"It felt good and everything went well," he said. "That was the benefit of having my (own) batting cage. I go to a machine that throws curves and sliders. The coaches don't throw hard enough."
Oakland starter Sean Gallagher allowed two hits and a walk in two innings. He struck out three in two innings, working out of jams in each.
"What it came down to, is the times I really needed to make a pitch, I was able to and I got out of certain situations," said Gallagher, 2-3 with a 5.86 ERA in 11 starts for the A's in 2008 after he was acquired in July from the Chicago Cubs in the Rich Harden deal.
Gallagher said he is staying away from his slider, a pitch that puts pressure on his arm.
"I'm going to wait for a little later on in the spring," he said. "It's a pitch that I can pick up pretty quick, but I think I'd rather just focus on the fastball and command, the changeup and locating that and getting my curveball back to what I know I can do with it."
Notes: A's 1B Daric Barton (recovering from hip surgery) has not been cleared to play. He's expected to join the lineup on Tuesday at the earliest. ... RHP Justin Duchscherer is back on a regular throwing program after taking two days off with a sore elbow. "(Bullpen coach) Ron Romanick is taking care of him," A's manager Bob Geren said. "He had a good day (Wednesday)." ... LHP Gio Gonzalez had more success as a relief pitcher with the A's last year, though he remains in contention for a starting spot. "He could go either way," Geren said. "You can say he needs to start because he has starter's stuff but being a reliever, he can get used to the big leagues easier. His whole game is better."
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Outfielder Vladimir Guerrero had surgery on his right knee last October after having doctors recommend the procedure the previous two winters.
"The reason is last season I had more inflammation, more swelling than previous years," Guerrero said through a translator. "That's why I thought it was the right time to have it (surgery) now."
Guerrero reported to spring training feeling rejuvenated by the surgery, although manager Mike Scioscia said the team will take it "extremely slow" with Guerrero in the spring.
He has already been scratched from the Dominican Republic roster for the World Baseball Classic and probably won't see any action in spring games until mid-March.
"I look forward to playing every day and performing every day," Guerrero said of his hopes for 2009. "I don't want to predict numbers. But the fact that I'm healthy is important and a good feeling. I'm looking forward to the season."
