From MLB.com:
"I feel like my command's a lot better than it usually is at this point," Harden said. "We haven't made too many big changes, it's more been smaller things and a lot of repetition.
So, from all accounts, Rich Harden IS at Spring Training, and actually appears to be throwing, something we haven’t seen in a while. And not to put too fine a point on it, but he may be the only thing standing between the A’s and the coveted 90 loss season. With an untried offense, and an as-of-yet undecided starting rotation, the A’s look to Harden to make up some of the gaping off-season losses.
And I know that I hold out very little hope for a Harden resurrection, but damn it all; I can’t quite quell the excitement I still get when I see “Harden” and “pitched” in the same sentence. I’m sure I’ll get over it.
Right? Right?!
0 recs | 46 comments
Harden is our one and only hope.
Well, not really. I, too, have pretty much given up on injury-plagued Rich....but I must admit to a tiny glimmer of hope? excitement? I mean, the guy has multiple pitches and speed. When he's cooking, he's Cy Young material.
But I think putting too much pressure on the young man isn't a good thing. Still....I'll be there in spring training, watching him bring it. And for that moment, I'll have hope.
catattack77 - February 17, 2008
I'll be writing more about this Tuesday,
but in sum, a healthy Harden not only gives the A's a legitmate #1 starter but also allows Blanton to slot where he belongs (#2), and...suddenly the outlook isn't quite as grim as all that.
Nico - February 17, 2008
Exactly
If Harden is able to stay healthy and produce then Haren is more and adequately replaced. Then you're trying to replace Swish on offense which hopefully we can do with a mixture of increased health and experience from our young guys. Basically next season is all about health, and if the cards break right (or hopefully don't break) then it won't be so bad of a summer after all.
Helloooo 1st - February 17, 2008
WIth a "sort of" caveat -
A rotation starting with a healthy Harden, Haren, and Blanton is a legitimate contender even with a questionable offense. A rotation starting only with a healthy Harden and Blanton still needs a lot to break right in order to aim for 90+ wins.
Nico - February 17, 2008
90+ wins?
avoiding 90+ losses is a better goal. What A's fan would be wetting themself over a 83 win season? The mythical "healthy Harden" could help in that effort.
gbtmOAK - February 17, 2008
I think this A's team is .500 at the very worst
as long as they don't use two full teams of players again this year.
thejd44 - February 17, 2008
Harden has had some good
spring trainings...so I think I'll wait to get excited until he gets through at least a couple of months of regular and healthy starts during the season.
OaklandSi - February 17, 2008
The title of this post scared me.
salb918 - February 17, 2008
same here
rebus - February 17, 2008
yes
I thought...what happened now?
ak_A - February 17, 2008
sure did
I think this title would be more useful in May
Cutthemullet - February 18, 2008
hoping
I really hope he can get over the hump. And would love to see him sign a nice long term deal after a healthy season too.
oakland ehs - February 17, 2008
Wait. Refresh my memory.
When was Harden's first hurrah?
monkeyball - February 17, 2008
Well...
how about this?
Scottbass - February 18, 2008
The Last Hurrah.....
Now that is a bleak foreshadowing of Harden's outlook for the season. I hope that he can stay healthy for the whole season, but I'm not holding my breath.
Coffee13eans - February 17, 2008
Title is Apposite
"I feel like my command's a lot better than it usually is at this point," Harden said.
To me this means he has fast-tracked this season's debilitating injury; if he is ahead on command & preperation, he might even get injured in his fourth start, not his sixth. Progress = Yay!
"We haven't made too many big changes, it's more been smaller things and a lot of repetition.
This kind of upsets me. I feel that a close analysis of the injuries should result in some changes, even major changes, to help avoid them. Granted not all of his injuries have been cause by his delivery etc (I have be kind of frustrated with him, so I haven't been keeping full track of what little info there has been), but I really want Rich to try something new (like a full season).
All this being said, I love Rich Harden. He has immense potential, and I really hope he finally has a healthy season.
Alright, tell me why I am wrong, I seem to be a lot. GO A's!
uiekazoo - February 17, 2008
Yea but remember
Last year during spring training when he was "throwing hard, and feeling well?" I remember watching a game against the Rockies in mid march, where he was making opposing hitters look absolutely foolish. It was almost comical, but we all know how that campaign ended. Im just going to avoid holding my breath when it comes to Harden, until I see him string 9 or 10 starts in a row without a trip to the D.L. I still don't see a 90 loss season in our future, I think we are at least a .500 club, even with all of our current unknowns. If nothing else, I predict that the 2008 team will be a hell of a lot healthier than last year's team, that HAS to be the high water mark for injuries.... Well hopefully.
Shippee33 - February 17, 2008
No chance
I'm not sure how we can expect this guy to make it through a season when he can't even reach for his alarm clock without getting hurt..
KMoAsFan - February 17, 2008
Yeah, it'll all work out fine
Prior pain-free after first workout
monkeyball - February 17, 2008
The difference is that
Prior probably won't be throwing harder than 85-87 these days, so even if he's healthy there's a good chance he'll be awful.
thejd44 - February 17, 2008
Yeah, you will get over it baseball girl...
when you see the words "Harden" and "DL" in the same sentence.
If he had any upside other than a pocketful of belly button lint and potential, he would have been traded by now. Reality and pessimism seem to be the only constants that surround Harden. Shame, really, because as a fan I have wanted, just as we all have, to see and entire season of this guy mowing down batters. But it is as unlikely as a Beatles Reunion.
since72 - February 17, 2008
oh bbg
there you go making me have hope that THIS is the year Harden stays healthy, when I'm trying so hard not to get suckered in.
and by the way, not to sound all Bill Simmons here, what would be the life equivalent of this annual ritual that some of us A's fans still have when it comes to Harden's health, only to be disappointed by May?
67MARQUEZ - February 17, 2008
here's to hoping
Harden's health this season makes exercising his 7M option a no brainer for the A's.
rebus - February 17, 2008
Or at least an enticement to some sucker team to obtain him for value
FreeSeatUpgrade - February 17, 2008
I can virtually guarantee
that that option won't be exercised. He'd have to have basically a Cy Young year for the team to use it. If he's even somewhat less than that level, they'll decline it and just take him to arbitration.
Personally, I think it's a non-issue, as I figure he'll have shoulder surgery and be non-tendered.
PaulThomas - February 17, 2008
It must be spring.
Easily recognizable by the faint glimmering of hope making its presence known. Please people. Abandon all hope ye who enter here. After all, it is Rich Harden we are pinning our feeble hopes upon.
alox - February 17, 2008
Don't you just love Spring Training?
Everybody looks good, even rookies no one will ever hear of again are "making heads turn". This year more than others it is great to follow Spring Training, so many new names, so much hope for the future. The great thing is that the team will be better, it is the starting pitching that is the question mark. But unlike hitters, pitchers can come out of nowhere and be really good. Most of you are not old enough to remember Vida Blue when he first came up. He was unbelievable that first year. Just like that, a star was born. Last year who would have thought that Gaudin would be so effective in his first 6 or so starts. Maybe it will happen again with a new name this year, god I love Spring Training.
Laoren - February 17, 2008
Give the man a chance
Hopefully Harden's body has finally matured and it can at last take the punishment of pitching every 5 days. If he can get a decent run of appearances and groove his smoothest action his injury problems may be behind him. At least I can hope!
Dalesman - February 17, 2008
i'm not so sure harden is injury-prone
his oblique injuries were flukes (like most of crosby's injuries). his bicep/elbow/shoulder stuff, while obviously very alarming, may have a lot to do with a pretty well-documented incompetent medical staff not having him miss a start or two. i seriously wonder if all of harden's non-flukish arm troubles could have been avoided. lets see what happens this year - after all the injuries, our medical staff is really under the microscope, so i suspect they'll probably do a decent job. if harden really is injury-prone, i guess it won't matter, but given his track record up to his 2nd full year in the bigs, i'm skeptical.
guy incognito - February 17, 2008
Yep last chance
Long time no post. I am temporarily Athletics Fan in Los Angeles now (renewing my visa), can't wait to get back to old Blighty. Had to respond to the babe know as Baseballgirl's post. If the A's have any shot at being .500 or better it will because of a healthy Harden. It has to happen sooner or later. I think Murphy's law will come in play this season. Of course Harden will do well and so will Haren. It will be the universes way of sticking it to us A's fans and Billy Beane. The universe loves sticking it to people...lol
Athletics Fan In London - February 17, 2008
Harden doing well
would not be Murphy's Law. It would enable the team to flip him for additional quality prospects. That's absolutely a good thing.
PaulThomas - February 17, 2008
Quality prospect (not plural) perhaps
Hardens trade value is so diminished that even if he is 12-0 by the all start break he wont get that much in return. No way does any GM in this day and age ignore his injury history. Look at Haren last year tale of two halves. If Harden stays healthy all year I doubt he will dominate all year. He will wear down at the end of the year. The whole huge leap in innings pitched thing. So once he hits 10 innings pitched well you know where I am going. I am suprised actually that is not talked about it. If he stays healthy the huge leap in innings will get him in the end. No doubt about it.
Athletics Fan In London - February 17, 2008
i dunno..
if he 12-0 at the break and an ERA around 3, there will be a gm of a second/third place team vary interested..
if the dodgers ( or anyone really ) are 6 games back at the break and Harden looks strong and dominating, they will take a long look at Harden or any competitive pitcher on a non-contender.
tosk - February 18, 2008
I always hope.
I just don't get my hopes too high when it comes to Harden. However, shockers happen in baseball sometimes so I hope it happens for Harden and the A's. Because I do feel if he is healthy anything could happen in our division.
IM4Oakgal - February 17, 2008
I am programed to be already over it.
ak_A - February 17, 2008
AN 3.0 will suppress any optimistic Harden comments starting in April
monkeyball - February 17, 2008
Dang alaska A - I've pressed every letter
on my keyboard and can't put you on ignore in AN 3.0 either. Oh wait, there's one I haven't tried.
Crap, I just blew up Guam. Oh well.
Nico - February 17, 2008
pray tell,
what the heck is your avator (today that is)?
ak_A - February 17, 2008
It's a goat.
On my pillow. In my bed.
What?
Nico - February 17, 2008
Let's have a party...
...this being his last hurrah and all.
Hey, when is a 90-loss season coveted? Oh, yeah...Tampa.
FormerHuntsvilleStar - February 17, 2008
Sometimes those draft pick mavens lose perspective
FreeSeatUpgrade - February 17, 2008
my guess..
harden goes 11-2 the first half, and starts the all star game..
skalordes - February 18, 2008
No way. I'm thinking 17-0 and DOMINATES
the all-star game, making sure the A's get home field advantage in the world series. By my calculations, Harden's going to be 35-0, 0.00 ERA and win the trifecta (All-Star MVP, World Series MVP, and Cy Young).
Bacon - February 18, 2008
unfortunately, though ...
... he'll break down and have shoulder surgery in the offseason before he cures cancer.
monkeyball - February 18, 2008
I can't quit him
Every summer, I remind myself that Harden is a non-factor and that you should just consider it a bonus every time he does actually pitch.
Every winter I think about the rotation and think of 5 names that are not his.
But every March I see an article about him, here something good from AZ, and my first thought is "I should pick him up in the last round of the fantasy draft, it cant hurt."
If things stay the same, I will have a bookmarked page with an authentic Harden jersey ready to buy within the next week or two so that I can finally order it after he throws the 2 hitter and I feel like "he's earned it".
Ahhh.. the rites of spring.
5Aces - February 19, 2008
*sigh*
Why do I feel like Michelle Williams, waiting at home for Rich to come home from a fishing trip?
(Flashbacks to last ST with his amazing control and performance...and my dashed hopes.....)
Being an A's fan means always hoping, always scraping by with guile and duct tape. I'm not sure what I'd do with myself if Harden actually pitched to the ASB without landing on the DL.
HardensGirl - February 21, 2008
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