OAKLAND -- Billy Butler isn't pouting, but he's certainly perplexed as to why he's been reduced to a platoon role on an A's club that handed him $30 million to be their everyday designated hitter.
Butler, one month into the second year of his three-year contract with Oakland, was on the bench again Tuesday against a right-hander. He hasn't started since Wednesday -- a stretch of six straight games -- and he's appeared in the starting lineup only eight times in the team's first 28 games.
"From my end," Butler said Tuesday, "there's no answers as to what's going on.