Oakland A’s pitcher Chris Bassitt wants to return to his starting role before the end of the regular season. Bassitt met with the media before Sat Aug 28th’s game at the Oakland Coliseum against the New York Yankees (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 How important was it for the club to see and be able to talk with A’s pitcher Chris Bassitt before the start of Saturday’s game against the Yankees?

#2 Morale is such an important thing in baseball and the A’s had been going bad with a five losing streak they ended up snapping and the Bassitt visit might have done wonders he was on the players minds ever since he took a line drive to the face off Chicago White Sox Brian Goodwin’s at bat on Aug 17th.

#3 Bassitt winningest pitcher on the A’s staff at 12-4 ERA 3.22 has been impressive all year but can he be the same when he gets back, will he be off track, rusty and wobbly when he returns. His spirits are great, he’s healing fast, and he’s got a real go get em attitude about returning.

#4 Bassitt sat in the A’s dugout before Saturday’s game speaking with the media before last Saturday’s game and said he hopes everything progresses, that he can impress manager Bob Melvin in bullpen sessions whenever that starts he’s ready to get back in. Doctors who performed the surgery on Bassitt in Chicago said it will take two weeks. Bassitt hopes to get back in sooner.

#5 The A’s have the day off today and are in Detroit on Tuesday for a 4:10 pm PDT first pitch at Comerica Park. The A’s snapped a five game losing streak on Saturday defeating the New York Yankees 3-2, the A’s trail the Yankees in the AL Wild Card standings by 3.5 games. The Tigers who are out of the Wild Card hunt by 12.5 games have lost six of their last ten going into Tuesday night’s game.

Join Barbara for the A’s podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com