Byrnes getting his shot in center for A's

By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Eric Byrnes is being given the chance to become the everyday center fielder for the Oakland Athletics.

Manager Ken Macha and general manager Billy Beane decided Tuesday to use the wildly acrobatic Byrnes in center for now and evaluate how he handles running the outfield.

``We're going to give him a little run there and see how he does,'' Macha said Thursday. ``His improvement has been dramatic since the first year he came up here. I discussed it with Billy two days ago that perhaps we should take a look at Byrnes and see what he's going to do for you on a regular basis.''

Macha spoke Thursday morning with Chris Singleton, signed in December as a free agent to a one-year contract to be the A's starting center fielder. Macha believes Singleton has the speed, versatility and arm strength to play any spot in the outfield he started in right on Thursday.

Back in spring training, Macha stressed that players write the lineup.

``This is competition,'' he said. ``It kind of puts me in a tough spot, having to decide between one or the other.''

The 27-year-old Byrnes is having a breakout season in his first full year in the big leagues. He entered Thursday's game against Texas batting .327 with eight homers and 32 RBIs, then hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning for his ninth of the year and a 4-0 A's lead. He's already had hitting streaks of 22 and 10 games this year, and has hit safely in 10 of his last 11. He homered in three straight games last weekend to help the A's sweep the Montreal Expos.

Byrnes said he prefers playing center, where he gets to cover more ground and direct the other two outfielders.

``I'm excited,'' he said. ``I'm not going to approach it any differently. I like being out there and I like being the one to call everybody off if I have to. I like running to the ball. It's just a little more exciting. You know me, I like the action. Wherever the action is, I want to stick my nose in it.''

He has been working to improve his throwing, too. Byrnes is unconventional in many ways, and often nearly falls over when he sets for a throw because he gets so much of his body behind it that he leaves the ground.

``I've fallen over many times,'' he said. ``It's something I've taken really seriously over the course of the years, to become a better baseball player in all aspects.''

Singleton said this week he wants to be in a situation where he plays every day, but also understands that Byrnes is playing so well Macha can't take him out of the lineup.

``This game doesn't get me down like it did a few years ago,'' Singleton said. ``I've got perspective. The one thing that's constant is change.''

Singleton is hitting .304 with one homer and 19 RBIs.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)