One of the reasons the A's offense struggled in the early going: the left-handed heavy Oakland lineup faced lefty starters 10 times in the first 15 games and the team went 2-10 in those games. 

Could Eric Chavez's future at third base be in jeopardy again, less than a month into the season? Chavez's recovery from a second right shoulder operation progressed fairly well during the spring apart, from a minor setback because of scar-tissue tearing, 

The dish 

Oakland is more than 1,700 miles from Arlington, Texas. 

Oakland is more than 1,700 miles from Arlington, Texas. 

OAKLAND (AP) TheOaklandAthletics are starting to show signs of breaking out of their offensive slump after scuffling for the first three weeks of the season. 

Statistically it's not a surprise the Harrisburg Senators, after losing their eighth straight game Saturday, own the worst record among all 32 Class AA Baseball teams. 

OAKLANDA's third baseman Eric Chavez is considered day-to-day. 

One of the reasons the A's offense struggled in the early going: the left-handed heavy Oakland lineup faced lefty starters 10 times in the first 15 games and the team went 2-10 in those games. 

--LHP Dallas Braden came out of his start Saturday in the sixth inning after feeling a slight tweak in his groin the previous inning. 

Small, day-to-day injuries are being scrutinized closely in A's land, in part because of players' injury histories and in part because everything small seems to blow up into something major for Oakland the past two years. 

By Marc Topkin 

The dish 

The Oakland Athletics are starting to show signs of breaking out of their offensive slump after scuffling for the first three weeks of the season. 

Apr.