R.C. native Mark Ellis the A's sure hand

By Jim Holland, Journal staff | Thursday, November 22, 2007

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RAPID CITY — Once again Rapid City native Mark Ellis spoke softly and carried a big stick — and a sure glove — for the Oakland Athletics.

Ellis, 30, had his best season for the A’s in 2007, excelling at the plate and posting Gold Glove-quality defensive numbers for the second consecutive year at second base.

The Rapid City Stevens and Post 22 American Legion baseball product carried a fielding percentage of .994, with 302 put-outs, 499 assists and just five errors in 806 total chances during his fourth year with the A’s.

He batted .276, and his 19 home runs and 76 RBIs are franchise bests for his position.

His 56 career homers and 259 RBIs are also the most by an A’s second baseman.

Last year, Ellis committed only two errors in 632 chances for a league-leading fielding percentage of .997, but the Gold Glove went to Kansas City’s Mark Grudzielanek.

This year, Detroit’s Placido Polanco needed virtual perfection (helped by a scorekeeper’s change of mind) to outshine Ellis at second base and earn his first Gold Glove, as voted by the league’s coaches and managers.

Ellis has no problem with either selection.

“It would have been nice, but it’s not that big a deal. You don’t play the game for individual awards,” Ellis said in a telephone interview.

Polanco’s 147-game errorless streak, dating back to July 1, 2006, appeared to come to an end against the New York Yankees on Aug. 24.

The Detroit infielder gloved a ball hit by New York’s Melky Cabrera, but his low, wide throw to Tiger first baseman Marcus Thames was initially ruled an error.

A day later, the scorekeeper reversed his own call and tagged Thames with the miscue.

Polanco wound up with no errors in 689 chances, and owns the second-base record for consecutive games played without a gaffe, 181.

“Last year was probably the better chance for me to win, but this year, he (Polanco) didn’t have an error, and that’s pretty hard to beat,” Ellis said.

Ellis was pleased to get a full season in without major injuries.

“This year for me health-wise was very good. That’s all you can ask for is a chance to play every game, and that’s something I was able to do this year,” he said.

He lost the entire 2004 season to a torn labrum in his shoulder. In 2006, a broken thumb cost him six weeks on the disabled list in early 2006 and a broken index finger forced him to sit out the playoffs.

“When you miss a month, it just throws a wrench in your whole season. It’s hard to come back and be as productive as you want to be,” he said.

While Ellis was healthy, the rest of the A’s lineup was battered by injuries. Oakland matched a club record with 22 players on the disabled list. The A’s had at least three out all year and no fewer than five out after April 23.

Included on the walking wounded list were infielders Bobby Crosby and Eric Chavez and pitchers Rich Harden and Esteban Loaiza.

“This year was tough. The guys you’ve been playing with for three or four years aren’t out there, and that’s been the hardest part,” Ellis said.

Injuries certainly played a role in Oakland slipping to third place in the AL West with a 76-86 mark, after averaging 94 wins, winning four division crowns and making the playoffs five times over the past eight seasons.

“We’re used to having so much success in Oakland and being a playoff team, and if not a playoff team, at least being able to come down to the last week in the season,” Ellis said. “This year, we pretty much knew we were out of it the middle of August.”

Two up-notes came for Ellis late in the year, however. Ellis became the first Oakland player to be honored twice with the Jim “Catfish” Hunter Award, named for the A’s late Hall of Fame pitcher. He also won the award, chosen by players and coaches, in 2005.

With a week left in the season Oakland picked up Ellis’ option for 2008, and also re-signed manager Bob Geran through 2009.

“They did that while the season was still going on, and I thought that was real nice. I’m excited to be back in Oakland at least for another year, maybe even beyond that,” Ellis said.

For the second year, Ellis also participated in the Putouts for Diabetes program started last year by him and shortstop Crosby.

Donating $50 for every putout, Ellis raised more than $15,000 for the American Diabetes Association.

Since the season ended Ellis has been spending time at home with wife Sarah and their first child, son Briggs William Ellis, born June 1.

“He’s keeping us busy every day,” Ellis said.

Ellis said he and his family will spend some time in Rapid City over the holidays.

“We alternate either Christmas or Thanksgiving in Rapid City, and this year it’ll be for Thanksgiving. I still have a lot of family there, and we always enjoy our time in Rapid City,” Ellis said.