ANAHEIM –- Josh Donaldson is out of the A’s lineup Wednesday for just the second time in 66 games this season.
Though the struggling third baseman did not approach manager Bob Melvin about needing a rest, he implied that his body and mind could certainly use it.
“I didn’t go ask Bob for one, but I’ll take one right now for sure,” Donaldson said. “It’s reaching that point of the season, I could probably use a day.”
Donaldson has developed into one of the most well-rounded players in the American League. But as this nine-game road trip winds down, he’s found the going rough with the bat and the glove. Donaldson is in an 0-for-21 funk, the longest hitless streak of his career. He’s 4-for-36 for the road trip with 12 strikeouts and three ground-ball double plays.
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Though he’s continued to scoop up anything hit in his vicinity at third, Donaldson made three throwing errors Monday night, becoming the fourth third baseman in Oakalnd history to commit three errors in one game. Last night, he skipped a ball past second base and into right field for another throwing error that led to a Los Angeles Angels run.
Melvin isn’t making a big deal of Donaldson’s rough stretch.
“He’s a tough kid,” the manager said. “He’s being challenged right now, especially offensively. He’s made a couple errors. But he’s a fighter. He’s got a football mentality. I don’t think he doubts himself for a second.”
“I can’t sit here and lie to myself,” Donaldson said. “I understand the last four or five days have been … not anything that I normally do.”
One reason Melvin wanted to sit Donaldson on Wednesday was the opportunity to give him two days off in a row. The A’s don’t play Thursday and open a 10-game homestand Friday against the New York Yankees.
“When you’re rolling and feeling great you don’t want to take an off-day,” Donaldson said. “(But) I’ll be looking forward to these two off-days.”
