A Giant in the Clubhouse

It’s barely past 8 a.m. when Mark Sweeney calls for someone in the San Francisco Giants’ clubhouse to turn up the tunes.

“We need more music, buddy! Give me a little power,” he hollers from his locker.

If his teammates weren’t awake already, that certainly got their attention. A few minutes later, he’s making an announcement asking for more contributions to a team charity project.

The casual observer would never know Sweeney just joined the Giants in December as a free agent. He’s been an instant hit with his teammates this spring, making them laugh, reaching out to mentor young minor leaguers, organizing goodwill activities and most of all accepting that his role as first baseman and outfielder likely will be a part-time one -- as it’s been for most of his 12-year big league career.

“I think we’ve had a bunch of new guys and learned to kind of change the atmosphere around here,” said Sweeney, determined to help his new club end a two-year playoff drought. “We’ve had fun, but we’re doing a lot of work and getting stuff done. That’s the way I was always raised in this game with all the teammates I’ve had -- enjoy yourself but act professional and go about your business the right way.”

Never an All-Star, the 36-year-old Sweeney signed a $1.8 million, two-year contract in December after he switched teams three times in the past four seasons. He’s played in a World Series, in 1998 with the Padres, who were swept by the New York Yankees.

The Giants liked Sweeney for his left-handed bat -- insurance in a lineup featuring 41-year-old lefty slugger Barry Bonds -- and his ability as a pinch-hitter. Sweeney offers versatility on defense and could wind up playing several positions this season, including the corner outfield spots, though he will primarily serve as the top backup to Lance Niekro at first base.

“Everyone’s taken a liking to him. He’s a pretty likable guy,” outfielder Jason Ellison said. “He enjoys it. He’s always having fun, always cracking jokes with everybody and he doesn’t want to leave anybody out.”

A ninth-round draft pick by the California Angels in 1991, Sweeney batted .294 last year for San Diego in his third stint with the Padres -- the best hitting numbers of his career over a full season.

He also posted career highs with 135 games played, 221 at-bats and 65 hits. He matched his career best for RBIs with 40 and doubles with 12, and hit eight home runs.

The Giants appreciate having him around as a veteran leader on a roster that has a lot of older players.

“I think our clubhouse has been a little tense the past couple years,” pitcher Jason Schmidt said. “We haven’t had any bad guys. It’s just we’ve had a lot of veteran, serious guys and they go about their business.

“You can be funny and still go about your business,” he said. “I had tried to play some jokes over the years because that’s what I like to do. Half the time guys got mad and half the time guys enjoyed it. Last year, nobody enjoyed it and we weren’t winning.”

Already, Sweeney helped organize San Francisco’s spinoff of the hit Fox show “American Idol,” which the team called Giants Idol.

Even Bonds -- a star long known for keeping to himself in his corner locker -- got into it. Twice he dressed up as Paula Abdul to judge the show, the first day sporting a black strapless dress and blonde wig over his shaven head.

“It was his brainchild,” reliever Tyler Walker said of Sweeney. “We had a good time with it.”

During an at-bat Wednesday against Seattle’s Jamie Moyer, Sweeney turned and had a few friendly words with the umpire before stepping back into the batter’s box. He was hitting .250 with a home run and three RBIs through three exhibition games.

San Francisco was a team Sweeney targeted after becoming a free agent last fall. He sees similarities between the Giants and St. Louis, where he played from 1995-97. At this late point in his career, he wants to make one more deep playoff run -- whatever his role might be.

“That’s what my whole career’s been,” he said. “Whatever they ask me to do, I’m all for it.

“I don’t have any expectations. I’ll go in and hopefully contribute to the team. That’s how I’ve always been, no matter what situation I’ve been in.”