--RHP Justin Duchscherer has thrown long toss two days in a row and he anticipates that he will be ready to rejoin the rotation on Sept. 4, when he is eligible to come off the DL. Whether the A's will allow their ace to do so quickly after soreness in his surgically repaired right hip is another matter, but according to the San Francisco Chronicle, manager Bob Geren is considering a six-man rotation. That would allow Duchscherer plenty of rest.
--RHP Sean Gallagher (fatigued arm) is continuing his throwing program and believes he will be able to make a few starts in September. With the A's considering a six-man rotation, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, Gallagher could get some extra rest between starts. Gallagher was acquired in the Rich Harden deal with the Cubs. --LHP Dan Meyer is in danger of coming out of the rotation when Justin Duchscherer and/or Sean Gallagher come off the DL after Meyer gave up six runs (two earned, the unearned runs were the result of his own error) in 1 2/3 innings. Meyer has yet to earn a victory in 16 career appearances, including six starts. He is out of options next spring and his future might not be in Oakland. He's the only remaining piece of the Tim Hudson deal with Atlanta.
--RHP Kirk Saarloos gave up 12 hits in Oakland's loss to the Twins on Friday, matching the most ever by an Oakland reliever. Paul Lindblad gave up 12 hits in four innings on April 19, 1973, at Kansas City. Saarloos worked five innings to help save the A's bullpen.
--DH Mike Sweeney had three hits, including a two-run homer, and four RBIs in a game with Class AAA Sacramento. Sweeney, who had arthroscopic knee surgery on both knees on June 13, played nine innings at first base, which was one of the primary hurdles before his anticipated return Sept. 1.
BY THE NUMBERS: 721 -- Player games missed this year, through Aug. 24, as the A's had to use the disabled list an Oakland-record 23 times. The team had seven men on the DL through the weekend.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's a beautiful thing, ain't it? Kind of an alien invasion." -- A's left-handed reliever Alan Embree on Oakland's all left-handed rotation of Dallas Braden, Gio Gonzalez, Greg Smith, Dan Meyer and Dana Eveland.
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