NOTES, QUOTES

Posted on 2010 under Athletics | Comments are off

8 Mar

--RHP Justin Duchscherer is doing work off the front of the mound, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, as he comes back from a procedure to eliminate irritation in his sacroiliac joint. Duchscherer was told not to throw off the mound for two weeks, but he believes he'll still be ready for the opening-day roster. --RHP Ben Sheets allowed four hits and two runs, one earned, in his first spring start, which came against his longtime team, the Brewers. Sheets said he felt great physically, although he was nervous to take the mound for the first time in 17 months after surgery to repair his elbow last year. --3B Eric Chavez played his first-ever game at first base on March 5 and made one error, on a pickoff attempt from LHP Lenny DiNardo. But he also made a nice sliding stop to his right on a grounder by Gregg Zaun and a good lunging catch on an offline throw from SS Adam Rosales. Chavez, trying to return from two back surgeries, also tripled in his first at-bat of the spring. --RHP Joey Devine, who had Tommy John surgery last year, is throwing bullpen sessions and could be pitching in spring games within the next week. Devine told the San Francisco Chronicle that he is throwing breaking balls and his velocity is good; he believes he will be ready for the start of the regular season. --RHP Jason Jennings signed a minor league deal with the A's and he threw a simulated game on March 5. Jennings, who will be stretched to start, could be used as a spot starter or in long or middle relief; Oakland liked the work he did in the Texas bullpen in the first half of 2009. --RHP Brett Tomko signed a minor league deal with the A's and is continuing to rehab from the nerve problem in his right arm that ended his season last September. Tomko, 36, went 4-1 with a 2.95 ERA with Oakland last year. He told the San Francisco Chronicle he expects to be pitching in games anytime from mid-April to the end of May. BY THE NUMBERS: 18 -- Age of the youngest player in camp, catcher Max Stassi. A fourth-round pick last June, Stassi is considered a can't-miss prospect. QUOTE TO NOTE: "We parted ways on good terms, but a part of you says, 'You missed a player who was right under your nose the whole time.'" -- A's infielder/catcher Jake Fox on his feelings about the Cubs after getting traded last winter, in the San Francisco Chronicle.