but a platoon at 5.  Imagine the flexibility to choose between R/L, flyouts/groundouts on any given day. Keeps the pressure up on all the starters to focus and perform. The schedule can be done in advance to help pitchers prepare.

If you have a five man rotation with a quality #5 starter, pitchers are usually going on more than four days' rest anyway. Also, having six starters means one less guy in the bullpen, which means the starters are pitching longer per outing.  110 pitches once a week does more stress to an arm than 90 pitches once every five days.  If anything, go to a four-man rotation and have a strict 80 or 90 pitch limit for all starters.

Obviously the rubber arm of the A's rotation is Zito and the most brittle is Harden.

Why force either into a an uncomfortable regimentation?

Is it better to spot start for starters as comfort zones and health issues arrise?

that way the opposing manager commits to one lineup and the A's send out the more favorable matchup!  It worked against us with the Orioles

You could easily have one of the fungible starters come in as a reliaver.

I'm also very skeptical of this myth of a regular rotation. I can't remember a season in which we've had one. Between injuries, days off, skipping the 5th spot, etc., a pitcher never has a reliable day to pitch. As long as the pitcher has enough rest and knows a day in advance, I simply don't buy into the theory at all.

Some of the responses have acted like this is a completely crazy idea. I don't think there's anything wrong with keeping pitchers rested until later in the year. In all likelyhood, at least one member of the rotation will be injured or ineffective and knock us right back down to 5 people again in any case. Given how ridiculously deep out pitching is, I don't see any disagvantage.

Zito is a very durable pitcher, which is a ery fine quality. However, it is much better to get 3 fewer starts out of Zito and have a well rested Harden stay injury free. It is also not that big a difference when you compare 3 starts from Zito to 3 starts from Loiaza (who figures to be our worst starter). I see the A's coming out ahead in the regular season, not to mention the advantage they will hold in the post season with a well rested rotation.