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Hedging against a potential trip to the disabled list, the Oakland Athletics had Coco Crisp play in a minor league game contest today. Good thing.
Melvin says Crisp felt some issues with right elbow in minor league camp game. That sounds a lot like he's a DL candidate to open season.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) March 31, 2015
Crisp has not played in a major league spring game since March 23 and was a late scratch on March 24 with elbow soreness. Like with Josh Reddick, the A's would be able to backdate a disabled list stay up to March 27, which would make him eligible on April 11 after missing five games. This would be Crisp's first trip to the disabled list since a May 2013 hamstring strain made him the miss the minimum time.
Most likely to take his place is Billy Burns, who was trailing Tyler Ladendorf in the race to take Josh Reddick's place on the roster. Burns has had a very successful spring of hitting, now batting .394 after going 1-for-4 in Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. Burns credits his success to switching to a slightly longer and heavier bat that he says has improved his stroke when batting left-handed, he tells Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
The new opening day roster, then, assuming Coco Crisp is on the disabled list:
- Starting pitchers (5): Sonny Gray, Jesse Hahn, Scott Kazmir, Kendall Graveman, Drew Pomeranz
- Relievers (7): Tyler Clippard (interim closer), Dan Otero, R.J. Alvarez, Evan Scribner, Eric O'Flaherty, Fernando Abad, Jesse Chavez (long reliever)
- Catchers (2): Stephen Vogt, Josh Phegley
- Infielders (8): Billy Butler, Ike Davis, Mark Canha (also OF), Eric Sogard, Ben Zobrist (also OF), Marcus Semien, Tyler Ladendorf (also OF), Brett Lawrie
- Outfielders (3): Billy Burns, Sam Fuld, Craig Gentry
Also on the disabled list, Ken Korach
A's radio broadcaster Ken Korach will also miss the first homestand and road trip as he continues his rehabilitation from a knee injury, writes John Hickey of the Bay Area News Group. Veteran broadcaster Roxy Bernstein will fill in and join Vince Cotroneo for most days, with Ray Fosse joining the group as the third man on April 15 for the non-televised game against the Houston Astros. Korach hopes to return by April 24.
