With the A’s trailing the Rangers in the AL West by 8.5 games, the team could use all the help they can get in the second-half. The A’s had Brett Anderson back last night, and despite his sub-par performance, the team should be excited to have their young ace back in the rotation. Dallas Braden, who returned not too long ago himself, gets the start tonight against the White Sox. Braden, who beat the White Sox last week, will look to impress Ozzie Guillen, who called Braden’s last start ‘nothing special.’
In other news, the A’s have recently activated OF Travis Buck from the 60-day disabled list. Buck, who had his best season in 2007, has not been able to stay healthy for an entire season since. The A’s OF was sent to Triple-A Sacramento, but could be back in the big leagues relatively soon. Buck played in 11 games this season, and was hitting .213/.324/.375 with one home run and a pair of RBIs.
Andrew Bailey, the A’s young closer, has a strained rib injury. The A’s closer could find himself on the disabled list relatively soon.
Eric Chavez, who has been battling two bulging disks in his neck, has said that he expects to resume baseball activity in the next two weeks or so. The A’s DH/IF is in the last year of the six-year deal he signed back in 2004. Chavez, who is the longest tenured player in team history, is optimistic for a September return. Prior to landing on the DL, Chavez was hitting .234/.276/.333 with one homer and 10 RBIs.
Jack Cust is hitting an unexpected .300 on the season. The A’s slugger has never hit over .260 in any of his four seasons with the club. On the year, Cust has 8 home runs and 29 RBIs in 55 games played. And while he’s played better collectively this season, the A’s slugger has struck out 57 times in his 55 games.
Ben Sheets, the A’s $10 million off-season signing, is said to be contemplating retirement. The A’s veteran return to his Louisiana home earlier this week, but he said he’ll be back in the Oakland clubhouse soon. The A’s surely did not get the most out of the Sheets-deal, but the young pitching staff has benefited from Sheets’ veteran leadership.