Doolittle (shoulder) has started doing "sock throws," Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

The A's rehab plan proved optimistic, as Doolittle remains shut down from actual throwing now close to a month after he was placed on the DL. Sock throws -- simulated throws with a sock taped over the hand and baseball -- are typically the last step before a player resumes playing catch, but mid-August is looking like a best-case scenario for Doolittle. He has posted a 2.93 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, four saves and 35:8 K:BB in 30.2 innings so far this season.