Jemile Weeks debuts for A's in loss to Orioles Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/07/SPE71JQSO3.DTL#ixzz1OgfGcYDC

Jemile Weeks made his big-league debut Tuesday night at Camden Yards, and even though his night was quiet, it was still a chance for fans to get a look at one of the A's top prospects.

Weeks, the 24-year-old brother of Milwaukee second baseman Rickie Weeks, was Oakland's first-round pick in 2008, 12th overall. He was called up when Mark Ellis was placed on the disabled list with a right hamstring strain. Weeks did not reach base in the A's 4-0 loss to Baltimore.
The A's have dropped eight in a row, extending their season high, and they have scored all of five runs over their past three games.

They are in last place, and they have turned into a somewhat dull team with few big personalities. Oakland's top attribute is its starting pitching, which has taken a dip for the past week-plus. And on Tuesday, the A's put one of their best starters, Brett Anderson, on the DL - the fifth A's starter out of action this year.

So the arrival of a prize prospect such as Weeks could provide at least a spark of interest. He's an energetic player, too, as is Adam Rosales, who came off the disabled list the day before, and an injection of energy might be just what the A's need.

Weeks said he'd spoken to his brother, who told him to "just go out there and get after it, get that first hit." Weeks' parents, Richard and Valeria, were on hand at Camden Yards on Tuesday, along with Weeks' sister, Kaisha.

Weeks, who was batting .321 at Triple-A Sacramento, was pulled out of Monday night's game at Colorado Springs after his first plate appearance. He said his teammates kept telling him he'd been called up, but not actually knowing until the end of the game was nerve-racking.
This is likely to be merely a fill-in situation for Weeks, though he is considered the A's second baseman of the future. Asked if Weeks would have any shot at sticking at second base if he excels now, A's manager Bob Geren said making any sort of statement would be unfair, but, he said, "Mark is a great player who is just injured right now."

Ellis wasn't altogether thrilled with going on the DL. The longest-tenured A's player said he believes his injury would heal in a matter of a few days.

"I don't think it's that big a deal at all," Ellis said. "But when you don't have enough bodies, sometimes someone has to go on the disabled list."

Ellis said that the injury is nowhere near as severe as the left hamstring strain that cost him more than a month last year. The A's initially left Ellis on the roster for more than a week when he was hurt last year, but that probably only lengthened the time it took him to return when he did go on the DL.

Though Weeks did not record a hit Tuesday, another of the new additions did. Scott Sizemore, recalled Monday, has singled in each of his two games with Oakland. Sizemore played third on Tuesday; Rosales is expected to be back there tonight.


(sfgate.com)