Injuritis

A lot has been made of the front office prowess of the Oakland A’s. In one area, though, they seem wanting. When it comes to utilizing the disabled list and handling the scenarios arising from injuries (not the actual injuries), the A’s seem lost, or at least a lot confused. Three examples; Jermaine Dye, Frank Menechino and Micah Bowie.

Jermaine Dye doesn’t seem like he’s ready to play every other day, let alone every day. His continued leg injuries are becoming suspicious as his production disappears. Jermaine is a svelte fella, so dropping a few pounds is not the answer to his lower body problems. Is he headed for the chronic knee problems a la Ellis Burks and Andre Dawson? Should he start considering investing in a first-baseman’s glove or making advanced seating arrangements for a more than part time DH slot?

As for Frankie Menechino, his sole duty seems to be available, ‘just in case’. If your injury is so severe that you can not fulfill your duties as a back up middle infielder - of simply being available, ‘just in case’, shouldn’t you be on the 15 day DL, so that the A’s can at least bring up a utility infielder, ‘just in case’? While Frank has been seen in the dugout during games getting electro stem treatment, Mark Ellis is dying for a day off, or at least a few innings of reprieve.

By the way, Frankie owns the American League record for grabbing himslef during pregame warm-ups. Maybe that's how he hurt his calf.

If the A's could find a way to sign a guy named, 'Justin Case', that would be GREAT.

Anyway.

Micah Bowie’s injury is a little peculiar as it comes on the heels of the A’s out-righting Bowie to Sacramento. The A’s were able to retain Bowie, somehow. Suddenly…he has an elbow problem. Couldn’t Mike Neu come down with a phantom injury to allow the A’s to bring up a pitcher they might use? Neu (pronounced: seldom used) rots away in the bullpen as a Rule 5 guy the A’s fear losing or using. Meanwhile, Chad Bradford is on the mound so often his nickname is ‘Rosin Bag Bradford’ (plus, he has an aversion to the bag, so it fits).

Tonight Chad Bradford fell on his sword for Mark Mulder and gave up a three run homer to Carl Everett in the 8th. Bradford gave up two singles and a blast to his favorite Ranger.

Bradford has given up four homeruns this season. Just two people have hit homeruns off Bradford. Barry Bonds hit one Friday night. Guess who has the other three? And guess which three homeruns all accounted for winning runs for Texas against Oakland? Bradford has three losses this season. Guess which team they all came against?

Well, two were against Texas, one against the Twins. but, it still doesn't excuse Ken Macha from testing the infinity theory with Bradford's ERA and Texas Ranger bats.

Macha finally brought Mike Neu in and, what do ya know, he retired the side without another run scoring.

Memo to Macha: even if Billy Beane is calling the shots about the bullpen use, the decision ultimately becomes yours once you make the move or don't make the move. If you can back up your decision making process with Rick Peterson, you can win over Paul DePodesta. If you have Paul on your side, you've got a chance to convince Billy you're not out of your skull. The fact is, you're going to look like a tool unless you make your own decisions. Not using Chad Bradford as if he were the equivalent of duct tape troubleshooting would be a good start.