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Coco Crisp believes the Oakland Athletics are trying to prevent him from reaching a vesting option. From Susan Slusser's story: But now the A's longest-tenured player is upset and told The Chronicle he is convinced that the team is deliberately not using him to avoid having his $13 million vesting option for 2017 kick in. "I'm extremely hurt, the way things are being handled," said Crisp, who did not play in Monday's 5-2 loss at Texas. "I'm not calling anyone names, but this is really frustrating and disappointing. This has been my favorite organization going back to when I was a kid, because of Rickey Henderson, and I've enjoyed playing here so much, and I've put it all out there. … Up until recently, it's been tremendously enjoyable." Crisp, 36, needs to play in 130 games this season for his option to vest. He has played in 93 of Oakland's 119 games, but he is not starting against left-handed pitchers, and manager Bob Melvin, who uses his bench liberally, has not been using Crisp to pinch hit. That has heightened suspicions that Crisp is being held out for contract reasons. "This is shady. Everyone else is getting used off the bench," Crisp said. "BoMel can't even look me in the eye right now." General manager David Forst said last week that with the A's out of contention, Crisp's playing time has been reduced so that the team can get a look at younger options. Melvin echoed that Monday, saying, "We're in a position where we're playing other guys in games against left-handers, Coco won't start against left-handed pitchers. I know it's tough on him. I know it's different." Regardless of what the actual motives in play are in a situation like this, it can erode the stature of a manager within a clubhouse.
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