Ellis ends season with injury

The 2008 season came to close for second basemen Mark Ellis on Thursday, he was officially added to the disabled list for an injury to his right shoulder. "I'm done," Ellis said. Team doctors have suggested he will need surgery to repair chips in his right shoulder cartilage. "Definitely not the news you want to hear. It's not good timing by any means." Ellis is a free agent at the end of year and would have liked to improved upon his season ending statistics of .233 batting average with 12 home runs, 44 rbi's, before testing the free agent market. It sounds like he would prefer to stay in Oakland, "I'll be here as long as I can," he said. Regardless of where he will be playing he says, "I should be ready by Spring Training, for sure."

I would like to wish Ellis good luck during the off season and a speedy recovery.

A's on track

The A's found a way to win on Saturday 5 to 1 over Baltimore Orioles. Mark Ellis did not play.

Oakland scores 11 to beat Baltimore

Oakland scored 11 runs on seven hits to beat the Orioles 11 to 2 on Friday night. Mark Ellis still has not played.

Kasas City Royals sweep A's in double header

The Royals used the rain out Wednesday to prepare for a sweep of the series with the A's on Thursday. The Royals won the first game 5 to 4 and the second 9 to 6. Mark Ellis did not play.

Mark Ellis nominated for Roberto Clemente Award

Story from MLB.com:
Presented by Chevrolet, the Clemente award recognizes the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team. It is named in honor of the former Pirates outfielder whose spirit and goodwill will always be remembered. Clemente died in a plane crash while attempting to transport relief supplies to earthquake-stricken Nicaragua on Dec. 31, 1972.
Beginning with the 2006 season, Ellis started the Putouts for Diabetes Program; for each putout he records, he makes a charitable donation to the American Diabetes Association. Ellis has donated $10,000 of his own money to the association. Additionally, Ellis in August 2007 visited and spoke with 50 children from the Fremont/Newark YMCA to promote healthy eating and increased activity in the hopes of preventing diabetes.
Ellis also shared his personal story about how diabetes affected two of his grandparents and a childhood friend, and emphasized the importance of staying active by teaching the children a few of his pregame stretches. For the 2008 season, Ellis has continued with his Putouts for Diabetes program.
Ellis also participates in the player ticket purchase program where he buys tickets for the Boys and Girls Clubs to attend Oakland A's games. Mark also attends the A's Dinner on the Diamond, which is a fundraiser for the Oakland A's Community Fund and also plays golf in the A's Community Fund Golf Classic.
Ellis' local charity for the 2008 Roberto Clemente Award is the Black Hills Children's Home, which is located in Rapid City, S.D., which is his birthplace and where he was raised. The children's home works with underprivileged and abused children along with their families. Ellis has donated his time and money to this charity, as well as hosting a baseball clinic for the children at the school.

Kansas City Royals win

The Kansas City Royals beat the A's 5 to 2 on Tuesday in an uneventful game in Kansas City.
Mark Ellis did not play.

Labor Day signals the final month of the season

Labor Day signals the beginning of the last month of the regular season. The second bagger Mark Ellis has not played since an injury to his right shoulder on August 21st against the Mariners. He has not been placed on the disabled list at this time.

Last day of August big for Twins

A's pitcher Greg Smith gave up eight runs in five innings in the 12 to 4 loss to the Twins on Sunday. The A's and Twins split the series two games a piece.
Mark Ellis did not play.

A's score two in ninth to win

The Oakland A's scored two runs in the ninth inning on Twins closer Joe Nathan to take a 3 to 2 victory Saturday. Nathan beat himself by making a throwing error trying to get the lead runner at third base on a sacrifice by Ryan Sweeney. Bobby Crosby and Emil Brown both scored on the play to give the A's the win. Brown after the game, "I was shocked. He would've had to make a perfect throw to third in order to get Bobby. The play was in front of me, so when I saw the ball get away, I wasn't going to stop." The A's took the lead in the four game series with the Twins 2 games to 1.
Mark Ellis entered the game as a pinch hitter and struck out.

Slowey handles A's

The Twins beat up the A's 12 to 2 on Friday night using 20 hits and lights out pitching from Kevin Slowey. Slowey pitched six innings allowing only two runs and tallying ten strike outs, he picked up his fourth straight win.
Mark Ellis did not play.

A's beat Twins

The Oakland A's Dana Eveland allowed only two runs leading the A's over the Twins 3 to 2 on Thursday night. The Twins are in a heated battle with White Sox for first place in the Central Division. The A's Mark Ellis has now missed five straight games with his injury.

Ellis named to 40th Anniversary team

Oakland A's fans voted Mark Ellis to the 40th Anniversary team. He is the only active player to receive the honor. "It's a cool honor," Ellis said. "You look at the names on that list, it's a storied organization. So to be on that list and be with those guys, that's really neat."

A's take series with Angels

The Oakland A's used 14 hits and scored seven runs to beat the Angels 6 to 5 on Wednesday night. The A's took the series 2 games to 1.
Manager Bob Geren said Mark Ellis was wanting to play but, "He's still not ready. It's gonna be at least another couple of days." Ellis injured his right shoulder during the game against Seattle. Ellis did enter the game to pinch run.

Angels Lackey beats A's

"We'll just have to try to get it done tomorrow. That's all you can do," Oakland A's manager Bob Geren comments after the 5 to 1 loss to the Angels. John Lackey threw a one run complete game to improve his record to 11-2 on the season. Lackey continues to be one of the best pitchers in baseball this year.
Mark Ellis is listed as day-to-day.

Athletics over Angels

Oakland pitcher Dallas Barden pitched the A's to victory over the Angels Monday night. Barden threw seven innings allowing only one run in the 2 to 1 victory. "As a staff, we really try to stress that and give us every opportunity to get outs any way we can," Braden said. "As a guy who's not going to light up the radar gun, you look for outs in other ways when you're struggling or even when you're going good. One of the facets of my game I like to practice is controlling the running game and giving Zuke a chance to throw a guy out when he does decide to take off."
Ellis is still out and may return soon.