--RHP Justin Duchscherer said he is still pointing toward making a start or two in the final week of the season despite missing more than three weeks with soreness in his surgically repaired right hip. Duchscherer will play catch on Saturday and throw a bullpen session on Monday or Tuesday. Manager Bob Geren said that working in instructional league isn't out of the question if Duchscherer cannot make a start before the end of the regular season.

--LHP Greg Smith received zero runs of support during his 5 2/3 innings on Friday night, the 10th time this season that the rookie has had no backing whatsoever while on the mound. His run support of 2.82 per game is the lowest in the majors and the lowest mark since Tom Candiotti's 2.53 with the Dodgers in 1993. Smith has lost 15 games, tying Matt Keogh (1978) for the second most by an Oakland rookie; Rick Langford had 19 in 1977.

--LHP Gio Gonzalez made his debut as a reliever on Friday night against the Rangers. Gonzalez, a rookie obtained in the Nick Swisher deal with the White Sox in January, was taken out of the rotation after allowing a career-high nine runs at Detroit on Monday. He retired all six men he faced on Friday, striking out two.

BY THE NUMBERS: 7 -- The number of rookies Oakland used to start the game at Detroit on Sept. 10, including starter Sean Gallagher. The A's have regularly been using six rookie positions players in the starting lineup the past week. The current roster features 15 rookies, out of a total of 30.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "There's a difference between being competitive and selfish, and the way I acted was unprofessional. I've got to use it as a learning experience. It's the first time in my life I've lost my cool in that kind of environment, and there's no excuse." -- A's closer Huston Street in the San Francisco Chronicle, explaining why he held a meeting to apologize to his teammates after a dugout confrontation with manager Bob Geren in Detroit.