The A's recently acknowledged that they are working out three players to take over sigh injured Mark Ellis.

Could Keith Be Un-Ginterized?

According to the SF Chronicle:

The A's are investigating the possibility of adding Keith Ginter to the ALCS roster to replace the injured Mark Ellis even though the infielder declared free agency after the minor-league season was over. Both the players' union and the commissioner's office have given Oakland the go-ahead to do so if Ginter receives a 2007 contract.

Ginter, who made $1 million while spending the entire season at Triple-A Sacramento, said he was told this situation never has arisen before. He'll report to the A's Papago Park complex today and hit in an instructional league game while waiting to see what the team decides. He hasn't played in the big leagues since the A's called him up in September 2005.

"I said if they want me, I'm ready,'' Ginter said by phone. "It would be crazy, but I'd be all for it. It's kind of funny how things work out.''

Minor-leaguers Mark Kiger and Kevin Melillo remain possibilities; the A's are working them out in Phoenix, too.

Heading on to mlb.com to cast my 25 all-star ballots, i got to the AL outfield and low and behold, Jay Payton, MB, and Kotsay were all there; however, there was a glaring omission of our one true true candidate on the team... Swish. I put him as a write-in candidate (but those never make it). MLB needs to change this when they have so many terrible candidates to choose from, yet... no Swisher. I mean, he's the AL league leader in HR's from a full-time OF. (the 4 ahead of him are DH's)

Beat-Writer Urban was asked this tough question...

Biggest surprise of camp so far?

Urban: "Easy choice: Milton Bradley not talking to the media the day he reported. For a guy who (a) has image problems and (b) said, on the day that he was acquired, that he was approachable, it seemed like a really odd move. The way I see it, the only way to get skeptical fans on your side is to let them get to know you, and speaking to the media is the easiest way to do that."

I consider this a very smart move on Bradley's part, leave the media alone and just focus on baseball. Think how much easier it would have been for T.O. or Artest to just ignore the spotlight and play sports. Some people just can't handle the spotlight well, and Bradley has been ESPN'd to death through his many incidents.

So what is the suprise of spring training then? (or is this it?)