Norris seeing improvement in sore back

DETROIT -- Lingering back soreness sidelined Derek Norris for a third straight game Monday, but A's manager Bob Melvin is hopeful the catcher will be back behind the plate by the time this three-game set in Detroit concludes on Wednesday.

Norris initially departed Friday's game in Miami with pain in his lower back, similar to what he experienced earlier this season. The day after, he could hardly walk. Now he can touch his toes and twist side to side pain-free -- all signs of improvement.

But Norris isn't quite up to par with baseball activities just yet.

"Backs just take time," Norris said. "There's no quick fix, nothing you can really do to take the time to let the muscles that were [ticked] off cool down.

"Today I took some swings [at] about 60 or 70 percent, and everything felt OK. Not great, not bad. Overall, I just felt OK. I'll stretch and throw and start knocking off the rust, and if my body responds positively from today, then we'll go from there."