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With Zack Gelof landing on the IL, the Athletics decided to call up Joey Meneses, which was an interesting call because he had struggled defensively in left field this season. Then the lineup came out — with Meneses at first — and manager Mark Kotsay said first baseman Nick Kurtz could be headed for the IL.
"I wish it was the stomach bug," Kotsay said. "We had Kurtz evaluated. He's been dealing with a right thumb that's been an issue. He's played through it for more than a few days. He has a right thumb capsule sprain."
Kotsay said the expectation is that he'll head to the IL, which would impact his availability for the All-Star Game in Philadelphia next week. Kurtz had been expected to be the starting first baseman for the American League.
Kurtz is riding an 0-for-20 streak at the plate dating back to the sixth inning of Friday's game against the Miami Marlins. He singled, homered and walked in his first three plate appearances that game.
In addition to Meneses at first, we should also expect Jonah Heim to get some time there, to keep his bat in the lineup while also freeing up the DH spot.
Kotsay did say that he doesn't want to move Tyler Soderstrom from left field to first base.
Gelof's MRI was good on Friday, showing no damage to the tendon, but because of where the laceration is, right below the kneecap, he has to keep his knee from bending. He's in a brace to immobilize any type of bend for the next five to seven days.
"From one aspect, we escaped something that could have been really bad," Kotsay said. "Yet it's still going to take time for this knee, for him to get back."
Gelof suffered a right hand contusion on June 23 when Giants third baseman Matt Chapman stepped on his hand, an injury that landed him on the IL. He'd just returned on July 4, played in four games, and suffered this new injury in the fifth.
The A's have been hit hard, and repeatedly, by the injury bug over the last few weeks. Gelof has already suffered an injury, returned, and landed back on the IL, while shortstop Jacob Wilson and Soderstrom have also landed on the IL and returned.
With Kurtz being arguably the A's biggest bat at any given time, the offense is going to look different.
"I talked to the team today about adversity," Kotsay said on Friday. "I talked to them about no one feeling sorry for us. We've gotta come together here. It's a next-man-up mentality to go help us win games. We're still in a division race that's up for grabs. I know we haven't played well of late, but there's still that opportunity to get back in this thing.
"Every game matters."
He also said that the intensity that the team played with on Thursday was a positive sign and that intensity was a reason that the season will get turned around.
The A's skipper also mentioned that he visited the mural of Pope Leo (a noted White Sox fan) in Section 141 before the game.
"We asked for his blessing, and hopefully he'll give us some love, because I know he's given [the White Sox] a lot of love," Kotsay said.
The A's went on to lose to the White Sox 14-1 on Friday night, with both the pitching and the offense struggling to deliver. Given the 14-1 final and the section that mural sits in, the Pope may have withheld his blessing.
The A's have now lost seven straight.
Continue reading...
"I wish it was the stomach bug," Kotsay said. "We had Kurtz evaluated. He's been dealing with a right thumb that's been an issue. He's played through it for more than a few days. He has a right thumb capsule sprain."
Kotsay said the expectation is that he'll head to the IL, which would impact his availability for the All-Star Game in Philadelphia next week. Kurtz had been expected to be the starting first baseman for the American League.
Kurtz is riding an 0-for-20 streak at the plate dating back to the sixth inning of Friday's game against the Miami Marlins. He singled, homered and walked in his first three plate appearances that game.
In addition to Meneses at first, we should also expect Jonah Heim to get some time there, to keep his bat in the lineup while also freeing up the DH spot.
Kotsay did say that he doesn't want to move Tyler Soderstrom from left field to first base.
Gelof Update
Gelof's MRI was good on Friday, showing no damage to the tendon, but because of where the laceration is, right below the kneecap, he has to keep his knee from bending. He's in a brace to immobilize any type of bend for the next five to seven days.
"From one aspect, we escaped something that could have been really bad," Kotsay said. "Yet it's still going to take time for this knee, for him to get back."
Gelof suffered a right hand contusion on June 23 when Giants third baseman Matt Chapman stepped on his hand, an injury that landed him on the IL. He'd just returned on July 4, played in four games, and suffered this new injury in the fifth.
Kotsay's Message to Clubhouse
The A's have been hit hard, and repeatedly, by the injury bug over the last few weeks. Gelof has already suffered an injury, returned, and landed back on the IL, while shortstop Jacob Wilson and Soderstrom have also landed on the IL and returned.
With Kurtz being arguably the A's biggest bat at any given time, the offense is going to look different.
"I talked to the team today about adversity," Kotsay said on Friday. "I talked to them about no one feeling sorry for us. We've gotta come together here. It's a next-man-up mentality to go help us win games. We're still in a division race that's up for grabs. I know we haven't played well of late, but there's still that opportunity to get back in this thing.
"Every game matters."
He also said that the intensity that the team played with on Thursday was a positive sign and that intensity was a reason that the season will get turned around.
The A's skipper also mentioned that he visited the mural of Pope Leo (a noted White Sox fan) in Section 141 before the game.
"We asked for his blessing, and hopefully he'll give us some love, because I know he's given [the White Sox] a lot of love," Kotsay said.
The A's went on to lose to the White Sox 14-1 on Friday night, with both the pitching and the offense struggling to deliver. Given the 14-1 final and the section that mural sits in, the Pope may have withheld his blessing.
The A's have now lost seven straight.
Continue reading...
