MESA, Ariz. -- A's great Dave Stewart accompanied the club's young pitchers on the field during Wednesday's first official spring workout. A familiar intensity remains, his mere presence often speaking louder than his gentle voice.
It's an attribute that could serve his students well.
Stewart, owner of an extensive baseball resume that includes a laundry list of accolades, was brought in by manager Bob Melvin to serve as a special instructor for the first five days of camp. It will be a crucial period for a starting staff that's operating without a veteran starter, many of its members still in the developing stage of their careers.