FORMER GOLDEN LEAGUER BETTER SERVED BY STINT IN MINORS

It obviously is not easy going back to the minor leagues after tasting the majors, but I have to believe Bobby Cramer is better off to be back in Sacramento instead of sitting idle in the Oakland Athletics bullpen.

The rust showed up in the left-handers' 2011 River Cats debut Thursday night when he was touched for two gopher balls and four runs in a starting appearance at Las Vegas which only lasted two innings. Still, the talented 31-year-old, who reached the majors via an '08 stint in the Golden League (7-4 for Orange County), showed some of his potential with four strikeouts.

Cramer had debuted in the majors in excellent fashion last September when he won two of his four starts (one no-decision) for the Athletics while compiling a 3.04 ERA. That stint launched talk of Cramer being a starter this season.

But when he did not land one of the starting roles during spring training Cramer got mired on the bench among Oakland's more experience relievers. He only got 3.2 innings spread over three appearances during almost the entire month. Cramer allowed only hit--a home run that cost the A's a decision. So, his future is better served by getting regular work in Triple-A and perhaps another major league opportunity later in the year.

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