A's Outfield Still Hurting

The Oakland Athletics' suffering outfield lost yet another player yesterday when the club placed Chris Snelling on the 15-day disabled list with a deep bone bruise in his left knee, retroactive to May 11th.

This has been basically the story of Snelling's career, who came to Oakland in a trade with the Washington Nationals on May 2nd. He was batting .350 over six games before the latest of his hard-luck injuries. This marks his eighth career stint on the DL, including two in each of the previous two seasons.

In a related move, the A's called up outfielder Hiram Bocachica from the AAA Sacramento Rivercats to fill Snelling's spot on the roster. Bocachica will dive right into the starting lineup in center field against the Kansas City Royals today after batting .313 with nine homers and 32 RBIs in 35 games in the minors - tied for the Pacific Coast League lead in extra-base hits with 21.

The club also transferred outfielder Bobby Kielty to the 60-day disabled list to make room on the roster.

Leadoff hitter Shannon Stewart is the only A's outfielder who hasn't injured himself yet this year. Jinx! Center fielder Mark Kotsay, recovering from lower back surgery in early March, played four innings in the field and went 2-for-4 in an extended spring training game Wednesday in Phoenix, which is a very good sign.

In other Athletics injury news: Milton Bradley missed his second straight game with a tender left hamstring that landed him on the DL in mid-April while Travis Buck is scheduled to have his sore wrist examined.

It has also been determined that injured closer Huston Street has no structural damage in his right elbow after landing on the DL Tuesday with an irritated nerve in his throwing arm.

Right-hander Esteban Loaiza is set to have an MRI on a bulging disk in his neck and righty reliever Justin Duchscherer is planning on having his sore right hip checked out today, as well.

All this and the A's have still managed to stay 2 games above .500.

[Oakland Tribune] | [Athletics Nation]