Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
Wire servicesThe former Red Sox catcher's move to Oakland's infield has paid with power at the plate.
OAKLAND, Calif. - The novelty has worn off for Scott Hatteberg. He feels like a first baseman now - not a catcher stranded 90 feet from his natural position.
Hatteberg spent the first 11 years of his career as a catcher in the Red Sox organization, laboring to earn a regular big-league job behind the plate. But Boston fans watching their team's division series against the Athletics won't recognize much about him.
"In a lot of ways, I'm a totally different player now," Hatteberg said. "It's a new chapter in my career. We have a whole different way of doing things over here than we did in Boston."
Hatteberg has blossomed as a hitter in the two seasons since the A's signed him as a free agent. He hit fifth Wednesday night, as the A's played the opener of their division series against Boston.
He holds no grudge toward the Red Sox, particularly since the move has been beneficial to his career and his health. But Hatteberg would fit in splendidly with the Red Sox these days.
New general manager Theo Epstein espouses most of Oakland GM Billy Beane's theories on hitting, and Hatteberg is an archetypal example of nearly everything a Beane hitter should be.
"It's funny how that works out," Hatteberg said with a grin.
He set career highs in nearly every offensive category last season, and he bested several more this season including games (147), at-bats (541), runs (63) and doubles (34). He hit .253 with 12 homers and a .342 on-base percentage.
In his first conversation with Hatteberg before last season, Beane informed the veteran catcher of his unusual plan: Hatteberg would be the replacement for Jason Giambi, the A's MVP first baseman who was lured to the Yankees by a massive contract.
Hatteberg knew almost nothing about playing the infield. He was a solid defensive catcher for the Red Sox, but his approach at the plate - working the count, taking plenty of walks, rarely striking out, prizing contact above power - didn't mesh with Boston's ideas about an everyday player.
After backing up Jason Varitek for three seasons, Hatteberg was ready to move.
"The A's didn't want to change the way I played," he said. "It sounds like a little thing, but it's great to be in a position to do your own thing."
Beane's approach fit Hatteberg. The A's value hitters who do all the little things at which Hatteberg excels, which made him the best available replacement for the irreplaceable Giambi.
Hatteberg capped his first season with the A's by hitting a winning homer in Oakland's AL-record 20th straight win.
He hasn't been quite as effective this season, with a .253 batting average that was the second-lowest of his career - but again, he excelled at the little things. For example, he swung and missed at just 8.8 percent of pitches, the third-best mark in the AL.