are always good. Seattle and Texas turned their teams around last season with serious defensive upgrades, and the Mariners now have Cliff Lee to go with Felix Hernandez. The AL West had the best record outside its division of any of the six in baseball.

The Athletics are 160 games above .500 over the last dozen seasons, and if the stadium had been maintained and honed as a baseball-only facility, maybe it would have worked. Even with the possibility that the A's could be the best team in their division in 2010, right now there doesn't seem to be much hope that the franchise can ever be much more than fattening frogs for snakes.

Too bad. Intelligence and competence should matter, but in this case it doesn't, which is how the Raiders rule and the A's are pleading to find a way to get them into San Jose, or out, period.

Athletics deal Eveland to Blue Jays

OAKLAND -- The A's traded left-handed pitcher Dana Eveland to Toronto for a player to be named later or cash considerations on Saturday.

The transaction comes just five days after the 26-year-old Eveland was designated for assignment.

He began and finished the 2009 season in the starting rotation but mostly saw action at Triple-A Sacramento, where he went 8-6 with a 4.94 ERA in 21 starts. Meanwhile, he struggled during three stints in Oakland, going 2-4 with a 7.16 ERA in 13 games -- nine of which he started.

Originally acquired from Arizona in the Dan Haren trade following the 2007 season, Eveland leaves Oakland with a combined 11-13 record and 4.92 ERA in 42 games (38 starts) through two years. Just two out of the six players received in that trade -- Brett Anderson and Chris Carter -- are still with the A's.

Oakland had 10 days from the time Eveland was designated to trade, release or send him to the Minors if he cleared waivers. The club now has only five days to do so with the other two players designated on the same day -- infielder Gregorio Petit and outfielder Willy Taveras, who was acquired in a trade with the Reds.

Reynolds looking for multiyear deal

PHOENIX -- Mark Reynolds said he has begun to have discussions with the D-backs concerning a multiyear contract.

"It's kind of a sticky situation," Reynolds said Friday during an open team workout at Chase Field. "I don't really want to say much about it, but there are talks. There's years being thrown back and forth right now. No money yet, but it could be anywhere from a two- to three-year deal with a couple of options is what I hear. I think the week of the 15th, there's going to be some formal offers made, at least that's what my agent told me yesterday."

Earlier this week, Arizona managing general partner Ken Kendrick told MLB.com: "Under the right circumstances, and it takes both sides, there are four or five guys and Mark is one of them that are core guys that we would like to not have to go through year-by-year arbitration with if we can agree on a multiyear deal."

Reynolds finished just days shy of qualifying for salary arbitration this year, so the club will set his salary for 2010 unless the two sides hammer out an agreement on either a one-year or a multiyear deal.

As is his policy, D-backs general manager Josh Byrnes declined to comment specifically on whether there were talks with Reynolds.

"We have an ongoing dialogue at all times with many of our players," Byrnes said. "With respect to what people want to call active negotiations, I won't comment on that. I'll just say we keep the lines of communication open."

Last season, Reynolds hit .260 with 44 homers and 102 RBIs while collecting an .892 OPS (on-base plus slugging).

"If it gets done, it gets done," Reynolds said of a deal. "If it doesn't, it doesn't. If they come at me with a reasonable offer that's fair, it's something that I'll be willing to take a look at. I'm not hell bent on signing a contract, but it's always nice to make that first fortune and have some guaranteed security. At the same time, I have to play this year and prove that last year was not a fluke."

In order to make sure he does that, Reynolds said he would prefer the negotiations not drag into the regular season, something that Kendrick also said was his preference.

"That's a distraction that I don't really want during the season, and they know that I've expressed that to them," Reynolds said. "If we can work it out and get it done, it would be a weight off my mind -- and I'm sure theirs, too. We'll see where it goes, and in the next couple of weeks, we should know a lot more."

Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on Feb. 19, while position players do so on Feb. 23.

Castilla helps Mexico walk off with win

MARGARITA ISLAND, Venezuela -- Vinny Castilla's list of retirement activities includes golf, family vacations and game-winning hits in the Caribbean Series.

On Friday, the former Major League star and current member of the Colorado Rockies front office drove home Heber Gomez with a single to left field in the bottom of the 10th inning to propel Mexico to a 3-2 victory against Venezuela in the Caribbean Series at Estadio Nueva Esparta.

With the victory, Mexico improves to 2-2 in the tournament and Venezuela falls to 1-3. The Dominican Republic leads the pack with a 3-1 record. Puerto Rico is also 2-2.

"That is why he is Vinicio Castilla," Mexico manager Homar Rojas said. "He's been a good hitter for a long time. Nobody is surprised when he does something like that."

Castilla is full of surprises. He ceremoniously retired from Winter League play at the Caribbean Series in Puerto Rico in 2007 before returning this year.

"I retired, but I came back," Castilla, 42, said. "I still feel good and I can play a little bit."

Castilla could always "play a little bit." During his run with Atlanta, Colorado, Tampa Bay, Houston, Washington and San Diego, Castilla proved to be the most productive offensive Major League player in his country's history, posting a .276 batting average, with 1,105 RBIs and 320 home runs. He retired from Major League Baseball as a player in 2006 and a few months later, from Winter League ball after 20 years of play.

Castilla is playing in his sixth Caribbean Series.

"He has tons of experience and knows how to hit," said Venezuela manager Dave Hudgens, who works in the front office for Cleveland. "It was 11:30 p.m. and the end of the game, I was hoping he was tired. I was hoping it was past his bed time but it wasn't."

Venezuela had its chances.

Padres farmhand Oscar Salazar drove home Erold Andrus, the brother of Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus, in the third inning to give Venezuela a 2-0 lead. Michael Ryan, who spent four seasons with the Twins from 2002-05, hit a solo home run in the second inning to give Venezuela a 1-0 lead.

Ryan, 31, who has a non-roster invitation with the Angels for Spring Training, hit .300 with 14 home runs and 66 RBIs for Florida's Triple-A club in New Orleans. In 14 seasons in the Minors, Ryan has a .271 batting average in 1,389 games.

Castilla had help. Mexico right fielder Karim Garcia, who spent parts of 10 seasons with the Dodgers, D-backs, Tigers, Orioles, Indians and Yankees starting in 1995, went 2-for-4 with a game-tying home run in the sixth. He last played in the Major Leagues with the Orioles in 2004. Garcia has spent the past few seasons playing in Monterrey, Mexico and in Korea.

Garcia's teammate, Chris Roberson, who spent last year with Arizona's Triple-A Reno club, went 1-for-4 with a run scored.

As for Salazar, he saw action at four different positions in the infield in addition to left field and designated hitter in the big leagues in 2009. Should he make the team out of Spring Training, it will be as a right-handed bat off the bench.

"It doesn't matter how old you are, every time you win a game for your country it's special," Castilla said. "I'm glad I can help my country."

Galarraga ready to be Cabrera's mentor

MARGARITA ISLAND, Venezuela -- The Big Cat could be joining the Tigers soon.

Andres Galarraga will likely join Detroit during Spring Training to serve as a mentor to Miguel Cabrera, the former Major Leaguer told the Venezuelan Web site Panorama.com.

Cabrera made headlines last October when he was taken into police custody but not charged following an incident with his wife in suburban Detroit that left him with scratches and bruises on his face. The Tigers infielder has undergone counseling to deal with his alcohol issues, and said he has not had a drink since the end of last season.

"Detroit wants me to be with Miguel during Spring Training and that's where we are," said Galarraga, who was at the Caribbean Series working as a broadcaster for Venezuelan television. "If it's for Spring Training, I think I will accept, but if it's for the season, I don't want to be away from my home for eight months. I hope they accept that it's only for Spring Training because to be there for six weeks is perfect."

As a coach for Venezuela during the World Baseball Classic, Galarraga worked with Cabrera on the transition from third base to first base. He also served as a mentor during the tournament.

"Maybe it's one of those things that Miguel is interested in me continuing to help him," Galarraga said. "It seems [general manager] Dave Dombrowski and manager Jim Leyland think it's a good idea."

Galarraga believes he can be a good influence on Cabrera.

"Miguelito is preparing himself. After the rehabilitation, he's coming in the best condition," he said. "Miguelito has been a superstar since he started and now he's prepared mentally and physically. I believe he's going to have an explosive year."