Actually, the back surgery -- it's very similar to the procedure done on Mark Kotsay this spring -- and the shoulder surgery that preceded it might very well serve as something of a rebirth for Chavez. As you know, he's been battling a variety of related injuries for the past few seasons, particularly the past two, and he's looking at this offseason as a chance to address everything once and for all.

Anyone who's watched Chavez when he's healthy knows he's capable of putting up big numbers, and all indications are he'll be fully recovered from both surgeries in time to report for Spring Training with a clean bill of health. Stay on the bandwagon, Donald. It's not very crowded right now, so you've got a great seat.

I was stunned to hear about the coaching changes, and I was especially disappointed to hear that Brad Fischer won't be back. I go to a lot of games in Oakland, and Brad has always been so nice to my husband and I. I thought he'd be with the organization forever. Do you know anything about the decision to let Fischer, Rene Lachemann and Bob Schaefer go?
-- Bonnie D., Pittsburg, Calif.

I was shocked to see that Fischer was let go. He's been in the organization for 29 years, and he's been unfailingly loyal despite being passed over when promotions within the coaching staff seemed in order. He's a classy individual. It's sad to see him go.

Regarding the decision to revamp the staff to an extent, I spoke with manager Bob Geren on Sunday morning. He said the decisions were made as an organization, which is no shock, and he insisted that they didn't have anything to do with the performances of those whose contracts were not renewed.

Rather, he pointed to the fact that he was hired relatively late in the offseason last year and didn't really have a chance to hand pick his own staff. This allows him to do that, and the process will start on Monday or Tuesday, when Geren, general manager Billy Beane, assistant GM David Forst and other baseball powers that be gather in Arizona for organizational meetings.

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Is there any update on Rich Harden?
-- Jon R., Seattle

After a touch of biceps tendinitis prompted Harden to nix the two starts he was tentatively scheduled to make late in the season, he took some time off. Now he's back on a throwing program, working out five days a week under the watchful eye of roving pitching instructor Ron Romanick at the club's Minor League complex in Phoenix.

At the very least, Harden will build his arm strength back up to the point that he can pitch in some simulated games, and there's a slight -- very slight -- chance that he'll take the mound in an instructional league game or two.

Are there any plans for Bobby Crosby to play some ball this winter?
-- Gene N., Pleasanton, Calif.

As of now, no. He's definitely not going to play in the instructional league, and given his recent injury history, it just doesn't make any sense to send him to winter ball and risk another freak mishap.

The plan is for Crosby to make sure his hand is fully healed, and once it is, he'll get into his standard winter workout schedule. He should be 100 percent by Spring Training, and that's huge for Crosby, whose late start this season had to have been one of the factors in his struggles.

I'm going to try to get out to some instructional league games pretty soon. Are there any guys who might be on the A's roster next year participating?
-- Alan C., Mesa, Ariz.

Well, as I said, you might get lucky and catch a glimpse of Rich Harden, but probably not in a game. The only 2006 big leaguer you're likely to see is outfielder Chris Snelling, who is recovering from what seems like his 749th knee surgery.

Chris Denorfia, the injured outfielder acquired in the deal that sent closer prospect Marcus McBeth to the Reds, also is working with the coaching staff in Phoenix, but he's not expected to play in the instructional league. He's recovering nicely from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery, but right now, he's at that critical five-month mark in his rehab; the elbow feels like it's 100 percent and ready for game action, but doctors want him to wait a bit longer.

Will Kurt Suzuki be the starting catcher heading into Spring Training, or might the A's open up the competition and give someone like Rob Bowen or Landon Powell a shot at the job? What do you think they should do?
-- Ricky B., Stockton, Calif.

Geren tells me that Suzuki is his starter, no question about it. Personally, I'm a big fan of competition, so I'd open it up. Suzuki did a really nice job after struggling a little while learning the big leagues on the fly, but I also really like Bowen's game. He's kind of in the same boat that Jack Cust was floating around in before Beane gave Cust his first shot at a regular gig.

Bowen's only 26, Oakland's pitchers really like the way he calls a game, and he's a switch-hitter with nice pop. Nothing at all against Suzuki, but I'd like to see what Bowen could do if he got the same opportunity afforded Cust.

What's the real deal with the changes on the medical staff? I'm glad they did something, but I don't really know what this something means.
-- Lance W., Austin, Texas

I have no idea what the real deal is. It's no secret that some of the players have been unsatisfied with the medical staff over the past few years, and Beane made it clear at the end of the season that changes were likely to be made. But the organization in general has been extremely tight-lipped about all things medical, so you shouldn't hold your breath if you're expecting some serious light to be shed on the situation. It's being kept strictly in-house.