Thomas to face live pitching today

<p>PHOENIX - Oakland slugger Frank Thomas, still recovering from an ankle injury, is scheduled to hit in a minor-league game today.</p><p>Thomas will face live pitching for the first time since last July, when doctors found a second broken bone in his left ankle.</p><p>Thomas signed with the A's as a free agent in January after spending the last 16 seasons with the Chicago White Sox. He has been taking batting practice, participating in infield drills and doing some light jogging.</p><p>"I'll finally get some real work in," Thomas said Friday. "It will be great to see live pitching for a change."</p><p>Thomas will get at least five at-bats, and his baserunning will be limited to jogging down to first base.</p><p>"I'm real pleased with how he's moving around," said A's manager Ken Macha, who hopes to have Thomas in his opening day lineup on April 3 when the A's play the New York Yankees in Oakland. "He continues to feel good and he's not limping."</p><p>Thomas has 448 career home runs, including 12 in 105 at-bats for the World Series champion White Sox last year.</p><h3>CALERO REPORTS</h3> <p>Wearing the baseball uniform of his home country of Puerto Rico was one of the proudest moments Oakland pitcher Kiko Calero has ever experienced. He doesn't want to wait too long for another chance.</p><p>"I'd make it every two years," Calero said on his first day back with the Athletics. "I don't want to wait another four years. By then, guys like Bernie Williams might not be around. I guess it would be good for the younger guys, though."</p><p>Calero made four appearances for Puerto Rico, pitching 3« scoreless innings, giving up one hit. He got credit for a hold.</p><p>"He'll do a side session (Friday) and we'll get him into the mix," Macha said.</p><h3>KOTSAY'S BACK</h3> <p>Outfielder Mark Kotsay experienced some pain in his back Thursday morning and has taken a couple of days off to let it calm down.</p><p>Kotsay has dealt with back problems since running into an outfield wall in May 2003, when he was with the Padres.</p>