Worth noting

• After snapping an 0-for-10 drought with a 3-for-3 performance on Tuesday, A's outfielder Michael Taylor continued his hot hitting Wednesday. He homered in his first at-bat, flied out to the right-field warning track in his second and doubled in his third.

"Taylor really looks relaxed the last couple of games," Melvin said. "It's good to see, because he's got some ability. The numbers he puts up at Triple-A, there's a reason for it. He's a good player."

• Left-hander Tommy Milone struggled Tuesday in Mesa, allowing three runs on five hits in three innings in one of Oakland's split-squad games. Melvin didn't see Milone -- the skipper was instead at Phoenix Municipal Stadium -- but said the reports he got back on Milone were "OK."

"I don't think his two starts have been what we're used to seeing out of him, but, again, he's working on some things," Melvin said, noting Milone's focus is on honing his two-seamer and pitching inside.

• Maryvale Baseball Park was home for Melvin in 1999 during his Arizona Fall League managerial stint. He said his time in the AFL was important in developing as a manager, specifically learning how to deal with general managers and other front office executives from around the league. Among the future Major Leaguers on Melvin's squad -- that he could remember -- were Aubrey Huff, Mark DeRosa, Toby Hall and Keith Ginter.