This Time, Henderson Gets the Message

Rickey Henderson got his phone problems straightened out Friday and made it to the Oakland Athletics’ workout.

Henderson didn’t show on Thursday when the A’s held their first workout during the World Series layoff caused by Tuesday’s earthquake before Game 3.

“I didn’t know we had practice,” Henderson said. “Maybe my phone was down.”

Henderson said he talked with teammate Dave Parker late Thursday and was told about the workout.

Manager Tony La Russa had said Thursday that the club left a message on Henderson’s answering machine but had not heard from the left fielder.

La Russa said Friday that Henderson would not be fined.

“The man did not blow off the workout,” La Russa said. “He did not know about it.”

Tuesday’s earthquake caused widespread phone and electricity outages. Henderson said he spent most of Thursday buying supplies in the event of another loss of power.

“I tried to get through, but I couldn’t,” Henderson said. “It was just one of those things.”