A's Mailbag: Where's Green? What's up with the SPs?

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OAKLAND -- Time to open up the A's Digital Mailbag again. This time all the questions are from Twitter. Remember you can also email me at CPratt@ComcastSportsNet.comTwitter:@caseyprattcsn when will the As call up grant Green? Samwise Gamgee (@TommyTSlice) August 17, 2012CP: My answer: Septmber 1, when rosters expand. I've been wrong about these things before though. I think Grant Green could be ready with the bat. Here's his 2012 Triple-A slash line: .291.335.454. Defense is the main concern. Where are you going to put him? Before irrationally answering shortstop, remember that every scout I have talked to says he can't stick there. If he was considered MLB-ready at shortstop he'd probably have been here by now -- and not playing all over the field in the Minor Leagues. Here's his breakdown of positions played this year by game: OF-75; 2B-12; 3B-9; SS-17. Green tells me he is more comfortable at shortstop. He played there almost his entire life. If not at shortstop, he says he is more comfortable in left field because the ball comes off the bat from a similar angle there. Green is close. He isn't quite ready yet. The A's plan is to make him as versatile as possible so that he can come up sooner rather than later. @caseyprattcsn Do you think the A's will set a innings limit on their young pitchers like the Nationals did with Stephen Strasburg? WorldofBayAreaSports (@basportsupdates) August 17, 2012CP: I do not. They haven't said they would at least. Believe me, us media members have asked the question many times as well. The guy they want to be most careful with is Jarrod Parker because he had Tommy John surgery at the end of the 2009 season. They feel Tommy Milone will be fine. Milone and Dan Straily don't have histories of arm issues. The A's plan isn't to shut any of them down like the Nationals are doing with Stephen Strasburg. Instead they have been careful with pitch counts all season. Remember when Parker almost threw a no-hitter and A's manager Bob Melvin said he was glad he didn't because he wouldn't have let him finish the game? @caseyprattcsn any correlation between that A's current pitching problems and the departure of Suzuki? Alex Yarbrough (@AlexWFS) August 16, 2012CP: This is a popular question. I really don't think there is. The A's starting rotation has over achieved in many ways this year. It was bound to level out. Especially when considering they have been as good as they are with three to four rookies in the rotation at all times. Simply put, many of these guys are reaching inning counts they have never surpassed before. They could be getting worn down. There is no question that Kurt Suzuki has been fantastic with the A's young pitchers his entire career, but keep in mind Curt Young also had his hand in it. He is still here. The guys that I have talked to say they like throwing to Derek Norris. I don't get the vibe they are just saying that. The A's will have to hope that the return of Brandon McCarthy, the steady performance of Bartolo Colon, and a return of Brett Anderson will help prevent the starting staff from faltering down the stretch. @caseyprattcsnassuming parker and milone continue to struggle, who would they remove if anderson comes back or both if griffin is back ? Shashank Kothpalli (@desifo0l) August 17, 2012CP: I don't think there is a rock-solid plan in place here. The A's insist these are good problems to have, and that they tend to work themselves out. I tend to agree. Look how A.J. Griffin got hurt right when Brandon McCarthy was nearing return. Depth is never a bad thing. I think it might be a mistake to force Brett Anderson back into the rotation before he is completely ready. Anderson is rebounding well from Tommy John surgery, but he hasn't thrown more than 100 pitchers or over six innings yet in Triple-A. I think he could use one or two more starts at least. Even if his arm feels good -- and he says it does -- he needs to fine tune all of his pitches before facing Major League competition. That being said, I get the feeling he will be back very soon. I don't know who will lose their spot as a result though. A.J. Griffin could also make things interesting. His MRI came back clean but the team is taking a careful approach with him.A six-man rotation might make sense. It could limit the innings of the rookies and help get McCarthy extra rest. It would likely wreak havoc on the bullpen though. @caseyprattcsn What are your thoughts on Braden being with the Athletics next year? Michael Wright (@michaeljamaar) August 17, 2012CP: Dallas Braden isn't a free agent until 2014. There is no reason why the A's wouldn't keep him around next year. The second surgery he will be undergoing is exploratory. Often after a major procedure like he had they will need to go back in and clean a few things up. He could still possibly be ready to pitch next season. If not, expect the A's to keep him around as he works toward a return. They could sign him to another one-year deal in 2014 too because he will come at a bargain.

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