Posted By Jeff Fletcher on February 21, 2011 3:56 pm

A few of you asked me to find out about the A’s backup shortstop situation. With Cliff Pennington still working back slowly from left shoulder surgery over the winter, and with Adam Rosales dealing with rehab from foot surgery, the A’s have a problem.

Even Billy Beane admitted as much.

“If you ask me my biggest concern from an individual player standpoint, it’s who will be the backup shortstop,” Beane during Monday’s first full-squad workout in Phoenix. “That could be our Achilles Heel.”

At the moment, the A’s aren’t ready to look outside the organization for help. Their belief is that they wouldn’t find anything much better out there than they’ve already got. That leaves guys like Josh Horton and Eric Sogard (who one A’s official called the best defensive shorststop after Pennington and Rosales). Former No. 1 pick Grant Green may be the most intriguing guy, but he’s not ready defensively.

It’s also an interesting philosophical debate about exactly what you want out of your backup shortstop. Do you just want someone who can play the best defense, or do you want someone who can hit, too? Really, I don’t think it matters, if you are just talking about someone who is going to start once every two weeks. If Pennington’s rehab hits a snag, or if he can’t hit effectively from one side of the plate, then the A’s are going to have real problems. If that’s the case, they don’t have anyone, not even Rosales, who could play regularly without the team suffering.

You guys also asked about Jemile Weeks and Joey Devine. Both are in camp and apparently healthy. Brad Kilby (yes, someone asked about him) is still in the organization, headed for minor-league camp.

As for Chris Carter, he’s here and I saw him run around today, but I didn’t get to see him take BP.  There’s probably not much evaluation to be done with the A’s this spring, but Carter is one of guys who will be watched the closest, I think. There’s not a spot for him now, but I’m guessing he can make one for himself if he tears up the Cactus League.

My FanHouse story on the A’s today is about the overall mood of optimism considering the changes over the winter. Nothing that will be news to you if you are an A’s fan. Just a little eye-opener for the folks in the rest of the baseball world in case they weren’t paying attention.

That’s all the A’s I’ll have for you for a few days. I’m planning to hit the Rockies and then the Cubs over the next couple days, then do the Giants on Thursday and Friday.