A'S REPORT
Dotel's sore elbow likely won't need surgery
Susan Slusser
Friday, May 20, 2005
There was no official word on Octavio Dotel's condition Thursday, and GM Billy Beane and assistant GM David Forst both failed to return phone calls, but Beane told KNBR that the closer's injured elbow will not require surgery.
"We're not sure if he'll go on the disabled list,'' Beane told the station. "It's still a possibility. It's a sore elbow; it's not surgical.''
Dotel was sent to see arm specialist Dr. Lewis Yocum on Wednesday. According to Beane, the worst-case scenario would put Dotel on the DL "for a few weeks.''
If that is the case, the team is likely to make a transaction before tonight's game to bring in another reliever. Britt Reames has been pitching well in a starting role at Triple-A Sacramento, but he has experience as a reliever, as does recent Sacramento addition Steve Sparks. Jairo Garcia, up briefly with Oakland last year, was moved from Double-A Midland to Sacramento last week.
In other injury news, Nick Swisher (sprained shoulder) was 1-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts for Sacramento in a 10-3 win at Omaha on Thursday.
Stepping up: A's starting pitchers get to come to the plate only a handful of times over the course of a season, but this weekend, they'll be in the lineup.
Tonight's starter, Dan Haren, is a former National Leaguer, and said he was a pretty decent hitter in college and the minors, but he was just 2-for-37 with St. Louis.
"I'm very excited,'' Haren said. "We did a little hitting in the cage the past few days and I'm impressed with Joe Blanton -- he looks like he has some pop. He's a big boy. ... I have a lot riding on my swing, I've been talking my game up.''
Blanton, Saturday's starter, hasn't hit in the pros, and Sunday's starter, Barry Zito, is 0-for-19.
Advice for Hatteberg: When Scott Hatteberg committed his sixth error, a major-league high for first basemen, on Tuesday night, infield coach Ron Washington left him alone, but he made sure to track him down for a pep talk Wednesday.
"I've never seen him as dejected as he was (Tuesday),'' Washington said. "So I figured I had to help him find a solution.
"I was just telling him that where he was going wrong is he's got to start working his feet, because right now, the ball is playing him,'' Washington said. "He does it right in practice and does it another way in the game. He just has to trust his technique and not be concerned about making a mistake, and if he does that, he'll be a good Hatteberg again.''
Dotel gets a second opinion -- disabled list a possibility
Susan Slusser
Thursday, May 19, 2005
There was no word Wednesday on closer Octavio Dotel and his ailing elbow.
He flew to Los Angeles to be examined by orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum, an authority on arm injuries, but the team had not received any information after Wednesday's game.
Dotel, who complained of elbow pain before Tuesday's game, was troubled by elbow tendinitis late last season and athletic trainer Larry Davis said that the reliever's description of his problem sounded similar, but he declined to speculate on the nature of the injury, any possible treatment or how much time Dotel might miss.
Oakland's injury cavalcade made Wednesday's outburst all the more impressive. The A's have five players on the disabled list and reliever Justin Duchscherer and outfielder Bobby Kielty were also out, Cruz was unavailable and Ricardo Rincon had worked in seven of the previous nine games, so Joe Blanton, Friday's scheduled starter, was available for emergency relief.
If Dotel's injury sidelines him for even more than a couple of days, it's likely the A's will have to add a pitcher from Triple-A Sacramento, perhaps Britt Reames or Steve Sparks, or maybe Jairo Garcia, recently moved up from Double-A Midland.
While Dotel is out, manager Ken Macha said he probably will use rookie Huston Street in the closer role.
"He's pitched well,'' Macha said. "One of the (Red Sox) players (Kevin Millar) told Brad Fischer, 'God, that guy's stuff is nasty.' ''
Catcher Jason Kendall has no concerns about the 21-year-old handling the job.
"He's been throwing the ball so well, and he was a closer in the minor leagues -- he has the mentality to do it,'' Kendall said. "In my mind, it's not when you save games, but how you react when you blow one that's important. We had a guy in Pittsburgh, Mike Williams, who had a slider/changeup, nothing dominating, but he had ice water in his veins, no fear, nothing bothered him. That's what I see with Huston.''
Said Street: "I just have to simplify it and not try to do too much.''
Briefly: Davis said outfielder Nick Swisher (sprained AC joint, left shoulder) will join Sacramento at Omaha today to begin a rehab assignment. "The more hits he gets, the sooner he'll be back,'' Davis said. ... Scott Hatteberg had three hits and his average on the homestand was .409. ... Eric Chavez is one of several A's players hosting a bowling tournament today to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation at 5:30 p.m. at Danville Bowl.
There was no official word on Octavio Dotel's condition Thursday, and GM Billy Beane and assistant GM David Forst both failed to return phone calls, but Beane told KNBR that the closer's injured elbow will not require surgery.
"We're not sure if he'll go on the disabled list,'' Beane told the station. "It's still a possibility. It's a sore elbow; it's not surgical.''
Athletics placed RHP Octavio Dotel on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 17, with a strained right elbow.
It's the first time Dotel has been on the DL as a major leaguer. Huston Street is likely to get most of the save opportunities for now. May. 20 - 3:29 pm et
ccjohnson23 wrote:has anyone heard anything new on this?
i've been offered a trade. some guy wants dotel and he'll give me beltre. i think i should take it before he finds out about the injury. i'm pretty ok at closer and could use a third baseman.
i have street, chad cordero, urbina, bruney (arizona), dotel, tyler walker (SF) at third i have hillenbrand what do you guys think?
That sounds pretty unethical to knowingly trade an injured player to an owner that doesn't know.
It's unethical to offer the trade after the injury in the hope that the other owner doesn't know. If he's offered it before the injury and you accept after, he's just unlucky.
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by bryan1327 » Fri May 20, 2005 6:39 am 
