Position players get day off due to rain

PHOENIX -- A's manager Bob Melvin was forced to change plans under wet conditions Wednesday.

Because of steady rain in the area, pitchers who were scheduled to throw to hitters were moved into covered cages to get their work in, while position players were simply given the day off.

"To get them over there in a cramped area and try to stretch them and have them stand in the cold and the rain and so forth, we're not going to take the risk of getting anyone hurt," Melvin said. "A few days in here, there's some soreness, so it's a good day to give to them if you are going to have a day off."

It comes just three days before Cactus League play begins for the A's, who will make the short trek to Maryvale Baseball Park on Saturday to take on the Brewers.

But even though hitters have logged just three full days of official workouts so far, most of them have been getting in swings at the A's facilities for weeks.

"It's a long spring anyway, and we're really not in a hurry at this point," Melvin said. "I was trying to smack the smirk off the position players' faces when we made that announcement more than anything."