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April 27, 2005
A's Notebook: Macha Says Kotsay Emerging as Team Leader
OAKLAND -- The Oakland A’s may have found a new team leader who can serve as inspiration on and off the field. Before the third and final game in the series at home against the Chicago White Sox, A’s manager Ken Macha said Mark Kotsay – who had scored two runs and batted in another the previous night – was becoming a leader to the younger players.
"He’s really emerging [as a leader]," Macha said.
In Tuesday night’s game against the Sox, left fielder Eric Byrnes dropped a fly ball in the sixth inning, which allowed Juan Uribe to reach first and ultimately score. Immediately after the inning, Kotsay approached Byrnes in the dugout for what appeared to be a mix between a lecture and a pep talk. The two seemed upset at first but seemed to come to an understanding.
Macha said the players shouldn’t have emotional outbursts after they botch a play because it affects the whole team.
"It’s not the perception you have of yourself, it’s what you leave on your teammates because they are out there 1,000 percent trying to win this game," he said.
Sounds of the Clubhouse
For those unfamiliar with the fraternity-like setting which is the A’s clubhouse, the natural sound is not what one would assume.
Instead of recent popular rap songs like Fifty Cent or The Game, the clubhouse actually bumps late 90’s R&B jams. Before Wednesday’s game, the stereo blasted the Mark Morrison’s 1997 hit "Return of the Mack" on repeat.
No one enjoyed it more than A’s left fielder Charles Thomas, who loudly sang along to the chorus: "You know that I’ll be back; Here I am. Return of the Mack; once again."
"[Music] is such an important thing in my life," said Thomas. "Without music… I don’t even know."
Posted April 27, 2005 11:54 AM