Doolittle faces hitters for first time since June
Sean Doolittle stepped atop the pitcher’s mound at the Coliseum on Friday.
Only it was 3 p.m., more than four hours before game time, and the hitters were A’s teammates Tyler Ladendorf and Max Muncy.
The A’s could use him, obviously; he threw 20 pitches Friday to Ladendorf and Muncy and “looked good,” in the words of manager Bob Melvin.
The A’s will wait to see how he feels Saturday before deciding on his next step - either another glorified batting-practice session or a minor-league rehabilitation assignment.
Ladendorf found himself looking for Doolittle’s fastball, his signature pitch - and instead was fooled by a couple of well-placed changeups.