CF Coco Crisp may be available Fri., Sept. 5
On Tuesday, Coco Crisp had trigger point injections on Tuesday to improve the pain in his neck.
CF Coco Crisp haZd injections today to relieve pressure in neck; #Athletics hope he will be back soon, perhaps by weekend.
— John Hickey (@JHickey3) September 2, 2014
Today, Bob Melvin said he's hopeful to have Crisp back by Friday:
Melvin hopeful of getting Crisp back on Friday. #Athletics
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) September 3, 2014
The club has missed Crisp's 113 wRC+ since he fell jumping in an attempt to save a Chris Iannetta home run on August 29. The switch-hitting Crisp has been productive on both sides of the plate, with a 104 wRC+ against left-handed pitching, and 117 against right-handed pitching.
LHP Sean Doolittle could return when eligible on Mon., Sept. 8
Sean Doolittle has been throwing progressively longer tosses, getting to 105 feet today:
Sean Doolittle threw at a distance of 105 feet this morning and it went great, he says. Felt even better than yesterday. #Athletics
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) September 3, 2014
The A's closer is eligible to come off the disabled list on Monday after being placed on the disabled list with a right intercostal strain, September 8 and may be available at that point if there are no setbacks.
C John Jaso improving, but no timetable for return
In a report by Aaron Leibowitz of mlb.com, John Jaso took batting practice on Tuesday, September 2, his first on-field BP since going on the concussion disabled list on August 24. Jaso's concussion symptoms began to return after he took a foul ball off the mask about a couple weeks before then.
If Jaso returns, it is most likely it would be as a designated hitter to try to avoid a season-ending head injury he would be more likely to sustain behind the plate.
The Athletics would like to have Jaso's left-handed bat back, though Adam Dunn has been a shot in the arm for the offense against right-handed pitching. Jaso has a wRC+ of 126 against right-handers.
2B/SS Nick Punto receives cortisone shot, no announced return date
Nick Punto received a cortisone shot earlier this week:
#Athletics Nick Punto had a cortisone shot earlier in the week. A's want to see if he can test hammy in hard sprint Friday.
— John Hickey (@JHickey3) September 3, 2014
Punto sustained a hamstring injury on August 2 rounding third base in a game against the Kansas City Royals at the Coliseum.
The A's miss Punto's presence in the lineup and on defense against left-handed pitching. While he isn't great against left-handed pitching, he is a lot better than Alberto Callaspo starting at second base against a southpaw:
Middle Infielders vs. LHP, 2014 (thru Sept. 2) | |||||||
Player | Batting | wRC+ | PA | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Nick Punto | Right | 85 | 102 | .247 | .314 | .323 | .637 |
Jed Lowrie | Right | 79 | 114 | .228 | .289 | .342 | .631 |
Alberto Callaspo | Right | 52 | 148 | .201 | .270 | .254 | .524 |
Andy Parrino | Right | 30 | 19 | .118 | .211 | .235 | .446 |
Eric Sogard | Left | 20 | 39 | .152 | .243 | .152 | .395 |
1B/OF Kyle Blanks shut down for awhile
The last update regarding Kyle Blanks came on August 23, when he suffered left Achilles tendinitis during his rehabilitation assignment with the Sacramento River Cats:
MRI revealed Achilles tendinitis for Kyle Blanks. Shut down, no timetable, wouldn't count on seeing him for awhile, if at all. #athletics
— Carl Steward (@stewardsfolly) August 23, 2014
Kyle Blanks is in a walking boot, says he has to wear it a week or two at the least. Tendinitis issues with his Achilles.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) August 24, 2014
Nate Freiman has performed admirably against left-handed pitching in Blanks' stead, with a wRC+ of 155.