Greg Smith: full-time starter?

Rookie Greg Smith pitches tonight for the Oakland A's. My interest in Smith is two-fold. First, I covered his career in high school at Alexandria Senior High in Alexandria, LA. Second, his fantasy value -- as well as other A's pitchers' fantasy values -- could be in store for a big change with what happens against the Texas Rangers tonight.

A few years back, Smith starred as both a pitcher and first baseman for the ASH Trojans, the same school Dodgers outfielder Juan Pierre attended. Smith was groomed to play a high level of baseball by ASH coach Don Boniol, who sent several players to LSU. Boniol is connected to big-time sports on multiple levels. He also coached football at ASH, which typically sent a player or two to the college ranks. Boniol's son Chris kicked for the Dallas Cowboys. If it is possible for a high school to prepare a kid for the next level, ASH certainly has the credentials. Boniol definitely did a great job with his son, Pierre and Smith.

Back to tonight's Oakland game with Texas. Smith throws in what will be just his seventh MLB start. That it's his seventh start is not nearly as significant as it is the first time Smith will be throwing against a team he has already faced. On May 4th the Rangers managed just three hits in six innings against the 24-year-old left hander, striking out 10 times. If Smith can duplicate these numbers after Texas has seen and scouted him, his outstanding start to the season (2-1, 2.54 ERA, 31 K) should keep him in the Oakland rotation.

Smith already received a vote of confidence just last night when the A's moved righty Chad Gaudin out of the rotation to make room for Rich Harden, who is returning from the disabled list. Many speculated that either Smith or fellow first-year Athletic Dana Eveland would be demoted to the bullpen or to Triple-A Sacramento. That the A's chose to go with Smith and Eveland (24) over Gaudin (25) speaks volumes of their faith in the relatively untested left handers. That faith will only be reinforced tonight if Smith can make it two straight strong outings against a Major League ballclub. If not, Gaudin waits in the wing. He won a starting job just last season and has now lost it while still pitching well. It proves the A's are not necessarily committed to whom they give initial opportunities. Smith needs to take note.

Spitting Seeds' recommendation: Smith's been great at this point, but he and Eveland are like coal miners now that there are so many starting options in Oakland; they walk around on shaky ground.