"In an unexpected move, the A's put the brunt of their power in Eric Chavez's hands Saturday, designating Jack Cust for assignment and replacing him as the designated hitter with Chavez.

"I think it's messed up," Cust said in a phone interview with The Chronicle after leaving the stadium. "They're going to go on 50 at-bats after three years of what I've done here? It's ridiculous. A lot of other guys have had bad springs. This is a joke.

"The fact is, this team has no power and they've just released a guy who (averaged 28 homers) the last three years. That's amazing."

Cust has led the team in homers three years in a row, and the A's appear to have even less power this season. In explaining the move, general manager Billy Beane pointed to Cust's inability to get going this spring (he hit .216 with one homer, three RBIs and 20 strikeouts in 51 at-bats). Beane said that the team wants to see what Chavez can do as full-time DH, and both of them are left-handed hitters."