by Charlie O. Mallonee

We at SportsRadioService.com have been sharing a dark joke about the Oakland Athletics being the “M.A.S.H. Unit” of Major League Baseball for several years. This year has been no different as the A’s have used the Disabled List 17 times and they have seven players on that list as of today.

Now promising rookie call-up Matt Chapman is fighting to stay off the list that has killed the hopes of better days for the A’s for the past several years.

Chapman was called up from Triple-A Nashville to play third base in the four-game series with the New York Yankees. Chapman started all four games going 3-for-14 at the plate including a double and two walks. He scored two runs and posted three RBI. The batting average for the weekend was just .214 but the On-Base-Percentage was a very Oakland “A-like” .318.

The rookie third baseman also showed off his very impressive speed on the base path and his very strong throwing arm on defense. To call A’s fans excited is to make a true understatement.

When the lineup card for the game on Monday versus the Houston Astros was posted and Chapman’s name was not written on that card, an air of concern rose quickly around the Coliseum.

The A’s revealed that Chapman has developed an infection in his left knee. It is believed he may have developed the infection after sliding into a fence in a Triple-A game with Nashville prior to joining the big club.

A’s head trainer Nick Paparesta indicated that the infection will be treated with antibiotics. The Athletics are hoping that it will be a quick regimen of antibiotics for Chapman and a fast return to the lineup without a stop on DL.

After a four-game sweep of the Yankees, the Athletics would like have the talent and enthusiasm of Chapman on the field versus the Astros.