Well, obviously, just about the entire story today is Rich Harden, who absolutely dominated the Phillies in a way that few pitchers have the raw stuff to be able to do. Harden had it all working for him this afternoon; he truly had no-hit stuff, and despite racking up eleven strikeouts (a new career high!), he kept his pitch count low enough to pitch eight amazing, stunning, fantastic, brilliant innings to secure his fifth win of the year without giving the bullpen much chance of a repeat performance of his last start. There are not enough words to describe Harden’s stuff today, and it shouldn’t be forgotten that the seldom-seen Bowen was the catcher behind the plate. Harden’s line ended with the win in eight innings, surrendering nothing more than two hits and a walk, and racking up eleven strikeouts while bringing his ERA down to a ridiculous 2.15.
The A’s took control of this game early; Harden pitched a gem of a first inning, and the A’s did something that they don’t often do; get on the board right out of the gate. A walk to Ellis and a big double by Sweeney plated the A’s first run, and a bloop single by Cust brought Sweeney across (it took two tries to tag the plate, but he was still safe). But similar to a horror movie, just as the happy music starts to play, something goes terribly wrong. In this case, Sweeney hurt himself on the play at home, and Rajai Davis was called in to replace him. Sweeney’s unofficial diagnosis was a sprained ankle, but I assume there will be more information to follow. That was the only blight on the day.
Harden was undeterred by the ill-timed injury, and sporting a 2-0 lead, turned the second inning into the very definition of a shut-down. And did it again in the third. And the fourth. And through two outs into the fifth, when after setting down 14 in a row, Harden surrendered his first base-runner of the game on a shallow single. He promptly ended the inning with another strikeout, bringing his total to seven K’s in five innings.
After the hot start, the A’s offense was quieted over the next few innings. They got the crowd going in the fifth, when Bowen opened the inning with a resounding double that nearly got out for a homerun, and after an out, Rajai got on with an infield single, and Cust walked. But Chavy (who looks like he’s hurting) struck out on a full count, and Crosby popped up to end the threat.
Harden seemed unfazed by the A’s inability to score any additional runs, and despite the one walk he issued in the sixth, he kept cruising right along.
In the bottom of the sixth, after obviously deciding that the A’s didn’t want to load the bases again, Carlos Gonzalez hit his second homerun of the season to bring the lead to three.
Harden seemed to like the 3-0 cushion and continued to dominate during the seventh and the eighth, bringing his strikeout total to eleven, and looking every bit the ace of Major League Baseball that many have suspected he could be.
Not to be outdone, the A’s offense put up two more runs in the eighth inning, neatly taking the save opportunity away from Huston Street, and sending the ball to Embree for the ninth with a 5-0 lead.
Games don’t come much neater than this one, and anyone who watched could tell you that minus just a couple of moments, Harden flirted pretty heavily with the no-hitter. He definitely had the stuff today. His pitch count would have allowed him to pitch the ninth, but I applaud Geren’s caution with the secure lead.
So put another series win in the books, as the A’s stay home this weekend to play the Giants, as they try to make up some more ground before heading to Anaheim for another face-to-face match-up with the AL West leaders.
Tomorrow night: 7:05, Eveland vs. Correia
AN DAY TICKET DEADLINE TOMORROW!!!
Please respond to this thread if you are coming!
0 recs | 87 comments
95 pitches for Richie Rich. I guess a CGSO was too much to ask?
mikev - June 26, 2008
No way.
The only way you push Harden’s pitch count is if you are 1-0 in a must-win game and have no bullpen, or he was spinning a perfect game or no hitter. Why risk it?
baseballgirl - June 26, 2008
I agree
Even though in the game thread I said I wanted nobody other than Harden to pitch today, I’m fine with pulling him after 8. I actually said that when he had 76 pitches through 7. I was hoping he could have a quick 8th and then go out for the 9th at around 85-90 pitches.
I wouldn’t have used Embree today. I know the guy has a rubber arm, but I also think giving a guy on the wrong side of 35 another day of rest couldn’t hurt.
thejd44 - June 26, 2008
I long ago learned not to draft Harden in fantasy leagues
So I wholeheartedly agree that 8 was plenty
nevermoor - June 26, 2008
Will be sad to see him leave.
But thats what you deal with when your an A’s fan.
Syphon - June 26, 2008
I think they will try and keep Harden
Even if the team slumps I doubt that the A’s would get a fair offer due to his injuries.
I think they should keep him around and see what happens.
Yellowhorse - June 26, 2008
I'm thinking/hoping some dumb & desperate GM will back the proverbial truck up
monkeyball - June 26, 2008
He keeps it up someone will.
Syphon - June 26, 2008
Brinks truck
It’s a Brinks truck.
Get your damn brand names right. :p
PaulThomas - June 26, 2008
no, this is AN
It’s a Verges truck
monkeyball - June 26, 2008
Fuck that!
mrod - June 26, 2008
had it, uh, "both" working for him?
Can you really say “had it all working for him” w/r/t a pitcher only throwing two different pitches?
monkeyball - June 26, 2008
It is if the announcers think he was throwing nine!
baseballgirl - June 26, 2008
lol
monkeyball - June 26, 2008
Of course you can!!!!!
It’s Harden, man!
mrod - June 26, 2008
man Buan's show has gotten lame.
SwampyD - June 26, 2008
Why?
I mean, other than Buan being a complete apologist for the past 3 or 4 years and basically ignoring callers when they say something negative?
mikev - June 26, 2008
Has gotten?
Nico - June 26, 2008
Beat me to it
Leopold Bloom - June 26, 2008
i guess I just never noticed the lameness before ...I just haven't listened for a couple of years
but yeah it just is.
SwampyD - June 27, 2008
It would have been great
to see Harden complete the game. You could even hear it in Fosse’s voice that he was disappointed Geren didn’t let him finish. He said ” I guess that’s how they play the game now adays” refering to watching pith counts so closely. I totally understand being cautious and all, but after all Harden has been through, he DESERVED to finish the game.
rickey939 - June 26, 2008
Fosse has a short memory sometimes
SwampyD - June 26, 2008
No way
I want him fresh for the Angels’ series
baseballgirl - June 26, 2008
Yep
Another pitcher I’d say go for it, but Harden needs to be, well, managed.
nevermoor - June 26, 2008
Any update on Sweeney?
Erin6 - June 26, 2008
Random...
But I had to laugh at this part of today’s anatomy lecture:
JLaff - June 26, 2008
that fried egg is either past its sell-by, or from a platypus
monkeyball - June 26, 2008
Or both - looks like a
Langerhans-platypus fried several weeks after its sell date.
I am reminded of a George Carlin question (how timely): “Why is it that when it’s a human it’s called an abortion, but when it’s a chicken it’s called an omelet?” A fair question indeed.
Nico - June 26, 2008
Fair answer:
The chicken eggs we use for omelets are not fertilized. That’s a rather significant difference.
iglew - June 26, 2008
But what's the deal with airport food...
Nico - June 26, 2008
It could be a fertile egg
often sold at a premium. The actual chicken-to-be is a more-firm part of the egg-white.
I have eaten many.
One won lost won - June 26, 2008
A couple of longer range thoughts
It sucks being in the AL. It’s a clean sweep in interleague games so far today—at this rate, the average AL team will go 10.5-7.5 in their 18 Interleague games, which is almost .600 ball. Meaning that no one is gaining on no one—with the one prominent exception of the Twins.
Billy will never get commensurate value in return for Harden. I now wish Blanton would do better for another reason than to have people nail me for misjudging him—i think his trade actually makes sense, while a trade of a guy who could single-handedly win a playoff series or two will never yield enough in return. But we’re trapped, because if Harden keeps doing this and actually works over 150 innings this year, his price tag will start to skyrocket. But I think he is too valuable a chip for this year—when we may contend—and next year—when we almost certainly will contend—to deal.
madmongoose - June 26, 2008
Harden
3 Outcomes:
1. Some GM grossly overpays (this offseason, please!!!)
2. Harden gets hurt prior to Free Agency (anti-jinx)
3. Harden is healthy, and we get 2 First Round Picks in the 2010 draft
An extension is out of the question. Harden won’t want to sign a below market deal when healthy. And when hurt, Beane won’t want to extend. Lets enjoy it while we have it.
Colorado Fan - June 26, 2008
Prior gets hurt harden to free agency?
monkeyball - June 26, 2008
Well, Prior getting hurt certainly hardened his free agency
PaulThomas - June 26, 2008
The harsh reality:
With Harden the A’s are in the hunt but if/when he goes down (or is traded), I don’t think the A’s have enough to compete. A rotation of Blanton, Duchscherer, Eveland, Smith, and Gaudin is pretty decent, but not excellent enough to overcome the other weaknesses. We’re right around the halfway point and the team is still hanging strong – why would you give up on that now?
Also, one has to have faint hope that throwing only fastballs and changeups is just easy enough on Harden’s arm for him to sustain – and I think we can safely say it is enough of an arsenal for him to succeed.
Nico - June 26, 2008
The move is to trade Blanton this year...
and prob Street as well. Get some good Mid Infield prospecs. Hold onto Harden and make a run. If we dont compete trade him/lay off Hardens work load and trade him over the winter, or sign him to a 2-3 year deal for around 8-10mil a year.
Syphon - June 26, 2008
This comment seems to be suffering from multiple personality disorder
You outline pretty clearly why the A’s are unlikely to compete (because they’re totally reliant on Harden to do so) and then say the A’s shouldn’t “give up”?
My take on this situation is that even trying to assess whether the A’s should or shouldn’t “give up” is uber-pointless right now. If the team loses 5 of 6 to the Angels going into the Break, it seems pretty pointless to cling to the hope of contention. Certainly you at least have to see where things stand at the end of interleague. The A’s lost ground in the WC to Tampa, despite winning 2 of 3 from a solid team, because the Rays swept the Marlins.
PaulThomas - June 26, 2008
what's more, I doubt that Beane thinks in a contend/noncontend binary state
As he’s said repeatedly, anyone and everyone in the A’s system is up for grabs at the right price.
And, as a corollary to the xbhaskarx theorem, Beane can’t announce/telegraph his intentions, so as to maintain his negotiating position with any/every player.
monkeyball - June 26, 2008
Even Beane wouldn't sell off a key player
to strengthen the team in 2 years, if his team was in first place in late July – just psychologically it would be brutal to the team. However, it’s not late-July it’s late-June and the A’s aren’t in first place, they’re 4.5 out. But there is a “critical mass point” there somewhere where you just don’t trade a key part of why you’re in the running now.
Nico - June 26, 2008
depends what Beane's threshold for dealing Harden is
I think it’s safe to say that Beane would have to be offered a frakkin’-A deal in order to move Harden whether we’re in contention or not, and whether it’s midseason or postseason.
If some team meets that threshold, though - no matter our place in the standings, no matter what time of year - I think Beane should/would accept it.
I’m certainly not advocating trading Harden for a bucket of spat-out sunflower seed hulls, or to trade him for the sake of trading him. (Heck, at this point, I’m not even advocating trading him to make $20.)
Harden’s (relative, tentative) health and actually improved efficacy make it likelier that some GM will approach or perhaps meet/exceed Beane’s threshold.
monkeyball - June 26, 2008
Exactly!!!!!!
Thank you! And I am making this comment in regards to Nico’s post!
mrod - June 26, 2008
He did in 1999.
Beane traded his best pitcher, Kenny Rogers, on July 23, 1999 to obtain Terrence Long . He also had a few other tricks up this sleeve. At the time he traded Rogers, the A’s were in second place and still in the wildcard hunt. Beane was heavily criticized for trading his best pitcher while his team was still in the race. However, he followed the Rogers trade with more that brought in Jason Isringhausen, Kevin Appier, Randy Velarde, Omar Olivares, and Greg McMichael while giving up only Billy Taylor, Jeff DaVannon and some minor league non-prospects. Though the A’s fell short of the playoffs that season, their record improved after the trades and they had a better team for the upcoming seasons. I can see Beane doing the same thing in 2008 in the opportunities are there.
Monday Fan - June 26, 2008
Not sure that's true in the middle of the season
Could have traded Zito in ‘06 at the deadline when a lot of us were pretty pessimistic. I wouldn’t expect a trade that hurts this year if they’re within 3-5 games at the deadline.
mikeA - June 26, 2008
presumably, no one offered Beane what he wanted
Again, I’m not saying Beane should be out hunting for a deal—that would only drive down the price.
monkeyball - June 26, 2008
AND Zito outdueled Santana in the first round
In what seems to me looking back, was his last quality start.
Also, in late Sept 06, I attended the away game in Anaheim that Zito lost like 1-0 or something, but was utterly dominant..
Those 2 starts seem to be the last taste of dominance he’s had.
dtownmbrown - June 27, 2008
He was very good in the second half of last season...
PaulThomas - June 27, 2008
Again......
Don’t fucking trade him!!!!!!!!!!!
Why, why, why, does everyone keep talking about trading him? Give him a chance and see what happens, folks. For crying out loud!!!!!!!
“Keep Rich Harden In Oakland!”
mrod - June 26, 2008
“why, does everyone keep talking about trading him?”
Because it’s possible to improve the team by doing so. And that’s what the discussion is all about. Can they improve the team? How much? When? It’s a fair discussion to have.
No player should ever be untouchable.
thejd44 - June 26, 2008
Except for Har... Oh.
Well, at least we have a face of the franchise in Swi… oh.
I’d really miss E. Bro… Drat, didn’t work a third time
nevermoor - June 26, 2008
Brett Anderson is on fire
so far in his Midland debut. 3IP 1Hit 0BB 7Ks
Syphon - June 26, 2008
KK,HR,K
in the 4th. 10 Ks through 4. Yikes.
mikeA - June 26, 2008
Cant wait to see..
Cahill/Anderson/Hrod in the futures game.
Syphon - June 26, 2008
yup
mikeA - June 26, 2008
Unless
Beane trades ‘em while he’s buying popcorn for his daughter…....
(smirk)
mrod - June 27, 2008
He's K'd every hitter in the opposing lineup in 4 innings....
mikeA - June 26, 2008
LOL
So insane.
Syphon - June 26, 2008
What a first game to go to
I’ve been so busy with minor league games this year, this is the first A’s game I made it out to. Shame on me.
I also drove instead of taking BART because I wasn’t sure they’d let me in with my DSLR (they did, yay) and I got on the Nimitz without knowing about the accident in San Leandro. Almost half an hour later and only about a mile driven, I got off again and took surface roads the rest of the way, still getting there with some time to spare. I’d wanted to get there around 11 but ended up 45 minutes or so late.
Still had time to exchange greetings with Ziggy and I sat a few rows from the field between the home dugout and bullpen. Got some nice shots I’m going through now and the way Harden was pitching I started thinking and hoping, “This is the day.”
Of course, Victorino broke it up just after Harden hit the halfway point for the perfecto/no-no, but 2 hits, a walk and 11 strikeouts over 8 innings is more than enough. Naturally there were boos when Embree took the hill in the 9th, but as much as I wanted to see Harden go for the shutout there’s nothing wrong with not pushing it. If he threw a few less pitches in the 8th (I think he threw 19 as he’d had 76 through 7 and I believe he finished at 95) then he’d have probably got the chance.
Great game.
Flashfire - June 26, 2008
Post the photos
if you’ve got any good ones.
Leopold Bloom - June 26, 2008
Oh, I will be
And I did get some nice ones out of it.
Flashfire - June 26, 2008
Great outing by Rich.
Cue the onslaught of bad trade diaries.
JediLeroy - June 26, 2008
Arod for Harden + Chavez
Arod to SS, Hanananhan to 3b, Crosby to some the Angles for Bootcheck
MobiusKlein - June 26, 2008
Harden for Pujols + Ankiel
nevermoor - June 26, 2008
and wainwright and chris perez
flipgatey3 - June 26, 2008
or Blanton + the ghosts of Antonio Perez and Charles Thomas for....
Teixeira and Huddy…hehe
rh40 - June 27, 2008
Question about Brett Anderson -
He finished his Midland debut with 12 Ks in 6 IP. What is getting most of his strikeouts? Breaking ball? Changeup? Fastball command? Does anyone know? I didn’t view him as being especially a strikeout pitcher, but he’s put up good K numbers at both levels so far.
Nico - June 26, 2008
Mostly command.
He doesnt walk alot of people at all.
Syphon - June 26, 2008
He has 2 plus offspeed pitches
Genuine plus pitches, I mean, not scout-talk “well it might be plus once he hits the majors” pitches. His fastball isn’t plus but he has great command of it.
PaulThomas - June 26, 2008
What are they? Slider and changeup?
Curve and changeup? Slurve and spuckler?
Nico - June 27, 2008
Curve and change, I think
I want to see a pitcher who throws knuckler/screwball, like some of those low-minors video game pitchers.
PaulThomas - June 27, 2008
found this:
mikeA - June 27, 2008
So...
10-2 swinging/looking yesterday, I’m going with “mostly slider” but who knows.
mikeA - June 27, 2008
Cool, thanks guys.
I can see where a really plus-slider and terrific fastball command alone could earn plenty of Ks – especially at the A and AA level, but hopefully beyond!
Nico - June 27, 2008
a la K-Rod
dtownmbrown - June 27, 2008
minus the terrific fastball command
dtownmbrown - June 27, 2008
Wha...?
Terrific fastball command that’s produced a career walk rate of 4 per 9 innings?
K-Rod’s command is fringe-average at best.
PaulThomas - June 27, 2008
Question about D. Barton
After reading the roto world blurb about Barton and sticking with him at 1B till at least the AS break so what do the good people out there think Barton’s batting average will be at the break?
A'sfaninNC - June 26, 2008
It will be his number of hits divided by his number of at bats,
but that’s not important right now.
And Arnold Leon’s getting lllllllarger!!!
Nico - June 26, 2008
and don't call me Shirley
oakinboston - June 26, 2008
Now now - everyone just relax.
Say, while I have your attention I was just wondering: Does anyone happen to know how to moderate a blog?
Nico - June 26, 2008
you've just got to concentrate... concentrate... concentrate...
Hello?... hello… hello… Echo… echo… echo… Pinch hitting for Ryan Sweeney… Rajai Davis… avis… avis…
oakinboston - June 26, 2008
It's easy, just point to a screen name (other than mine) and click the "Ban" button
Also, your stats fail to adjust for league/park/replacement factors. Shame on you.
nevermoor - June 26, 2008
Not any worse than it is now
thejd44 - June 26, 2008
Not sure if anyone else mentioned it, but I just counted up...
...Harden’s strikeouts and all 11 were of the swinging variety.
Flashfire - June 27, 2008
nah
1/3 to rollins was looking. fastball inside corner
Wreckonized - June 27, 2008
Was that one he checked a swing on?
Because Sportsline’s PBP has all three of his whiffs swinging. Then again, MLB.com has his strikeout in the 6th a called strike three and so does Yahoo, so I’ll go with that.
Flashfire - June 27, 2008
yea it was more of the
caught-looking-then-look-of-disgust-on-his-face-as-he-walked-back-to-the-dugout…variety
dtownmbrown - June 27, 2008
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