Rookie lefty starting pitcher Greg Smith deserved to have a better record than he did but the A’s just couldn’t hit this season. Smith has started 31 games for the A’s this season and he is 7-15 with a 4.07 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Smith had control issues as he walked 85 batters in 183.1 innings this season but he only had allowed 164 hits which has minimized the damage for him. Smith was one of the players that the A’s got in the haul for Dan Haren from the D-Backs and he looks like a keeper.

The Oakland A’s have lost 2B Eric Patterson for the season due to a strained hamstring. Patterson played in 30 games for the A’s after coming over from the Cubs in the Rich Harden trade and he was 16 for 92 (.174 avg, .476 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 8 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Patterson will be replaced at 2B with Cliff Pennington. Pennington has played in 27 games for the A’s this season and he is 18 for 68 (.265 avg, .663 OPS) with 10 runs scored and 5 RBIs.

Starting 2B Mark Ellis is officially out for the season as it has been revealed that he has a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Ellis played in 117 games for the A’s this season and he was 103 for 442 (.233 avg, .694 OPS) with 55 runs scored, 12 homers, 41 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. Eric Patterson will likely serve as the starting 2B the rest of the season for the A’s. Patterson has played in 29 games for the A’s so far this season and he is 16 for 90 (.178 avg, .486 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 8 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. The A’s want to get a good look at Patterson and see if he fits for the future or not.

The A’s have released veteran DH Mike Sweeney as they want to get a good look at their younger players the rest of the season. Sweeney played in 42 games for the A’s this season and he was 36 for 126 (.286 avg, .728 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 2 homers and 12 RBIs. Sweeney can still hit the baseball but his body just wasn’t co-operating as he was recovering from surgery on both knees. He’s nearing the time to hang up the cleats and call it a career.