June 6, 2011A'S PAGEA'SVIDEO
Paul GutierrezCSNCalifornia.com
If the A's were not already full of surprises in the wake of a six-game losing streak that has dropped them a season-high seven games out of first place behind Texas in the American League West, reports from Baltimore have left-hander Brett Anderson returning to the Bay Area to have his pitching elbow examined. He reportedly is concerned he may need season-ending Tommy John Surgery after a significant dip in his velocity and control in his last two starts.If Anderson is shut down for any period of time, he would join rotation mates Dallas Braden (season-ending shoulder surgery), Brandon McCarthy (stress reaction in shoulder) and Tyson Ross (left oblique strain) on the shelf. Bobby Cramer would also be a likely candidate to replace Anderson in the rotation.
Anderson has seen his ERA jump to 4.00 following back-to-back rough outings against the Red Sox and Yankees. He allowed nine earned runs in 5.1 innings against the Yankees May 31 in Oakland and five runs in five innings Sunday in Boston.
"Today was pretty much terrible," Anderson said after the loss to the Red Sox. "It's pretty much as bad a job as I can do. My stuff was pretty bad. I need to get my breaking ball to where it was. It's kind of rolling in there"
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