“I don’t need to prove anything to opponents,” Foulke said. “Hopefully, if I go out and do my job and I’m the pitcher that I’m capable of being, I don’t care if they take notice or not. They don’t have to like me. They don’t have to do anything. But they do have to face me and respect me.”

Gagne, too, is expected to be ready after his 2005 season ended in June after surgery on his right elbow.

He pitched on consecutive days this week for the first time, and the once-dominant closer will resume his role at the back of the Los Angeles bullpen.

Any pressure?

“No. I know I’m going to be the same pitcher I used to be,” the 2003 NL Cy Young Award winner said.

After a career season in 2004 for the NL champion St. Louis Cardinals, Rolen injured his left shoulder in a baserunning collision in early May.

Rolen needed two operations to repair a torn labrum, including a season-ending surgery in August after he just couldn’t get healthy. He was productive this spring at third base.

Thomas is switching teams and hoping to stay active for the entire year. After playing in only 108 games over the past two seasons, his 15th and 16th with the Chicago White Sox, Thomas signed with Oakland and — after trading snipes with Sox general manager Kenny Williams — is on track to be the Athletics’ designated hitter.

A broken left ankle has kept Thomas from suiting up since last summer.

“My goal is to play, to suck it up and play as much as possible,” he said.

One thing that should help the 37-year-old Thomas: He’s never been short on confidence.

“I know I’m going to provide for the team I’m on,” he said. “Bottom line, I’ve done it my whole career. If I’m healthy, you’re going to have a special player on your team.”

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