There was a bigger audience than normal for batting practice tonight at the Coliseum, as the A’s high Single-A squad, the Stockton Ports, are on hand to watch tonight’s game. I was looking at these guys and wondering how soon some of them might be wearing green and gold. The next year or two? It’s realistic considering how quickly the A’s promote some of their guys through the system, wouldn’t you say?

The team isn’t tipping its hand on whether Jason Giambi will be activated from the DL tomorrow, and how much playing time he’ll get if/when he does return. But, when asked about Tommy Everidge, manager Bob Geren responded, “I’m going to give him a chance to play.” That might tell us a lot. Everidge obviously won’t be heading back to the minors regardless of whether Giambi gets activated. Everidge is at first base tonight, w/Jack Cust at DH.

The starting outfield tonight — left to right — goes Scott Hairston, Eric Patterson, Ryan Sweeney. Not a surprise that Geren has two left-handed bats in there (Patterson, Sweeney) against Texas right-hander Dustin Nippert. Look for Rajai Davis to get back in there tomorrow against lefty Derek Holland.

The lineups
A’s
Kennedy 3B
Suzuki C
Hairston LF
Cust DH
Sweeney RF
Everidge 1B
Ellis 2B
Patterson CF
Pennington SS

Anderson LHP

Rangers
Arias 2B
Young 3B
Byrd LF
Cruz RF
Blalock 1B
Jones DH
Hamilton CF
Saltalamacchia C
Andrus SS

Nippert RHP