The A’s have placed starting DH Frank Thomas on the 15-day disabled list with a strained quad tendon. This will hurt the A’s as Thomas has been incredible since being signed after the Blue Jays cut him earlier this season. Thomas has played in 28 games for the A’s this season and he is 29 for 91 (.319 avg, .933 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 4 homers and 16 RBIs. Thomas has now played in 44 games combined for the Jays & A’s and he is 39 for 151 (.258 avg, .816 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 7 homers and 27 RBIs. Look for Mike Sweeney and Eric Chavez to replace Thomas in the starting lineup until he is ready to return.

The A’s have designated outfielder Jeff Fiorentino for assignment to make room on the roster to activate 3B Eric Chavez from the D.L. Fiorentino played in 2 games for the A’s this season and he was 1 for 1 (1.000 avg) with 1 RBI. He also played in 8 games in AAA ball this season and he was 6 for 22 (.273 avg, .630 OPS) with 3 runs scored and 3 RBIs. The A’s are happy to finally have Eric Chavez back as they can definately use his bat. Chavez had an off year in 2007 as he played in 90 games and he was 82 for 341 (.240 avg, .752 OPS) with 43 runs scored, 15 homers and 46 RBIs. The A’s hope that Chavez produces more like his career norms. He has played in 1,225 games in his major league career and he is 1,225 for 4,553 (.269 avg, .833 OPS) with 710 runs scored, 227 homers and 762 RBIs.

Daric Barton couldn’t hit his way out of a paper bag this May. In 21 games this month, he is 8 for 62 (.129 avg, .460 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 1 homer and 6 RBIs. Barton’s numbers for the season are very poor for a 1B. He has played in 50 games this season for the A’s and he is 35 for 164 (.213 avg, .647 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 2 homers and 17 RBIs. The A’s should give the first base job to Mike Sweeney. Sweeney has played in 39 games this season for the A’s and he is 35 for 116 (.302 avg, .763 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 2 homers and 12 RBIs. Sweeney might be ancient but he can still hit the baseball unlike Daric Barton.

Veteran righty Justin Duchscherer volunteered to move into the starting rotation over the winter and he has appeared to make the conversion successful….at least so far. Duchscherer has started 6 games for the A’s this season and he is 3-3 with a 2.67 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He should have a couple of more wins than he has but the A’s batters have not given him enough help. Still, he has been really effective so far this season and the A’s need him to keep up the good work.

The A’s have placed righty reliever Andrew Brown on the 15-day disabled list after he underwent an emergency appendectomy. Brown will likely be out at least 3 weeks as he recovers. Brown has pitched in 17 games (0 starts) for the A’s this season and he is 0-0 with a 2.45 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. The A’s will need righty Joey Devine to step up late in games while Brown and Casilla are out with injuries. Devine has pitched in 15 games this season for the A’s and he is 3-0 with a 0.98 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. He has only allowed 12 hits while whiffing 23 batters in only 18.1 innings pitched for the A’s this season. The A’s have recalled lefty Lenny DiNardo from AAA ball to replace Brown on the active roster and the bullpen. DiNardo has pitched in 4 games (2 starts) this season for the A’s and he is 1-1 with a 10.57 ERA and a 2.61 WHIP. He has walked 5 batters and allowed a whopping 15 hits in only 7.2 innings for the A’s this season. DiNardo has also started 4 games in AAA ball this season and he was 3-1 with a 5.25 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He didn’t walk any batters in AAA ball this season in 24 innings but he has allowed 32 hits.

The Oakland A’s have placed reserve infielder Donnie Murphy on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation. He has played in 26 games for the A’s this season and he is 11 for 55 (.200 avg, .588 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 2 homers, 6 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Rookie Gregorio Petit will serve as the A’s utility infielder until Murphy returns to action. The A’s have recalled 24-year old lefty reliever Dallas Braden to replace Murphy on the roster. Braden has pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the A’s this season and he is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Braden will work out of the bullpen for the A’s despite being a starter in the minors this season. Braden has pitched in 5 games (4 starts) in AAA ball this season and he was 0-0 with a 2.14 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP.

The Oakland A’s have placed righty reliever Santiago Casilla on the 15-day disabled list with soreness in his right elbow. Casilla pitched in 21 games (0 starts) for the A’s this season and he was 2-0 with 1 save, a 0.93 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP. He whiffed 22 batters and only allowed 12 hits in 19.1 innings for the A’s this season and they will miss him big time. The A’s recalled infielder Gregorio Petit to replace Casilla on the roster. Petit has played in 2 games for the A’s so far this season and he is 3 for 8 (.375 avg) with a double. The 23-year old righty swinger played in 37 games in AAA ball this season and he was 45 for 148 (.304 avg, .741 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 15 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Petit will likely get a lot of playing time for the A’s as Mark Ellis and Donnie Murphy are both hurting.

Veteran DH/1B Mike Sweeney got the green weenie when the A’s signed Frank Thomas as he lost his semi-regular role with the team. Sweeney has played in 28 games this season for the A’s and he is 28 for 87 (.322 avg, .829 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 2 homers and 10 RBIs. He also has only whiffed 2 times this season which is quite remarkable. Sweeney might start really cutting into 1B Daric Barton’s playing time if he doesn’t start swinging the bat better soon. Barton has played in 39 games for the A’s this season and he is 32 for 135 (.237 avg, .690 OPS) with 22 runs scored, 2 homers and 15 RBIs.

The Oakland A’s have placed outfielder Chris Denorfia on the 15-day disabled list with tightness in his lower back. Denorfia has played in 25 games this season for the A’s and he is 13 for 50 (.260 avg, .639 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 6 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Denrofia has been a little bit rusty so far this season as he has much more power than he has shown. He missed all of last season due to Tommy John surgery.

22-year old lefty Gio Gonzalez was the #1 prospect in the Chicago White Sox’ minor league system before the A’s acquired him for Nick Swisher. Gonzalez has started 6 games in AAA-ball so far this season and he is 0-2 with a 5.00 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP. He has allowed 31 hits and walked 16 batters in only 27 innings this season. Gonzalez will not get a chance to pitch for the A’s until he starts to tighten up his control.