ANAHEIM – Rajai Davis got the word Sunday that he was going on the disabled list, but he was feeling good enough that he’d hoped the A’s would skip that step. They didn’t.
Oakland moved Davis to the 10-day DL Tuesday, meaning he won’t be eligible to play either in Anaheim or Houston on this trip but will be eligible for the three-game road trip finale in Minnesota next week.
He started talking about how good he’d felt before he got the news, saying “I definitely felt …” then let that tail off. He focused instead on the future. He’ll be running most every day this week as his left hamstring strain heals.
“From what I felt a couple of days ago, I’d definitely feeling a lot better,” Davis said. “Yeah I was surprised. Obviously this is not what I wanted to do. But speed being my game, I have to be ready with my legs. And if they’re not ready, that’s hard.
“They told me in Oakland, but I wasn’t sure if it was firm,” Davis said, adding that he tried to make a case for not going on the DL only to find out he was outvoted. “I have to be ready with my legs.”
Manager Bob Melvin said that in promoting outfielder Ryan LaMarre, just acquired from the Angels, the A’s can maximize Davis’ healing time while the right-handed LaMarre, who has 26 big league games under his belt, and the left-handed Jaff Decker share time in center. Since Davis has already missed four days, he’ll only be out another week if all goes well.
“You don’t want your leadoff guy and speed guy playing with restrictions,” Melvin said. “That’s what sets him apart. Even though he wants to be in there, this is the prudent thing to do.”
LaMarre was delighted and shocked to be called up. Just last week he was playing for Triple-A Salt Lake when the Angels designated him for assignment. The A’s swung a player-to-be-named-later or cash deal for him on Sunday. On Monday he was playing for Nashville in Colorado Springs. On Tuesday he was in Oakland with altogether new teammates.
When the A’s first made contact, it was to tell him they wanted him to get some at-bats at Nashville “to see where we’re at.” Instead, when he joined the Sounds in Colorado Springs, he was told he was going to DH for the one game, then fly to Anaheim.
“It’s been an unbelievable day,” LaMarre said. “When they said you’re going to Anaheim, I said like `what? Am I going back to the Angels?’ And they said no. that we were playing in Anaheim. It was funny.”
LaMarre, who said he worked out every day in Salt Lake after he’d been designated for assignment, can play all three outfield positions and provides speed, although injuries have made sure he’s not the 52-steals guy he was back in the low minor leagues.
Melvin said the reports he’s gotten on LaMarre suggest he fits into the A’s all-versatility, all-the-time mode. He’s likely to get a start Sunday when the A’s are scheduled to face their next lefty starter.
