OAKLAND, Calif. -- Athletics second baseman Mark Ellis has a
broken right thumb that will sideline him for up to six weeks.
Ellis had X-rays late Tuesday after getting hurt sliding while
breaking up a double play in the sixth inning of an 8-7, 10-inning
loss to the Kansas City Royals. He will be placed on the disabled
list Thursday.
"I don't know if you can get any more of a freak accident than
that -- breaking up a double play and breaking your thumb," A's
manager Ken Macha said before Wednesday's series finale against the
Royals. "Generally speaking, when you've got something broken,
it's six weeks."
Marco Scutaro will play in Ellis' place for now -- after an
impressive stint as Bobby Crosby's backup last season when the
shortstop was injured two separate times.
This is a disappointing development for Ellis, who signed a
two-year, $6 million contract in January following a strong
comeback season after he missed the 2004 campaign with a torn
labrum in his right shoulder.
Ellis batted a career-high .316 with a career-best 13 home runs
and 52 RBI last season, but had been struggling recently with a
.226 average, three homers and 11 RBI.
He will not need surgery.
"He's not real pleased," trainer Larry Davis said. "He wants
to play every day. He's not a real happy camper right now."
The A's were deciding who to bring up to fill Ellis' roster
spot. Antonio Perez is on the big league roster and provides
another infielder off the bench, so the A's might choose to add
another position player or a pitcher.
Infielder Mike Rouse and outfielder Hiram Bocachica could be
candidates to be called up from Triple-A Sacramento. Keith Ginter,
a second baseman who played 51 games for the A's in 2005, probably
won't come to Oakland.
"If we brought Ginter up, we would have to designate
somebody," Macha said. "We don't want to lose anybody."
A's third baseman Eric Chavez, who left Tuesday's game with a
bruised left hand, had X-rays Wednesday and they were negative. He
was in the starting lineup.