MESA, Ariz. - The rain indeed hit Saturday, cutting into the A's plans for the morning.
They wound up sending a group of pitchers from the minor league facility back to Hohokam Stadium to get their throwing in. But by the time the A's called it a day shortly before 10:30 a.m., manager Bob Melvin said everyone who was scheduled to throw off the mound got to do so.
Sunday's forecast calls for possible rain to throw another wrench in things. But the weekend's weather predictions haven't exactly been spot-on with the timing of showers, so who knows how it will unfold as Oakland hits the field for its first official full-squad workout of 2017.
The workout will begin about 11 a.m. at the minor league facility (Lew Wolff Training Complex) if the current plans hold.
HEALTH UPDATE: Sean Doolittle said there's no timetable yet for him to throw off a mound for the first time in camp. Part of that caution stems from last spring. Doolittle, who's been sidelined for big portions of the past two seasons with shoulder issues, went full bore from the start of camp last year, then had to back off for a bit in the middle of camp and then cram several game appearances into the final stage of exhibitions to ensure he was ready for the regular season.
This spring, the idea is to go light early in camp before gradually ramping things up for the rest of the spring and leading into the season, Doolittle said. Melvin said once the lefty begins appearing in exhibitions, he'll be on a regular schedule like the other relievers.
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"It's just a matter of when we get him in there," Melvin said.
Doolittle already had thrown off the mound in pre-camp workouts, so he said he's not concerned about being held back right now.
NOTEWORTHY: By Saturday, the most noteworthy position player who hadn't yet been spotted in the clubhouse was left fielder Khris Davis. Players aren't required to actually show up by reporting day, just check in with the team. The first full-squad workout is Sunday.
The A's still don't have a timetable for reliever Santiago Casilla's arrival, though a team spokesperson said the wheels are in motion for his travel paperwork to soon be cleared in the Dominican Republic.
ODDS AND ENDS: Pitchers will throw live batting practice to hitters Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, the A's will hold simulated games and Thursday will feature more of an intrasquad-style game with an actual defense playing behind the pitcher as he throws to hitters. It's all in preparation for next Saturday's Cactus League opener on the road against the Cubs.
