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03/25/2004 9:40 PM ET
Ellis out 6-8 weeks
A's second baseman separates shoulder in collision
By Mychael Urban / MLB.com Tickets Scoreboard Fantasy

PHOENIX -- The tranquility of a quietly successful Spring Training for the A's
was shattered Thursday evening when the club discovered that starting second
baseman Mark Ellis, who collided with shortstop Bobby Crosby in the seventh
inning of a Cactus league game against the Cubs, will miss six to eight weeks
with a separated right shoulder.
That throws the door wide open for Esteban German, who less than a week ago
stood little chance of making the team. Backup infielder Frank Menechino's
slow-to-heal calf strain, which might land him on the disabled list to start the
season, improved German's chances, and Ellis' injury likely thrusts German into
a starting role and opens the door for fellow utility man Marco Scutaro.

"The good thing is, we have German and Scutaro," said Oakland general manager
Billy Beane. "The better thing, is we also have Frankie."

Mark Ellis / 2B
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 180
Bats/Throws: R/R

More info:
Player page
Stats
Splits
Hit chart
A's site



The A's said Menechino, who was injured in the first game of the spring, won't
necessarily be rushed back into action, but his condition will be monitored more
closely in the wake of Ellis' injury.

An MRI of Ellis' shoulder will be performed Friday, and before a decision on
potential surgery is made, said A's trainer Larry Davis, "We'll send it out all
over the world first"

"The idea is to ice it a lot, keep it in the sling and don't do anything with
it," Davis added.

Beane, who earlier in the day had talked about what an uneventful camp the club
had enjoyed to this point, showed off some gallows humor in discussing the
situation.


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"This spring has gone way too smooth," he said. "We needed something like this."

Mychael Urban is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the
approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.




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