By Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. ? San Francisco Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff plops down at a small, circular dining table in the team clubhouse, and the circus begins.
By David J. Phillip, AP
Michael Young, the longest-tenured member of the Rangers, has requested a trade and expressed displeasure at the way he's been treated during an offseason of moves.
By David J. Phillip, AP
Michael Young, the longest-tenured member of the Rangers, has requested a trade and expressed displeasure at the way he's been treated during an offseason of moves.
He shouts that he's stressed from an early-morning photo shoot. He tells outfielder Pat Burrell he intentionally ignored his texts from the previous night. He rags on infielder Mark DeRosa for being smart.
And he playfully shoots rubber bands at a reporter's legs, asking if it might damage his chances of becoming a repeat winner of the local media's good-guy award.
"We got a bunch of good guys in here," outfielder Aaron Rowand says, "and a whole lot of clowns."
With a team that won the World Series returning almost intact, the biggest news in this camp is Huff's announcement that his infamous red rally thong ? donned throughout the Giants' magical late-season run ? is now retired.
The biggest controversy was TMZ's report that closer Brian Wilson left town last weekend to consult with embattled actor Charlie Sheen about a fourth installment of the Major League film series.
"Quite frankly, when Rick Vaughn calls the bullpen," Wilson said of Sheen's character, "I'm going to answer. On a professional level, of course."
It is not a championship hangover so much as it is an after-party.
Just 36 miles across the desert are the defending American League champions. The Texas Rangers, unlike the Giants, don't have clubhouse banners celebrating their feat.
Their first full day of camp was spent not reliving their postseason run but staging dual news conferences on why their longest-tenured player, Michael Young, wants to be traded.
"I never thought in a million years that things would unfold like it has," Young says.
Two league champions, one basking in the glory, the other unable to shake an ominous cloud.
"You have a distraction like that," says Giants reliever Sergio Romo, pausing to compare his club's situation with the Rangers, "and that hurts a team. You realize it's a privilege being here. It's just that everyone sells out for the greater goal.
"It's hard to be selfish on a team like this."
Young controversy
The Rangers can only wish their camp were as lighthearted. They instead had two news conferences involving three people trying to explain why Young is upset and seeking a trade. They couldn't even agree on that.
Young twice switched infield positions earlier in his career and was asked this winter if he would mind vacating his third-base job for free agent Adrian Beltre.
Young, 34, whose defensive range is limited, reluctantly agreed after being told he would be the full-time designated hitter. The Rangers signed Beltre to a five-year, $80 million contract and announced that Young would be used as a DH and backup infielder.
The Rangers later acquired Mike Napoli to be a part-time DH and first baseman. They also pursued DHs Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez, offering Thome a $4 million contract before he decided to return to the Minnesota Twins. Young, who is due $48 million over the next three seasons, then requested a trade.
Rangers President Nolan Ryan and general manager Jon Daniels say Young changed his mind and no longer is willing to be a designated hitter. Young says he was willing when they signed Beltre.
"The unfortunate part about this is there's probably a handful of people that know all the details, and the rest of those details aren't going to come from me," Young says. "I made myself clear. I have nothing to be ashamed of.
"But to say I agreed to (DH), and two weeks before camp just magically said, 'I change my mind,' that's not the case."
Young still wants out of Texas but says he will not be a distraction, citing his respect for teammates, manager Ron Washington and the coaching staff. If he stays put, he says he'll do everything possible to help the Rangers reach the playoffs again.
"Michael isn't the kind of person that's going to bring drama into the clubhouse," Washington says. "Michael is not a guy that's going to bring everybody down. He wants to win too bad.
"I can't get in the middle of this thing, either. I've got to protect my clubhouse. But he'll be fine."
The players selfishly want Young to stay, saying they're a better team with him. They say any distraction will be minimal, resulting from inevitable trade rumors.
"I understand how difficult it must be for him," starting pitcher C.J. Wilson says. "You always want to be told the truth and be given a chance to succeed. If you don't get that, you're going to be bummed."
Young and Daniels aren't talking. Young has said he wants to keep it that way, planning only to keep an open dialogue with Washington and Ryan.
"If a player has a problem with the GM, it's not our problem," second baseman Ian Kinsler says. "And we're not going to fall apart because of it.
"He's a Texas Ranger. He's always had our back. And we got his back."
Says veteran reliever Darren Oliver: "I hope they kiss and make up. But if not, we'll be all right."
It was nearly a year ago when the news broke that Washington had tested positive in 2009 for cocaine. The team later declared bankruptcy, was funded by Major League Baseball and sold in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in August.
The Rangers still reached the World Series.
Now, they must try to do it again without the services of Cliff Lee, who went 4-6 with a 3.98 ERA in 15 regular-season starts with Texas but won three postseason games to help clinch the pennant. He rejected more lucrative offers from the Rangers and New York Yankees to rejoin the Philadelphia Phillies.
Still, the Rangers think they are a better team, getting boosts in defense (Beltre) and power (Napoli).
If they start winning, they're convinced tranquility will follow.
"If anybody can overcome adversities, this team can," Daniels says. "We've proven that."
Giants roll with changes
The Giants certainly know about awkward moments. They overhauled their roster so dramatically throughout 2010 that Huff and Juan Uribe were the only position players who started on opening day and in the final World Series game.
Barry Zito, their $126 million left-hander, was not on the playoff roster. Rowand remained out of the starting lineup most of the postseason. Third baseman Pablo Sandoval was benched.
Burrell, instrumental in their second-half success, sat out the final World Series game.
And no one voiced a complaint through the news media.
"We knew there was something bigger at the end that we were fighting for than individual accomplishments," Zito says. "It's because of the respect we have for the game. When one guy is bigger than his team, it's not cohesive to winning."
It was easy for the Giants to put their egos aside, manager Bruce Bochy says, with the playoffs and World Series looming. Yet if veterans suddenly find themselves on the bench this spring, things can change.
"We have no issues, but deeper in the spring, we may have issues that develop," Bochy says. "You just never know."
Rowand says: "I don't think anything would disrupt the camaraderie and chemistry. I know I won't say anything. Nobody else signed my (five-year, $60 million) contract. I did. It's up to me to live up to it."
The Giants realize their sport is a business. World Series MVP Edgar Renteria and Uribe were not retained. The club instead signed shortstop Miguel Tejada to a one-year, $6.5 million deal.
The Giants can't help but notice the issues in Rangers camp.
"I feel sorry for (Young)," Tejada says. "I'm a player, but I'm also a big fan of Young. He's had great years, moved positions for them, and now this happens?"
Says DeRosa, a former teammates of Young's: "Mike's the face of that franchise. He's not only one of the best competitors in the game, but there's no classier act. He deserves to play."
That he will do ? but under far from ideal circumstances.
"This is what I love to do," Young says. "This is what I'm passionate about doing.
"After all of this stuff, there's a season to be played."
Nightengale also reported from Surprise, Ariz.
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