Over the last two seasons Oakland third baseman Eric Chavez has only been able to play in 113 games thanks to injuries he's had with his right shoulder. Chavez has also had surgery on his right shoulder twice in the last two years in hopes of getting things worked out and to be able to contribute to the Athletics once again.Well, Chavez made it five games into the season before his old friend Hurty McShoulder came to visit him and crash on his couch one more time causing him to miss Monday's game. Luckily for Chavez and the Athletics, Eric is hopeful that his old friend will only be in town for a few days this year.
However, the A's third baseman said that it's really merely stiffness in his neck and shoulder, the result of jamming his shoulder while diving back into first base Friday night - meaning it's more akin to muscle spasms than related to surgery.While the Athletics are hopeful Chavez will be back in time for this weekend's series, given his recent history with the shoulder, I wouldn't go getting my hopes up. Even if he does come back, when you consider all the abuse that a third baseman has to take to play his position, odds are this won't be the only time Chavez's shoulder flares up on him this season.
He said it's nothing major and he hopes to be back in a day or two. It's possible, with the A's off Thursday, that he'll get the entire series off, but if Chavez is feeling better by Wednesday, he might get the start because he is 10-for-30 lifetime against Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Nomar Garciaparra, who is at third in Chavez's absence, has not faced his former Red Sox teammate.
