Worth noting

• Lefty Tommy Milone was among a group of pitchers that threw live batting practice on Thursday afternoon. Pitchers are typically ahead of hitters around this time of year, and when asked about Milone's performance, Melvin smiled and said, "[Josh] Donaldson was taunting him, then he couldn't put the ball in play, so Tommy got the last laugh there."

• Right-hander A.J. Griffin has sported long blonde locks for much of his A's tenure, and he has no intent to chop them off in the near future.

"We won't let it grow down to his belt," said Melvin, "but you don't want to cut Sampson's locks off either."