Erubiel

Durazo

In a somewhat strange move, A’s manager Ken Macha rested both Durazo and Scott Hatteberg in an important game against Anaheim yesterday. Both will return today and continue to play every game until the A’s playoff fate is determined.

He has been laboring with the injury for most of September but aggravated it more significantly Wednesday night. Nick Swisher will likley replace Durazo in the lineup in this key series against Anaheim.

Because both arbitration-eligible players are about to start getting quite expensive, it’s unclear if either fits into Oakland’s long-term plans. Dotel very likely will be back as the team’s closer next season, but 2005 could be his only full year in an A’s uniform. Durazo might be dealt this winter to free up money and open up a spot for Dan Johnson.

Manager Ken Macha wants to get Eric Karros some at bats against the Royals’ left-handed starters this weekend. Scott Hatteberg, who will start this evening, may also sit out a game to give Karros some playing time.

He’ll just get a one-year offer to avoid arbitration. Oakland still might sign Octavio Dotel to a two-year deal.

Scott Hatteberg is the superior fielder, with only two errors the entire season, but with the A’s trying to generate some offense, Durazo (868 OPS) should continue to start over fellow left-hander Hatteberg (724 OPS) for most of this week.

Hitting ahead of Durazo, Jermaine Dye leads the AL with 14, so he’s clearing the bases. We can still hope that one day manager Ken Macha will figure out that Durazo’s greatest asset is his .389 on-base percentage, and he’ll move him to the No. 2 spot ahead of Eric Chavez.

Durazo has raised his on-base percentage from .361 to .409 since May 23.

Scott Hatteberg started at first base. Durazo is nursing sore ribs that were aggravated in a collision with John Halama on Tuesday.

Durazo’s average has fallen to .249 after a 1-for-23 slump, but he still leads the A’s in on-base percentage by a wide margin. His .372 makes him the only regular with an OBP over .345. He needs to be in the lineup ahead of Miguel Tejada and Eric Chavez.