June 11, 2007

Suzuki rolls in to replace Melhuse

By Joe Stiglich

SAN FRANCISCO — The A's traded away one of their longest tenured players in catcher Adam Melhuse, and then welcomed a player who should be an instrumental part of their future.

Catcher Kurt Suzuki was called up from Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday to take the roster spot of Melhuse, the longtime backup who was sent to the Texas Rangers for cash considerations Saturday.

The A's are high on Suzuki, 23, who appears to be the heir apparent to current starter Jason Kendall.

Kendall is in the final year of a seven-year contract he signed while with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Melhuse rarely played as the No.2 man behind Kendall, who doesn't like to take days off, and welcomed a change of scenery. But before Sunday's game with the Giants, A's manager

Bob Geren said he "definitely" plans on giving Suzuki more time behind the plate than Melhuse received.
Geren estimated that Suzuki, a second-round pick in 2004 out of Cal State Fullerton, would play at least once a week.
"That's nothing against (Melhuse)," Geren said. "(Suzuki) is a catcher, and there's more to breaking in a catcher than other positions."
It's the first trip to the majors for Suzuki. The Hawaii native was batting .280 with three homers and 27 RBIs for Triple-A Sacramento.

"I'm just trying to get into a routine where I feel comfortable up here, kind of learn ropes, see how Kendall goes about preparing himself," Suzuki said.

Dealing Melhuse, an experienced veteran,also suggests that designated hitter Mike Piazza could be called upon to get behind the plate in a pinch. But the A's signed Piazza in the offseason with the intent of having him be solely a DH.

And Piazza is currently rehabbing a sprained right shoulder — his throwing shoulder — and on the disabled list.

HARDEN UPDATE: Rich Harden made 65 throws to test his strained right shoulder before Sunday's game, and he's scheduled to throw from the mound Tuesday for the first time since getting injured April 15.

Harden played catch at 120 feet and then moved in and made 20 pitches off flat ground.

"I was 85 to 95 percent intensity," Harden said. "It's always different from the mound ... but I was letting it go at basically game speed."

Throwing off a mound is the next big hurdle in his recovery.ONE-HOPPERS: Travis Buck bruised his right thumb making a sensational diving catch of a shallow fly by Barry Bonds to left field in the fourth inning. He was lifted for pinch hitter Jack Cust in the top of the fifth. Buck said he was checked out by a doctor and is hopeful to play Tuesday in the start of a three-game series at Houston.

"I don't expect to miss any time, but it's up to my thumb." ... Outfielder Shannon Stewart has seen his playing time reduced since Mark Kotsay came off the DL, but he made big contributions off the bench against the Giants. He delivered a two-run pinch-hit single that was the game-winner Friday and added an RBI single after entering Sunday's game in the seventh inning. ... Interim closer Alan Embree, on the diving backhanded stop that shortstop Bobby Crosby turned into the final out Sunday: "He's going to get a nice steak dinner out of it, if that's legal."

Print Email Return to Top