From The Associated Press

PHOENIX — Mike Piazza has appeared in 1,289 major league games, including a handful at the Oakland Coliseum. Yet he’s never stepped into a batter’s box against Athletics right-hander Rich Harden — until Saturday.

Harden threw to live hitters for the first time this spring and the group included Piazza, a .455 lifetime hitter against the A’s, his best against any AL team.

“It’s so important to see those pitchers,” Piazza said. “I like challenges like that. The only way to get better is face the best, and he’s got great stuff.”

While the batting session is mainly for pitchers — position players reported less than a week ago — neither Piazza, Milton Bradley, Eric Chavez or Nick Swisher was able to do much of anything against Harden, who threw fastballs with a few changeups thrown in.

“Talking to the veterans, they say he looks impressive,” A’s manager Bob Geren said. “Not too many of them wanted to swing and I don’t blame him. But any time you can see pitches like that, it’s good.”

Harden said he was working at 80 percent effort but acknowledged to letting a couple go.

“I felt strong and overall I was happy with the way things went,” Harden said of his 32-pitch effort. “It’s always a lot better to face hitters. It helps you focus, and concentrate on hitting spots.”

Piazza, in his 16th spring camp, has learned to pace himself. The first time against Harden was nothing more than a chance to see major-league pitchers instead of the regular coaching batting practice.

“It’s a chance to see the speed and track pitches,” he said. “I don’t really worry about results. I’ve done this for so long the first three weeks you can throw out. It’s the last two weeks when you start dialing in. I’d be worried if I was able to square up on him, since it means there would be nowhere to go but down.”

Piazza and the rest of the hitting group certainly have their swings down against the coaches.

“Piazza hit one off the center field backdrop (430 feet away),” Geren said. “He’s looking pretty sharp. That whole group was pretty impressive.”

Extra bases

Piazza collects old cars, Chevy’s in particular with a 1967 Chevelle his latest toy. In that vain he often uses old cars as a metaphor for getting ready for the season. “The way I look at it is it takes time to get going,” he said. “Like the Chevelle, it’s great to drive but it takes a while to warm up.” ... The A’s scheduled their first intrasquad game for noon on Tuesday, the last day the team spends at Papago Park. The A’s move into Phoenix Muni on Wednesday, and will also host an intrasquad game there. ... Geren liked the acquisition of OF Shannon Stewart, who was signed a week before camp opened and who is coming off a partial tear in his left plantar fascia, a mass of tissue that supports the arch of the foot. “He’s a veteran player who’s proven,” Geren said. “He adds a lot of depth to the outfield situation. We can also use him if people get nicked up or to rest guys and keep them at their best.” ... The best thing about camp? “It’s when I check in with the trainers every day and ask if anything is new,” Geren said. “Nope, they say. That’s what I like to hear.”