Frank Menechino Still Scrapping

In the wake of high priced, superstar athletes taking short cuts, there are still guys like Frank Menechino. Guys who may have less talent, but just as much, if not more, desire. The utility infielder who occasionally got a full time job when a starter got hurt, is now adjust to life in a new, full-time role. Menechino is the new hitting instructor for the Yankees' Double-A club in Trenton.

Menechino can thank Brian Cashman for his new job. The two spoke back in 2006 when the Yankees signed Menechino to a Triple-A contract.

"Brian and I had a discussion," Menechino said. "I told him that my goal was to stay in the game, and he said to me, 'When the time comes, we want to get you into our system.'"

How does Menechino feel about the opportunity?

"I couldn't be happier," he said. "I'm here with my Yankees instruction book, learning the way the organization teaches and what they expect.

"The players will be coming down in the next couple of weeks, and I'm pumped up."

Menechino grew up in nearby Staten Island and later starred at the University of Alabama. He made it to the bigs with Oakland as a 28-yr old rookie, and played for seven seasons. No matter what, Menechino won't be giving up baseball any time soon.

"I'm a lifer," Menechino was saying from Tampa. "It's what I always wanted to be. If you're doing something you love as much as I love baseball, it's like you never have a job."

photo courtesy of oregonlive.com