I know I’m checking in much later than usual, but here’s the lowdown before the A’s play the Reds in their final Cactus League game of 2010 …

–Eric Chavez gets the start at third base, and manager Bob Geren said Chavez also will play shortstop for a couple innings. That’s different from a few days ago, when Geren told reporters Chavez wouldn’t play short in a spring game. But Chavez said yesterday that he’s feeling great physically, so the A’s want to see how comfortable he looks there, and whether he could play short in a pinch during the regular season.

I’m interested to see this too, because I’m still a bit skeptical about Chavez playing short given his history of back and shoulder problems. But I suppose the A’s feel if he can handle third base occasionally, shortstop shouldn’t be that much more challenging. The A’s drafted Chavez as a shortstop, but he’s played just five regular season games there in his career, none since 2001. How well he can play short will likely impact whether Adam Rosales makes the team as a backup shortstop/utility guy.

–Jack Cust was a late scratch at DH today because of allergies, with Landon Powell taking his place.

–It’s a Hawaiian theme at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, with the ushers wearing le’is around their necks and “Blue Hawaii” playing over the PA. In just a few hours, I’ll be saying “aloha” to Phoenix and flying back to the Bay Area …

The A’s lineup vs. Cincinnati

Patterson CF
Ellis 2B
Barton 1B
Chavez 3B
Suzuki C
Buck LF
Gross RF
Powell DH
Rosales SS

Braden P.