The March 28 issue of ESPN: The Magazine has a feature story on Dan Haren, Joe Blanton and Dan Meyer, entitled “Beaney Babies”, written by Buster Olney.

The article doesn’t tell us much we didn’t already know, but the story has a few amusing anecdotes about each of the three pitchers. Haren had bought his dad a copy of Moneyball as a gift, and then had to borrow it when he was traded to Oakland. And there’s a funny story about how Blanton got mad at someone who showboated after a home run.

On a side note, looking at one of the photos of Blanton in the magazine, I kinda got the sensation that his face seemed familiar to me. Then it struck me that if you did a facial merge between Will Carroll and Zachary Manprin, the result might look an awful lot like Joe Blanton. Willie Joe Blanprin?

Anyway, Blanton and Haren have locked up spots in the rotation, but not so Dan Meyer. Meyer gave up four runs in 4 2/3 IP today in a 5-2 loss to the Cubs, making it increasingly likely he’ll start the year in Sacramento.

Ken Macha stated yesterday that the A’s are leaning strongly towards going with 12 pitchers. That’s bad news for Marco Scutaro (despite his home run today), and good news for Huston Street.