By Janie McCauley
The Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. - Tim Hudson hustled into the Oakland clubhouse and quickly replaced the blaring Guns N' Roses CD with his own country tunes before getting ready for his latest rehabilitation bullpen session.

While the Athletics ace is still on the disabled list with a strained left stomach muscle, he doesn't hesitate to show he's still in charge around here.

Hudson has been sidelined more than a month, longer than he and the team anticipated. When he went on the DL, the right-hander said the injury wasn't serious and that he could have pitched through it.

The A's are anxious for the All-Star's return, and so is Hudson, the opening day starter the last two seasons. Oakland, coming off consecutive division titles, is second in the AL West behind Texas and is counting on a strong second half from Hudson.

"It wasn't fun sitting around watching the team play and not being able to do anything to help them win," Hudson said Saturday. "I need to have a big second half."

He threw 35 pitches Saturday - all fastballs - the second time he's thrown on the side from the top of the mound since he got hurt June 23 during a start at Anaheim.

Hudson, who has had strained oblique muscles before and as recently as last postseason, cooled off after his bullpen that day and then was tight when he started warming up again.

In that outing, Hudson (7-3) allowed five runs and seven hits in five innings after entering with an AL-best 2.78 ERA. It was only the second time in his last nine starts that he gave up more than two earned runs.

The 29-year-old Hudson expected to miss only two starts. This is his first stint on the DL in five major league seasons.

"It's, obviously, something new to me," he said. "I guess I'm just getting old. I've been feeling pretty good. During my bullpens, the guys down with me who have been watching me throw say I haven't missed a beat. I don't feel I've lost anything with my arm."

He is confident that he'll return to top form immediately once he's back. Hudson is scheduled to throw a simulated game Monday, then another bullpen session Wednesday and a rehab start for Triple-A Sacramento on July 31.

"It's going to be extremely important to get him back, but safely," said utilityman Mark McLemore, a former Seattle Mariner who has played against Hudson for years. "There's no doubt we need him. There's no doubt he's an important part of this ballclub. Facing him, we just hoped he was off a little - or a lot. He's one of those pitchers who can win with his B' game."

Oakland has six players on the disabled list, and the A's have used the DL nine times this year after needing it only six times last season.

Injured second baseman Mark Ellis, out for the season after dislocating his right shoulder during a spring training game, is with the team for the weekend before returning to Arizona to rehab.

Ellis took groundballs and is doing some throwing, though he hasn't resumed hitting and there is no timetable for when he will.

He knows the A's will need a healthy Hudson for the playoff push. Oakland has reached the postseason the past four seasons and lost in the first round each time.

"Huddy's the guy on this team that every time he goes out there you know you're going to get it," Ellis said. "He's such a competitor."