Danny Valencia was activated from the disabled list today after missing the minimum amount of time, as expected, with his hamstring strain. Tyler Ladendorf was optioned back to Triple-A having made two plate appearances during the call-up. He did play seven innings at second base and pinch run four times, stealing a base once, but all told, the mix of pitchers the A's faced over the last two weeks was not conducive to getting a right-handed bat into the lineup. For more on that, see the "confusion" over Billy Butler's lack of playing time.

It is worth asking why the A's called Ladendorf up at all given that the opposing-starting-pitcher situation was entirely predictable. Defensive flexibility is nice and all, but wouldn't Max Muncy have given the A's a more useful option off the bench? Or Andrew Lambo to play outfield or DH a couple of times? Or, hell, give Joey Wendle a quick call-up? He's not really hitting in Triple-A, but neither was Ladendorf, and at least Wendle bats from the good side of the plate.

I guess before I get too far down this rabbit hole I should stop and thank Jobu and all the other deities that the A's didn't call up a 29th pitcher instead.