Mar 13, 2008

A's being cautious on Chavez

Third baseman is questionable for road trip to Japan

By JANIE McCAULEY / Associated Press

PHOENIX - Oakland third baseman Eric Chavez flew to Los Angeles on Wednesday to have a follow-up examination on his back.

He had an appointment with Dr. Robert Watkins, who operated on Chavez last Oct. 9. Chavez was due back in Arizona later Wednesday.

The six-time Gold Glove winner still hopes to join the Athletics for their opening trip to Japan to play the World Series champion Boston Red Sox on March 25-26. He is even willing to go and be the designated hitter, or serve as an ambassador to promote the series.

Whether the A's decide that's a good idea - with the long flight and all - isn't yet clear. They leave the desert in a week.

"He just has to get healthy," manager Bob Geren said Wednesday. "When he gets in these games down here is more of a medical question."

The 30-year-old Chavez also had offseason operations on both shoulders. He received an injection in his back Feb. 29 to ease inflammation.

He had back spasms last year that landed him on the disabled list for the final two months of the 2007 season.

"I want to move this along. Do I want to play (in Japan)? Yeah, I do," Chavez said. "I don't know what will happen or should or shouldn't happen. If they want me to be there, no doubt I'll show up."

A's trainer Steve Sayles has said he would like to see Chavez running the bases first and then fielding consistently before giving him medical clearance. The bending over to field the ball has bothered Chavez's back in the past.

Chavez had three plate appearances in a simulated game Tuesday: a walk, a fly ball to right that was dropped for an error and a single off the wall in left. He saw 10 pitches and took three swings, and he is eager to DH in a game soon.

He isn't as concerned with running the bases as getting his timing at third.

"I really don't have to test that right now," he said of running. "It's such a question mark right now. I'm running at 60-70 percent and I'm going to have to do that for a while. I'm really here to play, but that's my problem. I could easily say, 'I'm a month out' and ease into it, but that's not my style. If someone says four months, I want to do it in three. That's why I'm where I am right now."







Chavez, who hit .240 with 15 home runs in an injury-shortened 2007 season, has struggled with back and arm problems for two years. He appeared in just 90 games last year, his 10th with the A's. In 2006, he played through pain in his forearms that made it tough to throw to first but still earned his sixth consecutive AL Gold Glove.