Team Health Reports

Oakland Athletics

by Brad Wochomurka

OAKLAND ATHLETICS
Team Audit | DT Cards | PECOTA Cards | Depth Chart

Head Trainer: Stephen Sayles
Player Days Lost: 1,036
Total Dollars Lost: $13.5 million
Injury Cost: $25.9 million

Trend: Neutral. I thought about going negative here, but I'll give the A's the benefit of the doubt since they've rid themselves of the annual health headache that is Rich Harden, and also got more out of Justin Duchscherer last year than they had in '07. Sayles begins his second season as the team's head trainer, and beyond taking Harden out the equation for the most part the challenges remain the same: keep the left side of the infield (Bobby Crosby and Eric Chavez) healthy, try to delay the inevitable injury to the team's best starter (now Duchscherer), protect a young arm at the back of the bullpen (Huston Street out, Joey Devine in), and squeeze more years out of an aging designated hitter (Jason Giambi in for Frank Thomas). Granted, that last one will probably be easier this time around. If Sayles and his staff can find ways to cut down on some of the lingering injuries that have plagued this team in recent years, than perhaps '09 will be the start of a positive health trend in Oakland.

The Shape of the Season:

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