LOS ANGELES — The A's are 11 games through the season, currently with a 4-7 record. A lot has changed since my last mailbag during spring training, so it's only right that we bring you all another. I mean, there's even another Thompson in the Bay Area now who looks similar to the one on the Warriors.



The A's are in the midst of 10-day road trip, and again, have had to reshuffle like they did during spring training with some injuries. But Matt Chapman's hot streak is still going and so is Jed Lowrie's, even though they ran into Japanese star Shohei Ohtani, who put the world on notice Sunday.



I'm still thinking about that split-finger fastball, by the way.



Anyway, here we go. Your questions, my answers from sunny Southern California.



@greg_korn via Twitter: Do you think Chad Pinder can be an every day outfielder or is he locked into the utility player role?



Pinder is obviously on the DL now with his recent knee injury, but I think...