Freddie

Bynum

It could happen on Saturday. Bynum is due to spend another season at Triple-A Sacramento. He might be a bench player for the A’s in 2006.

Manager Dusty Baker talked before the game about maybe setting up a platoon between the left-handed-hitting Bynum and righty Matt Murton in left. Bynum, though, would be an absolute joke as a semi-regular in left field. He’s hitting .234/.269/.422 this season, and his slugging percentage will only go down the more at-bats he gets.

Bynum has been out since July 24 when he developed blood clots in his arm. He has been rehabbing and should be healthy enough to return. His fantasy value will be minimal.

It would be for the best if Bynum serves pretty strictly as a 25th man the rest of the way. Matt Murton and Angel Pagan are more worthy of starts in the outfield, and there’s little point to playing Bynum at second base.

Bynum had an operation for a blood clot in his right shoulder in Sept. 2004, so there’s going to be no fooling around here. If he needs to go on the DL, it means that Matt Murton will definitely hang around following Derrek Lee’s return.

Bynum won’t be able to play while he is taking the blood thinners so he is going to be out until at least early August. Matt Murton should receive more at-bats with Bynum out.

Bynum was making a third straight start after reaching five times and hitting a homer the previous two days, but his bat couldn’t make up for his defense tonight, even if he did collect two hits. Bynum has limited offensive potential and he’s better defensively in the outfield than at second base. Manager Dusty Baker might keep starting him while he’s hot, but there are better uses for the at-bats.

The A’s needed an extra bat with Bobby Crosby and Mark Kotsay sidelined, and Mark Bellhorn isn’t eligible to join the team just yet. Assuming that Bellhorn is signed tomorrow or Wednesday, Bynum figures to head right back to Triple-A.

The fifth longest consecutive-game streak in major league history comes to an end at 1,152. We would have stopped counting it after yesterday anyway. Tejada will probably push to come back after the minimum, but we’re guessing he’ll be return in the first game following the All-Star break next month. The O’s will go with Chris Gomez and Freddie Bynum at shortstop while he’s out. Bynum is the better pickup of the two in AL-only leagues.

Bynum will likely play three or four more games for Frederick before coming off the disabled list.