Billy Butler is the platoon first baseman, and he's doing just enough to stay in that role. At least for now.
On Sunday, I proposed that the four games the A's were to play against left-handers Matt Moore, Derek Holland, Cole Hamels, and Martin Perez were Billy Butler's big test to show that he had some minimal value to this team. With those four games done, and considering the alternatives, Butler passed.
Billy Butler went 3-for-8 with a walk, an RBI, and a double play against the four left-handed opposing starters in the last four games.