It has been an ugly couple of days. But there is still a lot of time left to get going. So far, that hasn't happened. Until Jose Valentin returned from the disabled list, Garner felt he had no choice but to keep using Berry. Switch hitter Brian Banks, who filled in while Berry was out with a sore hamstring, is batting just .222 against southpaws, and Loretta had to play short while Valentin was out.
First base is traditionally one of the prime power positions in baseball.
That hasn't been the case for the Brewers in recent years. John Jaha, who hit two homers Saturday and two Sunday to run his total to 14 for Oakland, was allowed to leave because he simply could not stay healthy. I'm really surprised, actually. He doesn't have a very long stroke. It's a short, compact swing.