Unfortunately for them, there is one fewer person that they will have to keep track of this season.

A's right-handed reliever Justin Duchscherer, a key cog in the bullpen, has opted to go under the knife and have his ailing right hip operated on, and he will miss the remainder of the season.

"We've done everything we can to avoid it and it can't be avoided," Duchscherer said. "Nobody wants to have surgery, but by the end of it I will be relieved to be back where I can pitch again."

Duchscherer has missed most of the season already, appearing in just 17 games and posting an ERA of 4.96 in 16 1/3 innings.

A few days before the announcement, he felt like he was getting closer to returning, but the injury flared up again.

After his most recent bullpen session, he felt he would need an extra day between throwing and, after three and then four days, it didn't feel any better.

"I know my body well enough that I can't be in a game at the Major League level and be where I need to be," Duchscherer said. "I'm frustrated, obviously, thinking that if everything went well I could be back out there."

He was an All-Star in 2005 when he had a 2.21 ERA and five saves and his absence will noticeably be felt, especially with closer Huston Street (right elbow) still sidelined.

"It's been difficult," A's manager Bob Geren said of not having him. "But then again we've got some good things out of it. I'd rather look at the positives than the negatives."

The positives are the emergence of Santiago Casilla in the late innings and of Alan Embree as a closer.

Casilla has allowed just one run in 17 2/3 innings this year prior to Monday's game, posting an 0.51 ERA, striking out 20 and recording two saves.

Embree had eight saves in his career before this year, but has recorded that many already this season, filling in very nicely with Street going down to injury.

A's glad to be home: Whether you are on vacation in Hawaii, visiting relatives in New England or on an excruciatingly long road trip on the East Coast, nothing is quite as satisfying as coming home and sleeping in your own bed.

After a 10-game road trip to New York, Cleveland and back to New York, the A's left after Sunday's game in the Bronx and came home to the Bay Area.

"The 10-day trip makes it tougher," A's reliever Ron Flores said. "Ten days away from your family is brutal. You feel like you are holding your breath the entire time."

It's even better to come home after a rough road trip, especially one that saw the club go 3-7.

"It's a good feeling to come home after a tough road trip," A's first baseman Dan Johnson said. "When you've been struggling it's good to get home and restart."

As Flores said, it's more than just playing at home, but it's the everyday things in life that make a big difference.

"When you are at home, you live a normal life," Flores said. "I get to spend time with my wife and take my kids to the park. When you are on the road and you don't have that with you, it's almost like it suspends you from reality."

Haren's pitch: If the American League All-Stars are looking for a starting pitcher for next Tuesday's extravaganza in San Francisco, they need look no further than the Bay Area.

Haren leads the AL in ERA at 2.20 and is third in wins with 10 behind two other All-Stars, Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia (12) and Boston's Josh Beckett (11). He has also given up more than three runs in a start only once.

Geren feels that Haren makes a great candidate to start the game.

"I would love to see him start," Geren said. "I think it would be an honor for him, he deserves it and I hope he gets it."

Haren's last scheduled start of the first half comes Friday night against Seattle.

Big Frank comes back: While the A's were taking batting practice before Monday's game against Toronto, there was some commotion behind the batting cage.

That was because the A's welcomed back Frank Thomas, and even though he played just one season in Oakland, he left a big impression. He hit 39 home runs and drove in 114 runs, finishing fourth in the MVP voting, helping drive the A's to the American League Championship Series.

"He meant a lot to everyone and I'm looking forward to seeing him and congratulating him on his 500th homer," Geren said (Thomas connected on Thursday night). "I don't know if we would have got where we got without him last year."

Dribblers: Injured relievers Street and Kiko Calero (inflamed shoulder) are scheduled to throw off a mound prior to Tuesday's game, Geren said. ... Starter Rich Harden, who threw two innings in New York on Saturday, has no timetable for throwing again, but Geren said he would see how his shoulder felt and hopefully he would pitch by the weekend.

Up next: A's righty Joe Blanton (7-4, 3.24) will take the mound on Tuesday against the Blue Jays. He will be opposed by rookie right-hander Jesse Litsch (1-2, 6.62). The first pitch is set for 7:05 PT at McAfee Coliseum.