Center fielder Mark Kotsay has not only developed into one of the top left-handed contact hitters in baseball, he's become the undisputed leader on a young A's team in search of a front man.
The latest example manifested itself after a ragtag sixth inning Tuesday night against the Chicago White Sox. Kotsay flew into the dugout and in no uncertain terms told his teammates they ought to get their act together.
"I said, 'Bro, we've needed that for a week,'" said fellow outfielder Nick Swisher. "He goes about things a different way. Kotsay is a quiet leader. When he spoke up, he said that's the first time he's exploded in eight years, and it couldn't have happened at a better time. That's how he does things."
The A's came back and won a wild 9-7 game and beat the Sox the next day, becoming the first team to win a series against Chicago (16-6) this season.
Manager Ken Macha watched with delight as Kotsay let his teammates have it.
"I loved it," he said. "It was a miserable inning."