Guys to Root for: Marcus McBeth
I’m going to start an occasional series of articles that highlights guys that you just can’t help but want to see succeed. There could be a dozen different reasons to root for them; but the common factor is that there is a reason to root for them.
We’ll kick it all off with a Spring Training edition, concentrating on guys that — sometimes against reason — we’d all like to see get a shot at The Show.
After reading Mychael Urban’s interview with Marcus McBeth, the first selection in the “GTRF” category was easy. McBeth, as many Oakland fans already know, was an outfielder selected in the famous 2002 “Moneyball” draft. After three years in the system carrying subpar offensive numbers, McBeth was on his way out of baseball. He approached his pitching coach, and asked if he could work his way towards converting to being a pitcher. McBeth worked his butt off to make the move to the mound, and he’s been far more successful on the rubber than he was at the plate.
McBeth, out of nowhere, developed what could accurately be described as the best changeup in the Oakland system. He rode his low-90’s fastball and killer circle-change/palmball to 32 saves between A and AA ball last year. He had a brief stint at AAA in which he got shelled, but for a two-pitch closer in his second year of pitching, he still had a brilliant year.
With Oakland’s surplus of #5 starters filling the bullpen, and AAAA guys in AAA Sacramento, not to mention the entrenched closer and setup men with the big-league club, I’m not sure longshot describes McBeth’s chances at making the 25-man roster on Opening Day.
Nevertheless, I can’t help but root for him, especially after I saw that he had this to say:
I’m actually a fan. I like watching the games. For instance, when Huston Street comes on, everything stops. If I’m in my house and I see Huston Street on the TV, I quit whatever I’m doing because I want to watch that guy throw. … That guy is unbelievable.
If McBeth’s changeup is as good as they say — it’s been compared to Trevor Hoffman’s — perhaps someday people might say that about him.
February 27th, 2007 at 2:27 am
Like what you said about Mcbeth. Graduated high school together and played ball together all the way through school. He played at carolina and i played at southern wesleyan. We talk on a regular basis as we both have two young children and like to keep up with whats going on. I think he’s going to make it to the “SHOW” at some point this year. Just interested on your thoughts on this?