A's face challenges when Dye returns
Posted on Sat, May. 24, 2003
OAKLAND - Jermaine Dye is nearing a return to the active roster, and he realizes the man who has been playing in his place has presented A's management with some interesting decisions.
Dye likely will have his first rehabilitation assignment Sunday with Triple-A Sacramento, meaning he should rejoin the A's soon. When he does, he knows that Eric Byrnes deserves to continue to play.
"He's doing a great job," said Dye, who is recovering from surgery on April 29 to remove torn cartilage from his right knee. "He's getting a chance to play and making the best of it. This is the first time he's played day in and day out, and he's playing great."
A's manager Ken Macha has said Byrnes will continue to get chances to play. Macha may get creative and rotate several of his position players, giving different players days off and working the principals in and out of the lineup.
"It might be a problem making out the lineup, but it won't be a problem with us players," Dye said. "I would love to have four outfielders and have it be tough to make out a lineup."
Macha said Dye likely would have two rehab assignments as a designated hitter, then also play a few games in the outfield. After Monday, Sacramento plays at Oklahoma, and Dye will accompany the team.
No setback
The A's say the swelling in reliever Jim Mecir's right knee Friday should not be considered a setback. Mecir was not available Friday after receiving his second injection of Synvisc, a substance designed to remove the discomfort in his knee. Mecir also had his knee drained Thursday. He had the knee drained again later Friday evening and had a cortisone shot.
A's trainer Larry Davis said it's rare for the knee to swell up after receiving Synvisc but "it's not unexpected." When asked if Friday's development would make Mecir unavailable for a couple of days, Davis said: "It should not."
Mecir has appeared in just five games since being activated from the disabled list on April 23 after offseason surgery on his left knee. Mecir has a history of medical problems with both knees.
-- Jonathan Okanes
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