by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

MESA AZ–New Spring Training home of the Oakland Athletics. It was about 11AM, a couple of hours prior to the scheduled game between the A’s and the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. It was a perfect sunshine Arizona morning and the A’s were taking batting practice.

Bob Melvin, manager of the A’s was behind the batting cage watching his team take batting practice. I asked him about the overall health of his team, he mentioned that aside from Josh Reddick overall the team is healthy. He seemed to love the new field and stadium at Hohokam Park, “they did a great job, this a great place to play”. I asked him if I could go and talk with Rickey Henderson, who was on the other side of the batting cage talking with Marcus Seimen and Billy Butler, as they took turns at bat, Melvin said: “sure, go ahead, he is my first base coach for today’s game”. So I did.

There he was, the inimitable Rickey Henderson, wearing his famous #24, Hall of Fame player, among his records is his most cherished, the stolen base record(1,406). We greet, and shook hands. I feel privileged to have watched his career since he was a rookie back in 1979, just before owner Charlie O. Finley sold the team to the Haas family.

Rickey was all smiles as we both talked, while A’s hitters were taking their hacks.

Q: Rickey what is the formula, you look like you could play today?

Rickey: “Thanks man…I just keep working, love doing this, love to teach to the young kids here in camp, that’s all, nothing special, just keep working”

Q: As young #10 Marcus Semien, Bay Area guy, who went to High School in Berkeley and attended UC Berkely was taking batting Rickey said: “this guy is going to be alright, he has a good swing” I asked Rickey about minorities in the game, especially his good friend Dave Stewart, now the General Manager for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

R: “I am very happy for Stew man, he is a good man, he paid his dues, and he deserves that opportunity, that is all we want an opportunity to prove ourselves in the game, he is a General Manager, his first year and I wish him nothing but the best”.

Rickey uses a stop watch when he coaches first base, he is the best learning a pitcher and how to steal from a pitcher when you are on base.

Q: You use a stop watch when you coach first base?

R: Yes, I want to time the pitcher and at the same time teach these runners, like Coco(Coco Crisp)about stealing, it is all timing and that is the key”

Q: You told me about your great success is about a lot of hard work, but what about your longevity in the game?

R: “Blessed to be able to play for so long, and I never take anything for granted. “Even know as a coach, I come here but I have to go to work early and to set the example for these young players” We joked about the good days when he played the outfield, he would be in left, Dwayne Murphy in center and Tony Armas in right.

Q: Was it you our Murphy who gave Tony Armas the nickname of “frente de chivo”(goat forehead)?

R: (Laughter)…”No, that was Dwayne who put that nickname on Tony”

Rickey had to go to the other side of the field to give some instruction after watching batting practice, so I told him see you soon, and he said likewise.

Final:Athletics 3 Dodgers 2

However the story here; the two ace starters for each team. A’s Sonny Gray pitched very well for 5 2/3 innings gave up 2 runs on 4 hits, walked 2 and struck out 3, he did throw two wild pitches, but overall it was a good workout for the Opening Day starter for the A’s on April 6 at the Coliseum against the Texas Rangers.

For the Dodgers the reigning Cy Young and Most Valuable Player of the National League, Clayton Kershaw did his usual job as he completed five innings gave up one run on three hits struck out four and did not issue a walk. However in the bottom of the third Andy Parrino hit a soft line drive that hit Kershaw between the neck and the side of the face, the manager Don Mattingly and the Dodgers trainer came out, but he continued to pitch five innings. It was just a scare for the Dodgers. Kdershaw had command of all his pitches.

A’s lefty Barry Zito, trying to make a comeback after missing the entire 2014 season struck out five in three innings of work in relief.

Tomorrow the Athletics host the Cincinnati Reds at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa. The LA Angels will host the San Francisco Giants at Tempe. Vince Cotroneo and Ray Fosse were on hand, as they will be broadcasting that game tomorrow on the radio. Cotroneo told me that Ken Korach still is out and has not joined the A’s in camp yet, hope he will for the next weekend. In Tempe, the LA Angels host the San Francisco Giants, I will be at the Angels game and there will be a report tomorrow afternoon.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish TV voice and the A’s Spanish radio voice and does News and Commentary for http://www.sportsradioservice.com