SEATTLE - When Triple-A manager Ryan Christenson told Chris Smith he was going to come start against the Mariners on Saturday, the A’s oldest minor-leaguer was baffled.
“I honestly didn’t believe it,” Smith said. “He told me, ‘You’re not going to start Friday, we’re going to throw you on Saturday - in Seattle.’ I was like, ‘What? Seattle? No, wait: Do they know I’ve never started a game in the big leagues in my life? Are you serious? Ryno, I think you’ve got the wrong guy.’
“He said, ‘Hold on,’ and looked at his email and said, ‘No, it’s you, you idiot!