Graveman’s stint as temp
ARLINGTON, Texas — Opening Night starter Kendall Graveman didn’t have any work to do in the A’s final four-game series at Texas — so he volunteered for some.
For two days, Graveman has served as one of the visiting clubhouse attendants — picking up laundry, cleaning cleats, finding lost items, providing food and a host of other jobs. “It’s so I don’t drive myself crazy,” said Graveman, whose last start was Wednesday.
Lots of the players and coaches had fun with it, requesting that Graveman fetch different items for them or chiding him for losing articles of clothing.
“I’m not going to have to tip you, am I?” manager Bob
Melvin said as he strolled past Graveman wearing the full “clubbie” uniform, blue shirt with black shorts.
Graveman said he has a new appreciation for what clubhouse attendants do after working as a temp.
“Sometimes we might take them a little bit for granted,” Graveman said. “To help these guys and do everything from doing dishes to folding towels, just every small thing that goes on . ... These guys are here before we arrive, getting everything ready, and they’re here for two hours after we
leave. A lot of times, they just don’t get noticed, all the time and effort they put in to help us. It’s tremendous to see what they do on a daily basis.”
The biggest challenge Saturday came when first-base coach Mike Aldrete spilled something, “so we had to wash his pants separately,” Graveman said. “And I didn’t realize how many people misplace stuff here. It’s like a shirt or batting gloves, and you’re searching and driving yourself crazy. You always see them walking around the clubhouse looking and you’re wondering, ‘What are they looking for?’ But you don’t know what someone asked them to find.”
Graveman located lost batting gloves, underwear and coach Steve Scarsone’s shirt. Melvin lost a shirt that Graveman had yet to track down. “Still on the prowl,” he said.
How is the fledgling clubbie doing so far? “He’s better than my own guys!” visiting clubhouse manager Kelly Terrell said.