Pitchers Gio Gonzalez and Greg Smith have been optioned to Triple-A Sacramento by the Oakland Atheltics.  Both young pitchers are highly regarded in the Athletics minor leagues, and both will be on the big league roster this year or next year I’m pretty sure.

Instead of having them sit on the bench or out in the bullpen, they will be getting their full innings down in the minor leagues.  Look for one of the two to be called up the first time the Athletics call up a starting pitcher.  My guess would be on Smith over Gonzalez right now.

Athletics Blog

Aaron Cunningham who was trying to earn a spot on the big league roster with the Oakland Athletics will start the season in the disabled list as he broke his left wrist while sliding into a base.  Another reason why head first slides 90% suck…

It was going to be hard for Cunningham to make the big league roster this year and he will more then likely come of the disabled list and start playing in double a ball.

In some other Athletic news from Spring Training, it doesn’t look like Eric Chavez will be making his 10th straight opening day start for the Athletics.  Chavez still isn’t running and isn’t responding too well after receiving an epidural last week.

The Oakland Athletics reassigned Jay Marshall, Arnold Leon, Ryan Wing and Brad Ziegler to minor league camp on Thursday.  The Athletics also optioned Landon Powell to Triple-A Sacramento.

This was just the first moves of many as the Atheltics start to cut players from the big league spring training camp.  They will have some harder decisions in the next few weeks, including the first basemen and dh positions.

Athletics Blog