The departed Jason Giambi provided the power and the charisma. Young starters Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Barry Zito provide the pitching and the foundation for the future. But in less than one season in Oakland, Jermaine Dye already has become the heart of the club. And, for the first time since last October, that heart is healthy. Or close enough.
It’s hard to say which was a more welcome sight for the A’s; Dye drilling his first home run of the year in Oakland’s 4-1 win at the Stadium last night, or the outfielder trotting around the bases – albeit limping – and making all the plays in right field. Considering how important Dye is – and how badly broken his left leg was – both must’ve been sweet.
“I’m just happy to be back in the lineup,” said the 28-year-old cleanup hitter. “The weather didn’t help too much, but I’m happy to be out there playing and helping my team win. It’s been a long road back and hopefully there are no more setbacks.”
The last time the Yankees saw Dye before this series, he was writhing on the ground after fouling an Orlando Hernandez pitch into his left leg during last October’s ALDS Game 4. His tibia shattered like a window pane; and indeed, it’s been an offseason’s worth of pain to get back to this point.
But there he was last night, drilling Mike Mussina’s high, 2-2 fastball over the wall in right to give his A’s a 3-0, third-inning lead. It’s hard to overstate what he means to this team. They struggled for much of last year, but after his arrival from Kansas City last July 25 they went 48-14 and took the Yanks the distance in the best-of-5 ALDS before his injury.
He labored all winter to rehab, and the A’s showed their faith in – reliance upon? – him with a three-year, $32 million contract that was the richest in club history. He wasn’t ready to play coming out of spring training and the A’s opened just 12-10 without him; but since his return to the lineup last Friday against Chicago, they’re 4-1.
Between his bat – he’s averaged 114 RBIs the last three years – and his glove in right, he lifts this team, even if he isn’t completely healthy. They’re 14-1 when he homers, and even wearing a shinguard, even knowing he won’t be pain-free all year, they’re better when he plays, whether he’s 100 percent or not.
“That’s why we want him in the lineup. We know what he can do offensively and defensively,” said manager Art Howe. “We were just biding our time, waiting for him to get healthy enough to put him on the field. Now that he is, that gives you an idea of what he can do for us.”