"Rich Harden had hoped to start throwing again today or Monday, but the A's, continuing their conservative approach to injuries this spring, decided to give the right-hander another week off.

Manager Bob Geren described it as a full week, but Harden said he hopes it won't be quite that long, though he's OK with the decision to hold him back awhile. "We've got lots of time," he said. "It's the smart thing to do."

Harden first felt lat stiffness under his right arm while throwing a bullpen session on Feb. 15, so he's looking at more than two weeks without throwing. That might make it difficult to win a spot on the roster, much less in the rotation."