PHOENIX -- Oakland A's designated hitter Mike Piazza left
Tuesday's Cactus League game against Kansas City after being hit
just above his left elbow by Royals pitcher Brian Bannister.
Piazza was batting with the bases loaded in the third inning
when he was hit. The 12-time All-Star walked slowly toward first
base before stopping and being met by A's trainer Larry Davis, who
escorted Piazza into Oakland's clubhouse.
The A's announced the injury as a bruised left triceps.
Impressions from the seams of the baseball were still visible on
Piazza's elbow in Oakland's clubhouse after the game.
"He got it pretty good," said Piazza, who initially put a
thick bag of ice on his elbow. "I'm just going to ice it again,
see how it feels and go from there. If everything's all right, I'm
sure it will calm down in a day or two."
Earlier in the game, Piazza doubled to raise his spring average
to .444, third-best among the A's regulars.
"It's a setback," Piazza said. "You're on a certain pace and
you want to stay on that pace. But things happen. You have to move
on. Hopefully it feels better. It may feel worse."
Piazza is the sixth A's batter to be hit by a pitch this spring.
Earlier in the day, Piazza was serving as a mentor to minor
league catcher Kurt Suzuki. The two held a 10-minute conversation
after finishing batting practice, with Piazza going over the art of
blocking the plate. Piazza did most of the talking while Suzuki,
who spent all of last season in Double-A Midland, listened
intently.
"Survival tips, that's all," Piazza laughed as he walked into
Oakland's dugout.
Piazza isn't likely to catch at all for the A's this season.
Jason Kendall and Adam Melhuse will split the duties behind the
plate, leaving the 38-year-old Piazza to concentrate on his
hitting.
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A'S AWAIT WORD ON KOTSAY:@Mark Kotsay was scheduled to see a
Southern California doctor on Tuesday but the A's still have no
idea how bad the center fielder's back is.
Kotsay first reported stiffness and pain in his back Feb. 26 and
was held out of practice for two days before flying to California
to meet with private doctors.
Geren has had to shuffle his lineup while Kotsay is out, moving
Milton Bradley from left field to center. Were Bradley to get
injured, however, Oakland's options are limited. Charles Thomas is
the only player on the A's roster with extensive playing time in
center at the major league level and has been splitting time there
with Bradley this spring.
"I don't want to cross that bridge till I get word on when and
where we're going to get (Kotsay)," Geren said. "That's in the
back of my mind. I want to get a definitive answer on him first."
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SHORT HOPS:@Travis Buck was scheduled to start in right field
but was a late scratch because of a stiff neck. ... Second baseman
Mark Ellis was also held out of the game after fouling a ball off
his foot during Monday's win over the Angels. ... LHP Joe Kennedy
will make his second start of the Cactus League on Wednesday
against the Chicago Cubs and pitcher Carlos Zambrano. Kennedy,
trying to work his way into Oakland's rotation after spending all
of 2006 in the bullpen, was roughed up in his first start when he
gave up four runs and six hits in 1 2/3 innings.