Bobby Kielty's Knees, Mark Kotsay's Back

Sometime yesterday Babes Love Baseball got its 10,000th hit. We think it's because we waited until now to post this pic of Oakland Athletics outfielder Bobby Kielty, who underwent successful surgery on Friday to repair a torn meniscus in his knee.

The injury happened Sunday while he was running the bases during a rundown drill, not realizing the severity of it at the time and practiced Monday before feeling some pain.

The A's are hoping he will be fully healed by Opening Day, but on the grounds of Kielty being a slow healer, I wouldn't put money on him returning before the second week of the season.

In other A's injury news, center fielder Mark Kotsay has been out since Monday with the same lower-back spasms that have cost him playing time over the past two seasons. He didn't hear anything new on Thursday when given the results of his MRI exam, so he flew to Los Angeles early Friday in search of a second opinion.

This is the earliest in the season Kotsay has ever been hit by problems. He missed 25 of the A's final 51 games last season because of back pain, and says that this episode is the worst since coming to Oakland before the 2004 season.

[Oakland Athletics News]

Athletics in Temporary Shambles

Oakland Athletics outfielder Bobby Kielty, who injured his left knee during a rundown drill on Sunday, needs arthroscopic surgery and will be out for three to six weeks.

Kielty agreed to a $2.1 million, one-year contract in late January to avoid arbitration with the A's and play as the primary backup outfielder again for the club. Last season, he batted .270 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs in 81 games for the AL West champions.


Eye-candy center fielder Mark Kotsay is also out with a stiff back, one that haunted him several times last season. Milton Bradley will start center in his place for Oakland's first two Cactus League games, beginning with Thursday's exhibition opener against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Gold Glove third baseman Eric Chavez, who nursed tendinitis in his elbows and forearms for most of last season, also will sit for Thursday's game and is set to play for the first time Friday, also against the Brewers.

Former rookie of the year Bobby Crosby, who's been out since late August with a back injury, hasn't been slated to play yet, either and is still waiting to face live pitching.

[San Francisco Chronicle]