A's updates

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Athletics report: Notes, quotes
--The A's added five minor leaguers to their 40-man roster, ensuring them invitations to major league spring training and protecting them from the Rule 5 draft next month. Pitchers John Rheinecker, Justin Lehr and Eduardo Sierra were added, as were infielders Dan Johnson and Mike Rouse. All played at Triple-A Sacramento last season except for Sierra, who was at Class A Kane County (Ill.). Rouse hit .347 for the USA Olympic Qualifying team.


Athletics report: Roster
ARRIVALS: LF Bobby Kielty (trade with Toronto), CF Mark Kotsay (trade with San Diego), LHP Mario Ramos (waivers from Texas).

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BY THE NUMBERS
4 -- Players who have played at least 70 games in one season in center field for the A's since 2001 (Eric Byrnes, Johnny Damon, Terrence Long, Chris Singleton). It is a trend the A's hope to end with the acquisition of Mark Kotsay.

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Oakland, the two-time defending AL West champion, also agreed to a one-year contract with outfielder Billy McMillon.

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A deal with free agent reliever Arthur Rhodes might be finalized as soon as Monday.

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Chavez on Verge of A's Contract Extension
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: March 18, 2004


Filed at 5:35 a.m. ET

After a big afternoon on the field, Eric Chavez was looking forward to a contract extension that will set him up for life.

Chavez hit a two-run homer and Erubiel Durazo drove in three runs with two doubles in the Oakland Athletics' 10-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday in Phoenix.

The A's Gold Glove third baseman was expected to finalize a contract extension -- thought to be worth $66 million over six years -- on Thursday. His long homer to right off Shingo Takatsu was his best hit yet in a slow spring.

Chavez had 29 homers and 101 RBIs last season -- his fourth straight year with at least 25 homers. Though Chavez wasn't available for comment and the A's wouldn't say anything official, the team plans to make what it called an important announcement Thursday.

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STREAKS AND NOTES: Athletics - Oakland traded RHP Chad Harville to the Houston Astros for RHP Kirk Saarloos and assigned him to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday. Harville was designated for assignment on Thursday when the A's recalled RHP Rich Harden from Sacramento. ... SS Bobby Crosby has not made an error in his first nine games as Miguel Tejada's replacement. ... 1B Eric Karros is 7-for-12 (.583) with two homers and six RBIs in his career against Washburn. Angels - 3B Glaus was back in action Friday after missing four games because of tightness in his left hamstring. ... RF Guerrero was back in the outfield after serving as the designated hitter the previous three games to give his sore right knee a rest. ... OF Tim Salmon has just four hits in 27 career at-bats (.148) against Hudson.

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DH Erubiel Durazo drove in his first run April 21 against Seattle, snapping his RBI-less streak at 35 at-bats. Durazo picked up his second RBI the day after and his first home run April 23.

C Mike Rivera was claimed off waivers from the Chicago White Sox and sent him to Triple-A Sacramento, which already had three catchers in Mike Rose, Tom Wilson (who complained recently about playing time) and Steve Jackson (who was sent to Double-A Midland). Rivera was 4-for-40 this year at Triple-A Charlotte and is a .218 lifetime hitter in 197 at-bats in the majors.

BY THE NUMBERS
5 -- Number of double play grounders Tim Hudson induced last week against Seattle. No A's pitcher has induced five double plays since at least 1974 (when the first such records were kept). The last pitcher on any team to do it was Shawn Estes with the Giants in 2000.

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2B Esteban German was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento to make room for Menechino. German didn't get an at-bat for two weeks, then went 1-for-7, but telling German he was being sent down was not easy for manager Ken Macha.

PITCHING TRENDS
The A's always like their chances when Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Barry Zito are starting the three games in a series. That's what will happen at Yankee Stadium this week. Their regular season success in the Bronx isn't all that impressive. Hudson is 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA in four starts, Mulder is 0-3 with an 11.49 ERA in three starts and Zito is 1-2 with a 2.96 ERA in four starts. In the playoffs, they fared much better.

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Hey Fulla', heard that pencil-necked weenie Gammons mention something about Crosby hurting ... What's the deal with that? I can't find anything at either ESPN or Useless Today that says the rook is limpin' or has a sore wing or anything :notme:

Is it just another one of Gammons' "secret scoops?" :hmm:

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Crosby had a collission with Scuturo about 2 or 3 weeks ago and missed a few games. He says the knee still bothers him some.

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Mark McLemore was activated last night and will see most of his action at second base, meaning Marco Scutaro (2B) Oak will see his playing time cut, according to the Contra Costa Times. Although A's manager Ken Macha avoided calling it a platoon, McLemore and Scutaro will be sharing time at second.

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A's manager Ken Macha said that Arthur Rhodes will continue to share save opportunities with Jim Mecir for a while, according to the San Jose Mercury News. However, Macha said that he was eager to re-anoint Rhodes as his closer.

Adam Melhuse started behind the plate for the A's in three of the last six games, according to the San Jose Mercury News. Damian Miller is still the starter, but Melhuse has been hot at the plate and is improving his defense and game-calling.

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May 27 Damian Miller (C) Oak was out of the starting lineup for the A's on Thursday because of a tight right hamstring.

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Mark McLemore (SS) Oak
Mark McLemore reported improvement in his swollen right knee, but he wasn't sure when he would be able to play again, according to the Mercury News. He missed his second consecutive game Thursday.

Damian Miller (C) Oak
The tight hamstring that prevented Damian Miller from playing on Thursday isn't expected to keep him out of today's series opener in Cleveland, according to the Mercury News.

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Damian Miller (C) Oak
Damian Miller missed Saturday's game with a sore hamstring but A's manager Ken Macha hinted that Miller could be back in the lineup today, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

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Damian Miller (C) Oak
Damian Miller was held out of the lineup on Thursday after complaining of elbow pain, according to the AP. He was hit by a pitch on the elbow in Tuesday's game, but returned to play on Wednesday.

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Eric Chavez
The latest X-rays Eric Chavez had on his broken hand revealed little difference from the first set of X-rays, according to the Contra Costa Times. The prognosis for his return hasn't changed, though; he's not expected back for at least another month.

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Thats good news I think? If the xrays did change then surgery would be neccesary.

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Ramon Castro (SS) Oak
The A's recalled infielder Ramon Castro from Triple-A Sacramento to replace the injured Chris Hammond on their roster. He was batting .233 with one homer and 15 RBI in 37 games for Sacramento.

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Arthur Rhodes (P) Oak
Arthur Rhodes and everyone else are out as options for closing games for the A's now that the team has acquired Octavio Dotel.

Octavio Dotel (P) Oak
Octavio Dotel is heading to the A's as part of the Carlos Beltran deal. It's no huge change for Dotel, who will certainly be the new closer in Oakland.

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Eric Chavez (3B) Oak
Eric Chavez is out of his splint and has begun fielding grounders as well as doing some light throwing and hitting with a fungo bat, according to the AP. Chavez is not expected to return from his broken hand until mid-July.

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Octavio Dotel
Octavio Dotel will join the A's today, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

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Tim Hudson
The A's placed Tim Hudson on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a strained left oblique muscle. The move is retroactive to June 23. He is expected to be out about two weeks.

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Rich Harden
Rich Harden left his start Saturday in the third inning after partially dislocating his non-throwing shoulder while trying to cover first base, according to the AP. Justin Duchscherer took over for Harden.

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Mark Redman (P) Oak
Mark Redman will start for the A's on Sunday in place of Tim Hudson, according to the AP. Redman will be pitching on three days rest for the third time in his career.

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Octavio Dotel (P) Oak
Octavio Dotel blew a save opportunity but picked up a victory in his first appearance with the A's on Saturday night. Dotel allowed four runs and four hits in 2 2/3 innings while striking out two and walking two.

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Mark Mulder
Mark Mulder will get two starts next week because Mark Redman moved up in the rotation to start Sunday on three-days rest.

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Jason Christiansen
Jason Christiansen threw off a mound Friday for the first time since he went on the disabled list June 21 with biceps tendinitis, according to the Oakland Tribune. He will throw a more extensive bullpen session on Sunday, the day he is eligible to come off the DL. If that outing goes well, Christiansen will likely be activated next week.

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Tim Hudson
Although Tim Hudson reported lingering pain in his side during a throwing session yesterday, the A's still hope he will be able to start on Saturday, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

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Jul. 7 The Giants activated Jason Christiansen (P) SF from the DL on Tuesday. He had been sidelined with shoulder tendinitis.

Jul. 7 Esteban German (2B) Oak was available only for defense and pinch-running yesterday due to his strained oblique, according to the Contra Costa Times.

Jul. 7 The Contra Costa Times reports that Eric Chavez (3B) Oak is on target to return from his broken hand on Friday. He will start at third base today on his rehab assignment.

Jul. 7 Tim Hudson (P) Oak played long toss yesterday for the first time since going on the DL with a strained left oblique, according to the Contra Costa Times. Since he will have to get in at least two pain-free bullpen sessions before returning to action, he likely won't make his next start until after the All-Star break.

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Jul 8 The Baltimore Sun's Roch Kubatko and Joe Christensen report Oakland Athletics SP Barry Zito could be traded to the Orioles for either 2B Jerry Hairston Jr. or 2B Brian Roberts and a relief pitcher according to ESPN's Peter Gammons Tuesday, July 6.

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Tim Hudson
It appears the soonest Tim Hudson will return from his strained oblique is the end of the month, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

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Chris Hammond (P) Oak
Chris Hammond felt fine after a throwing session on Sunday and should appear this week in a minor league rehab assignment.

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Tim Hudson
Tim Hudson threw from the top of a mound yesterday for the first time since going on the DL with a strained left oblique, according to the Contra Costa Times. "It felt real good," Hudson said. "Hopefully it won't be too much longer. I think I might be ahead of schedule. I feel like I've turned the corner." His next step is to throw a bullpen session on Saturday.

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Tim Hudson
Tim Hudson threw 35 pitches - all fastballs - in a side session on Saturday, according to the AP. He is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Monday and make a rehab start on July 31.

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Eric Chavez
Eric Chavez missed his second straight game Monday with tightness in his back.

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Arthur Rhodes
The A's have activated Arthur Rhodes from the 15-day DL after he missed seven weeks with a back strain. He is 3-3 with a 5.28 ERA and nine saves in 27 relief outings this season.

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Aug. 18, 2004


BALTIMORE (AP) Erubiel Durazo hit three homers and drove in all five of Oakland's runs, and Mark Mulder became the majors' first 16-game winner by pitching the Athletics to a 5-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night.

The A's trailed 4-0 before Durazo hit a two-run homer in the fourth and a two-run shot in the sixth. He then connected off B.J. Ryan (3-3) in the eighth to break the tie and put Mulder in position to win his 16th. It was the second three-homer game of Durazo's career, the first coming in 2002 when he played for Arizona. He singled in his first at-bat and finished 4-for-4.

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Jeff Kent
The Houston Chronicle reports that the A's have intensified their efforts to acquire Jeff Kent from the Astros. A deal will need to be made by Tuesday in order for Kent to be eligible for postseason play with Oakland. However, Kent is reportedly balking at waiving his no-trade clause unless his 2005 option is picked up.

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Jermaine Dye
Jermaine Dye, who left Sunday's game with a sprained thumb, hopes to return to the lineup Friday, according to the AP.

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Sep. 5 The A's are shutting down Jermaine Dye until the pain in his injured left thumb is gone, according to the Contra Costa Times. "We don't know how long that will be," said trainer Larry Davis. "There are those who can play with it and those who can't. He's one of the ones who can't. The day he can, he'll be in there."
Sep. 4 Billy McMillon will share playing time with Bobby Kielty and Nick Swisher, as the trio fills in for Jermaine Dye, who is out with a fractured left tumb.
Sep. 4 Nick Swisher, Bobby Kielty and Billy McMillon will share playing time in the Oakland outfield while Jermaine Dye sits out with his fractured left thumb, according to the AP.
Sep. 4 Bobby Kielty, Nick Swisher and Billy McMillon will all see extra playing time while Jermaine Dye sits out with his fractured left thumb, according to the AP.
Sep. 4 Jermaine Dye missed Saturday's game because of a fractured left thumb and isn't expected to be back in the lineup for some time, according to the AP. "It's probably going to be a while before he gets back in there," Oakland manager Ken Macha said.