31-year old switch-hitting CF Coco Crisp has been very solid for the A’s this year. He has played in 115 games for the A’s so far in 2011 and he is 120 for 449 (.267 avg, .713 OPS) with 64 runs scored, 7 homers, 44 RBIs and a American League leading 37 stolen bases. The steals are a career high for Crisp and that’s not usually how the A’s roll under GM Billy Beane. In his book “Moneyball”, Beane pretty much said that stolen bases weren’t worth the risk. Personally I think he’s wrong about that and I think Crisp has been a big asset to the offense in 2011.

The A’s have designated 27-year old lefty reliever Jerry Blevins for assignment for the fourth time this year. Blevins has pitched in 19 games (0 starts) for the A’s so far this year and he is 0-0 with a 3.80 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. He has now pitched in 144 games (0 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 3-5 with 1 save, a 3.94 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. There is little reason to think that Blevins won’t clear waivers and accept a minor league assignment from the A’s for the fourth time this year.

UPDATE: (8/31/2011) - Jerry Blevins has accepted another outright assignment to AAA.

25-year old lefty swinging 1B Brandon Allen has bumped Conor Jackson to the bench. Allen has played in 11 games for the A’s so far this year and he is 13 for 37 (.351 avg, 1.066 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 2 homers and 4 RBIs. He has now played in 22 games overall for the D-Backs & A’s in which he is 18 for 66 (.273 avg, .963 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 5 homers, 11 RBIs and 1 stolen base. First base is a wide open position for the A’s going forward, and Allen can stake his claim to it if he finishes this year strongly.

The A’s have dealt 30-year old righty swinging 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff to the Rockies for either a player to be named later or cash. Kouzmanoff played in 46 games for the A’s this year and he was 30 for 136 (.221 avg, .615 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 4 homers and 17 RBIs. He played in 189 games in his two seasons with the A’s and he was 166 for 687 (.242 avg, .666 OPS) with 72 runs scored, 20 homers, 88 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. This is the second deal in the last two months between the A’s and Rockies as the other one sent Mark Ellis to Denver. Kevin Kouzmanoff was a huge disappointment for the A’s.

The A’s were expecting that 31-year old lefty swinging outfielder David DeJesus would hit around his career averages in 2011 when they signed him over the winter. He came into this season having played in 876 games in his first 8 years in the majors and he was 971 for 3,355 (.289 avg, .787 OPS) with 501 runs scored, 61 homers, 390 RBIs and 47 stolen bases. But, so far this year, DeJesus has played in 107 games in which he is 83 for 360 (.231 avg, .684 OPS) with 46 runs scored, 8 homers, 35 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. The A’s need DeJesus to finish this season strongly. They might also try to deal him in the next couple of weeks, but they need him to get hot so they can get something for him.

The A’s have placed 26-year old righty reliever Trystan Magnuson on the 15-day disabled list due to right shoulder tendinitis. Magnuson has pitched in 9 games (0 starts) for the A’s so far this year and he is 0-0 with a 6.14 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He has been replaced in the bullpen by 24-year old lefty Jordan Norberto who has been called up by the A’s. Norberto has pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the A’s earlier this year and he was 0-0 with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He has also pitched in 43 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this year for the A’s and D-Backs in which he is 6-2 with 2 saves, a 4.18 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP.

27-year old righty swinging catcher Kurt Suzuki signed a 3-year, $15.65 million dollar deal with the A’s over the winter and he looks like he’s counting his money instead of putting his work in. He has played in 101 games for the A’s so far this year and he is 81 for 356 (.228 avg, .656 OPS) with 36 runs scored, 10 homers, 31 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He has now played in 595 games in his first five years with the A’s and he is 558 for 2,164 (.258 avg, .702 OPS) with 246 runs scored, 52 homers, 271 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. The A’s are stuck with Suzuki for a while due to the contract they gave him, so they hope he picks up the pace with the bat soon.

21-year old righty swinging outfielder Michael Choice came into this season as the A’s #3 prospect according to Baseball America and he’s showing why in the minors this year. Choice has played in 100 games in A-ball so far this year and he is 115 for 397 (.290 avg, .951 OPS) with 73 runs scored, 28 homers, 71 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. He has now played in 130 games in his first 2 years in the minors and he is 144 for 506 (.285 avg, .954 OPS) with 94 runs scored, 35 homers, 97 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. Choice is going to likely be put on the fast track to Oakland as long as he keeps raking like he is right now.

27-year old righty closer Andrew Bailey missed the first couple of months of the 2011 season while he was recovering from surgery. But, he has looked like he has never missed a beat so far with the A’s. Bailey has pitched in 24 games (0 starts) for the A’s so far this year and he is 0-2 with 13 saves, a 1.93 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP. He has only given up 16 hits while whiffing 24 batters in his first 23 1/3 innings for the A’s so far this year which is pretty impressive. Bailey has now pitched in 139 games (0 starts) in his first three years with the A’s and he is 7-8 with 64 saves, a 1.73 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. Bailey is quite simply, one of the best closers in the major leagues when he’s healthy. That’s the catch though as Bailey always seems to miss part of a season.

37-year old lefty swinging DH/LF Hideki Matsui is on fire right now with the bat for the A’s. In his last 13 games, Matsui is 25 for 50 (.500 avg) with 12 runs scored, 3 homers and 17 RBIs. It seems like the All-Star break warmed up Godzilla’s bat. He has now played in 94 games for the A’s this year and he is 88 for 332 (.265 avg, .744 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 9 homers, 53 RBIs and 1 stolen base. The A’s are glad that Matsui has started ripping the ball because he was a huge disappointment in the first half for them.