It should come as no surprise that Eric Chavez and Mark Kotsay will both miss the remainder of the 2007 season due to back injuries. Chavez played in 90 games this season for the A’s and he was 82 for 341 (.240 avg, .752 OPS) with 43 runs, 15 homers and 46 RBIs. Chavez has been a huge disappointment for the A’s since they gave him a big money contract extension. Mark Kotsay started the season late as he was rehabbing from back surgery early in the season. But he played like a player that was still hurting and it showed in his statline. He played in 56 games this season for the A’s and he was 44 for 206 (.214 avg, .572 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 1 homer and 20 RBIs.

The Oakland Athletics have lost Esteban Loaiza on waivers to the LA Dodgers. The A’s decided to let him go because it saves them at least $8.4 million dollars still owed to Loaiza on his contract. He missed most of this season due to injury but he looked sharp in his two starts for the A’s this season going 1-0 with a 1.84 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. He finishes his time with the A’s with a 12-9 record, a 4.62 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. The A’s have officially waved the white flag on the season.

It’s amazing watching Jack Cust bat. It seems that whenever pitchers adjust to him he makes some changes and goes on another tear! Cust has played in 19 games this August so far and he is 20 for 60 (.333 avg, 1.111 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 4 homers and 15 RBIs. Cust has really made the most of his big opportunity with the A’s after spending many seasons in the minor leagues. He has now played in 91 games this season for the A’s and he is 78 for 286 (.273 avg, .958 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 21 homers and 65 RBIs. Cust looks like he might have found a home in Oakland.

The A’s have placed infielder Donnie Murphy on the 15-day disabled list with a strained rib cage. Murphy has played in 30 games this season in the majors and he is 19 for 86 (.221 avg, .737 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 4 homers and 14 RBIs. Look for Marco Scutaro to start at shortstop fulltime for a while now with both Bobby Crosby and Donnie Murphy out with injuries. Scutaro has played in 77 games this season and he is 62 for 238 (.261 avg, .724 OPS) with 36 runs scored, 7 homers and 35 RBIs.

The A’s have placed outfielder Travis Buck on the 15-day disabled list. This hurts the A’s as Buck has played very well this season as a rookie. Buck has played in 82 games this season for the A’s and he is 82 for 285 (.288 avg, .851 OPS) with 41 runs scored, 7 homers and 34 RBIs. The A’s have recalled J.J. Furmaniak from the minors to replace Buck on the roster. He has played in 6 games this season and he is 0 for 5 with 2 runs scored for the A’s.

The Oakland A’s have placed Mark Kotsay on the 15-day disabled list as he is suffering from back spasms. Kotsay has not played well at all this season as his bad back has probably been bothering him all season long. He has played in 56 games this season for the A’s and he is 44 for 206 (.214 avg, .573 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 1 homer and 20 RBIs. Kotsay will be replaced on the A’s roster by Jeff DaVanon who has been recalled from the AAA Sacramento River Cats. The 33-year old switch-hitting DaVanon was off to a fast start for the River Cats as he played in 12 games for them and he was 14 for 43 (.326 avg, .861 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 1 homer and 2 RBIs.

The A’s have acquired 27 year old lefty hitting firstbaseman Jack Hannahan from the Tigers in exchange for 27 year old OF Jason Perry. The A’s immediately called Hannahan to the majors leagues to see what he can do.  He played in 101 games in AAA ball this season and he was 99 for 336 (.295 avg, .898 OPS) with 56 runs scored, 13 homers and 63 RBIs. Hannahan played in 3 games last season for the Tigers and he was 0 for 9 (.000 avg).

The A’s have decided that they have seen enough of Dallas Braden for now so they have sent him to the minors and he definately earned the trip. He pitched in 13 games (10 starts) this season for the A’s and he was 1-7 with a 6.32 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. In 52.2 innings this season he has allowed 62 hits, walked 18 batters and whiffed 42. The A’s have called up fellow lefty starter Dan Meyer to replace Braden in the starting rotation. Meyer was the centerpiece of the Tim Hudson trade but he has disappointed the A’s to this point. He has started 20 games this season in AA+AAA ball and he is 6-2 with a 3.53 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. In 107.1 innings this season he has allowed 98 hits, walked 55 batters and whiffed 95. If he can throw more strikes he might be effective for the A’s which would make the Tim Hudson trade look a tad better because to this point it has been pathetic.

The A’s have signed veteran outfielder Jeff DaVanon and they have sent him to AAA. He played in 13 games this season for the Diamondbacks and he was 4 for 26 (.154 avg, .534 OPS) with 5 runs scored and 1 RBI. This is a classic little move by GM Billy Beane. It DaVanon gets hot Beane will likely be able to move DaVanon to a contender before August 31st. If not he can either get rid of him or call him up when rosters expand on September 1st. DaVanon has played in 502 major league games over his career and he is 318 for 1,225 (.260 avg, .757 OPS) with 196 runs scored, 33 homers, 145 RBIs and 59 stolen bases.

28 year old lefty swinging Jorge Piedra has been tearing the cover off of the baseball in AAA ball this season. He has played in 45 games this season and he is 58 for 166 (.349 avg, 1.014 OPS) with 25 runs scored, 7 homers and 42 RBIs. The A’s will likely call up Piedra when rosters expand in September to see what they have in him.