TEMPE, Ariz. -- November came quickly, and by the time Johnny Giavotella met Ron Washington on the field for an entire offseason of defensive work, the rumors were already swirling. The Angels were said to be scouring the market for help at second base, and Giavotella was hurt by that. He thought he had a good year, felt he had finally established himself in the Major Leagues and began to lament how unfair it all seemed.
Washington -- the longtime Rangers manager, current A's third-base coach and noted fielding guru -- stopped him midsentence.
"Who [cares]?