Former Cougars making major impact with A's
It really is amazing what can happen in a span of a year.
Just ask Travis Buck, who played for the Kane County Cougars in 2005.
He went from being just another rookie on the Oakland Athletics, the major league affiliate of the Class A Cougars, to perhaps the next face of the franchise.
The A's have had a fair amount of turnover from last year, but Buck, a right fielder, has become a permanent fixture.
"It's crazy how things change, but I am used to this organization," said Buck, who was in Chicago last week when the A's were in town playing the White Sox. "It means a lot to me that the organization thinks highly of me. I just have to go out and do what I do."
Joe Blanton is thinking the same thing. He played for the Cougars in 2003 and made his debut with the A's in 2005.
He once was the No. 5 starter, but this year, after Dan Haren was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Rich Harden has spent a lot of time on the disabled list, he's moved into the No. 1 slot.
Blanton got the nod to start when the A's had their season opener in Japan against the Red Sox March 25 and in the home opener at McAfee Coliseum April 1.
"It was really exciting for me to open the year," Blanton said. "It's almost like I got to throw two openers. It was a big honor to be able to do that."
Two other current pitchers on the A's, pitchers Huston Street and Santiago Castilla (formerly known as Jairo Garcia) were both on the Cougars in 2004.
Castilla was named a Midwest League All-Star in 2004 after his debut in Kane County in 2003 -- the first year the Cougars were affiliated with the A's.
Street, a closer, went on to win Rookie of the Year in the American League in 2005 and Castilla has been consistent in the bullpen for three seasons.
At the start of the season, Buck hit No. 1 in the lineup, but struggled. He was moved to the No. 8 spot before landing a spot on the disabled list with shin splints April 19. He's batting .154 with 6 RBI this year.
Buck's slow start hasn't changed how Cougars manager Aaron Nieckula feels about him. When Buck was in Kane County, Nieckula was the team's hitting coach. When Buck was with the Cougars, he batted around .360.
"Buck is a guy who is obviously very talented and plays the game hard," Nieckula said. "He's a great dude on and off the field. He very much has potential to be a household name. I don't mean to put pressure on the kid (after saying that), but just watching him play, I know what he can do."
Blanton is struggling a bit as well, as he is 1-4 in 6 starts. Street had trouble staying off the disabled list last year, but has recorded 6 saves and 10 strikeouts this year.
In the off-season, both Blanton and Street got married. Blanton did it in November and Street wed in January.
While in Chicago, none of the former Cougars got a chance to visit Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva. The A's were in town for two days, and the second day, April 15, was a noon game.
Still after all these years, Blanton said he's never forgotten his time as a Cougar.
"There were good times and great teammates there," Blanton said. "I still keep in touch with some of them now. It was a great place to play. Around the (Midwest League), Kane County was the best."
cbolin@dailyherald.com