05/12/2008 11:51 PM ET
By Todd Wills / Special to MLB.com

ARLINGTON -- Ryan Sweeney said Sunday that he has adjusted to his new team, the A's, because his teammates have made it easy on him.

Sweeney, the key piece in the offseason trade that sent Nick Swisher to the Chicago White Sox, played in his 33rd game with the A's on Sunday, one more than he played with the White Sox.

The 23-year-old center fielder is comfortable in his new environment.

"They are really relaxed here and go out to play," Sweeney said. "We have a lot of young guys. So there's not a lot of pressure on anybody."

Sweeney has held his own in what is close to a full-time role -- he has started 26 of the A's 39 games in center field. The left-handed hitter starts almost exclusively against right-handed starters. He started all three games this past weekend against the Rangers.

He is batting .268 with 15 RBIs, tied with Minnesota's Joe Mauer for most RBIs without a home run. While Sweeney waits for his first home run -- he had a career-high 13 in the Minors -- he is batting .355 with runners in scoring position.

He has three stolen bases in his last 20 games, after not swiping one in 51 games. He has played a nice center field, including a nice running catch in the first inning of Sunday's game against the Rangers.

"He's done a little bit of everything," manager Bob Geren said. "He's used his speed, he's stolen a few bases. He's made nice plays in center field. He's had some clutch hits.

"He's a good player."

Sweeney waits for at-bats against left-handed pitchers and wants his shot. He said he has always handled lefties, and he said he had a higher average against them than right-handers in 2006 with Triple-A Charlotte.

"I'll do whatever they want me to do," Sweeney said.

Geren said that Sweeney will get his chance eventually to play every day.

"That's the way the roster is configured," Geren said. "It's not something that's going to last forever."