So, you want to play major league baseball? Many fans likely would say yes.

However, few players can offer the kind of commitment Bret Randolph Prinz does.

The River Cats reliever, 31, has battled the odds of playing in the big leagues since being selected in the 18th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1998.

Prinz could be a poster boy for the phrase, "Been there, done that."

He's played in more than 10 different leagues, including the National, American, California and Pacific Coast. He has a World Series ring as a member of the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks. He has played on more than 20 teams.

The right-hander was playing with the Somerset (N.J.) Patriots of the independent Atlantic League when the A's and his Tampa-based agent, Tom O'Connell, made contact this spring.

River Cats pitching coach Rick Rodriguez said Prinz's experience is valuable. "He's got a good fastball and slider, and he's starting to throw a splitter," Rodriguez said. "He had it before, but he's brought it back, and it's not a bad pitch."

Joining the A's organization brought back Prinz's belief in returning to the majors.

"I figured I'd play one more year and then take it to the house," he said recently. "I want to coach high school ball in Arizona."

That was when he was playing for the Patriots. The River Cats lost a few pitchers and needed help. A's assistant general manager David Forst reached out to O'Connell, and Prinz reached back.

Prinz joined the River Cats on June 1 and has had some solid moments out of the bullpen. His ERA is 6.60 in 15 innings, but remember, Justin Duchscherer, the A's All-Star, had a 6.75 ERA in 2 2/3 innings here. We're talking abbreviated work shifts.

Prinz no longer is thinking retirement. "At Somerset, I was one step away from retirement," he said. "Now I'm one step away from the big leagues. It's a lot easier mentally when you know the next call could be that one."

Meanwhile, his World Series ring is in a safety deposit box.

"I bought my dad one so I can see it when he wears it," Prinz said. "And back with affiliated baseball, you never know what can happen."

Don't smirk at No. 36

If you listen to talk around town, you might think Sacramento State athletics stink. However, that's because our society places so much emphasis on college football and men's basketball. And the Hornets recently have laid eggs in those areas.

Sports Illustrated recently ranked the Hornets' athletic program No. 36 among 330 Division I programs. That highlights how successful the other sports in the program have been.

The guess here is the football and basketball programs were included in the equation. Even so, Ohio State, Alabama, Louisville and Syracuse all have to look up at Sac State in this rating.

Managers exceed expectations

Willie Randolph, John McLaren and John Gibbons have found out this season how difficult it can be to keep a major league managerial job.

Occasionally, however, managers such as Texas' Ron Washington and Minnesota's Ron Gardenhire fool the experts.

It was a matter of when, not if, Washington would be fired earlier in the season when the Rangers lost seven in a row and 12 of 14, dropping them to 7-16. Now they are 52-48.

The Twins were supposed to struggle mightily after losing center fielder Torii Hunter and starting pitcher Johan Santana.

But through Monday, they were a half game behind the A.L. Central-leading Chicago White Sox and firmly in the wild-card race under Gardenhire's direction. The guy may be the most underrated manager in baseball.

Call The Bee's Martin McNeal, (916) 326-5504.