It should come as no surprise that Eric Chavez and Mark Kotsay will both miss the remainder of the 2007 season due to back injuries. Chavez played in 90 games this season for the A’s and he was 82 for 341 (.240 avg, .752 OPS) with 43 runs, 15 homers and 46 RBIs. Chavez has been a huge disappointment for the A’s since they gave him a big money contract extension. Mark Kotsay started the season late as he was rehabbing from back surgery early in the season. But he played like a player that was still hurting and it showed in his statline. He played in 56 games this season for the A’s and he was 44 for 206 (.214 avg, .572 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 1 homer and 20 RBIs.

The Oakland Athletics have lost Esteban Loaiza on waivers to the LA Dodgers. The A’s decided to let him go because it saves them at least $8.4 million dollars still owed to Loaiza on his contract. He missed most of this season due to injury but he looked sharp in his two starts for the A’s this season going 1-0 with a 1.84 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. He finishes his time with the A’s with a 12-9 record, a 4.62 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. The A’s have officially waved the white flag on the season.

It’s amazing watching Jack Cust bat. It seems that whenever pitchers adjust to him he makes some changes and goes on another tear! Cust has played in 19 games this August so far and he is 20 for 60 (.333 avg, 1.111 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 4 homers and 15 RBIs. Cust has really made the most of his big opportunity with the A’s after spending many seasons in the minor leagues. He has now played in 91 games this season for the A’s and he is 78 for 286 (.273 avg, .958 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 21 homers and 65 RBIs. Cust looks like he might have found a home in Oakland.

The A’s have placed infielder Donnie Murphy on the 15-day disabled list with a strained rib cage. Murphy has played in 30 games this season in the majors and he is 19 for 86 (.221 avg, .737 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 4 homers and 14 RBIs. Look for Marco Scutaro to start at shortstop fulltime for a while now with both Bobby Crosby and Donnie Murphy out with injuries. Scutaro has played in 77 games this season and he is 62 for 238 (.261 avg, .724 OPS) with 36 runs scored, 7 homers and 35 RBIs.

The A’s have placed outfielder Travis Buck on the 15-day disabled list. This hurts the A’s as Buck has played very well this season as a rookie. Buck has played in 82 games this season for the A’s and he is 82 for 285 (.288 avg, .851 OPS) with 41 runs scored, 7 homers and 34 RBIs. The A’s have recalled J.J. Furmaniak from the minors to replace Buck on the roster. He has played in 6 games this season and he is 0 for 5 with 2 runs scored for the A’s.