Bradley May Land On DL, Halsey Furious

Just two days after returning from a strained left hamstring injury, Oakland Athletics center fielder Milton Bradley left Sunday's game in the sixth inning after feeling pain in the same leg when beating out an infield single.

Bradley stayed in to run the bases but didn't take the field in the bottom of the inning. Nick Swisher shifted from first base to center and Todd Walker entered the game at first.

The disabled list is a possibility for the switch-hitter, who missed six games with his previous injury.

Bradley's injury provided an opportunity for the A's to call Brad Halsey up from the minors to take the mound for Tuesday afternoon's game against the Baltimore Orioles, but they've instead gone with Dallas Braden.

Halsey is absolutely steaming. Since he was held out of his AAA start with the Sacramento River Cats Saturday, he assumed to be called up to take the injured Rich Harden's place in the rotation. The lefty is convinced he was passed over because the A's found out that he is scheduled for an MRI exam later this week.

Makes sense to me. Why bring someone up that has arm trouble? Halsey has repeatedly complained of tenderness in his biceps since this Spring, but has apparently been told time and again that he doesn't need an MRI.

Then they send you down and screw you. I'm grinding it out, trying to be a team guy, and I get [screwed]. It's all just a business decision, because if I came up and pitched Tuesday and then had an MRI and had to go on the DL, they'd have to pay me major-league DL money. It's such a mom-and-pop organization.

...I'm a team guy, I'm pitching through problems, and they tell me, 'You're the guy, you're going to start [at Baltimore]' - and then I get skipped specifically for [the possible injury]. It's [messed up] the way they treat the people they employ. I mean, I'm a person too, not just a piece of the puzzle.

GM Billy Beane says he was unaware of Halsey's scheduled exam, but the young pitcher claims otherwise. He says the organization seems to be fine with him shredding his arm down in the minors, because it doesn't cost them a penny.

He is well aware that bad-mouthing the A's organization won't help him get the call, but he says he plans on getting his arm healed up with the intention of throwing baseballs for someone else someday.


Update: Milton Bradley has indeed landed on the 15-day DL along with staff ace Rich Harden, who is suffering from an injured right shoulder.

[Contra Costa Times] | [San Francisco Chronicle]