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DLD 6/7/06: It's safe now

Amazingly enough, the world didn't end yesterday (06-06-06). I had my helmet all ready. I'm glad I didn't need to use it.

Anyway, to baseball news. Blanton is pitching today. Bradley may or may not play, because he apparently has some issues with Cleveland.

A's manager Ken Macha isn't sure if Bradley will play Wednesday night. If he appears in one of the two remaining games in the series, he will be playing his first game in Cleveland since the Indians traded him prior to the 2004 season. Bradley's departure from Cleveland came when he was benched by manager Eric Wedge for not hustling during a Spring Training game. Bradley left the ballpark in a cab during the game and the Indians traded him to the Dodgers a few days later.

Bradley has criticized Wedge on several occasions since the trade, but had little Tuesday night. Asked if he had a reaction about returning to Cleveland, Bradley said, "No. It's best to keep my mouth shut."

I think Bradley has a good idea, there.

All the draft news:
The A's picked Trevor Cahill on the 66th pick. There was some confusion about whether or not he'd be able to sign because of a commitment to Dartmouth.

So Cahill, who carried a 4.6 grade-point average -- on a 4.0 scale -- at Vista thanks to advanced-placement courses, told the scouts that if he wasn't picked fairly early Tuesday, he'd happily pack his bags for the Ivy League come fall.

"I met with [the A's] a couple days ago, and we agreed that I'd sign if I went in the top four rounds," he said. "And I went in the second round, so ... I'm pretty excited to be playing professional baseball this summer."

Here's the scoop on the first day draft picks.

Injury news:

Milton Bradley and right-hander Jay Witasick were activated from the disabled list on Tuesday. Bradley was placed on the DL May 7 with a sprained right knee and then suffered a pulled oblique muscle. Witasick has been on the DL since April 14 with a sprained left ankle.

Bradley played the last three days on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sacramento and spent the day Tuesday traveling to Cleveland. Manager Ken Macha said Bradley was due in town during the game.

DCKNCVR, people, Loaiza is going to start on Thursday.

Macha said right-hander Esteban Loaiza (strained left trapezius) will start Thursday against the Indians. He's been on the DL since April 29.

Loaiza was 0-3 with an 8.35 ERA in four starts before the injury. He made two rehab appearances for Sacramento, where he allowed five earned runs and 11 hits in 7 2/3 innings. Macha said he was throwing between 86 and 88 mph in the rehab outings. Loiaza was throwing 82-83 mph in his starts with the A's before he went on the DL.

"We were pleased with the way he threw the ball," Macha said. "He threw 80 pitches [in his start] so he should be able to go into the 90s if he's pitching well enough."

A roster move will be made when Loiaza returns.