I've been catching up on a few A's related tidbits and stumbled across a couple interesting things. First off, in Slusser's latest article she elaborates a little on the Ynoa name change(s) and talks about how he'll be in Phoenix in early March and April to check out the team and get acclimated to life in the U.S.

Even more interesting is the recent signing of Aussie catcher, 19-year-old Oliver Box.

...according to Owens, is a right-handed hitter with "raw power." Box will be in Phoenix for extended spring training, and then might be assigned to a short-season A-ball team if he doesn't return to Australia to play for the summer.

And finally Slusser reports that the A's are close to signing four younguns from the Dominican Republic. Along with the new scout in Taiwan, the signing of Box, and of course Ynoa it seems that we're close to becoming a powerhouse in the overseas markets.

And then then I read Urban's piece on Tyson Ross, among other things, and came across a blurb about the A's changing Ross's mechanics:

Ross' delivery has since been tweaked, the product of a postseason trip to Oakland's Instructional League.

Good news there... Then there's some not so good news here

Geren also cautioned against reading anything into the fact that staff ace Justin Duchscherer hasn't thrown in a few days. Duchscherer has been getting treatment on his right elbow, but he told Geren he's fine, and Geren said Duchscherer hasn't missed any scheduled bullpen sessions.

If past A's history holds true then Duke is hiding an injury and will be on the shelf in the beginning of May. Of course, I may be overreacting but like I said, I've become all too familiar with these types of things.

Dump Away!