Second Half -- Rich Harden

by Eggman on Jul 10, 2006 11:51 AM PDT

So I asked Buster Olney the following question...
Scott (Orinda, CA): Rich Harden -- any word the A's will get him back this season?

and he gave me the following answer...
Buster Olney: (2:46 PM ET ) Scott: Talked to Billy Beane the other day and he said Harden is slowly making progress; likened his injury to a sprained ankle, except it's in his elbow.

So my questions to you AN are:

-1- What is slow progress?

-2- (When) or Do you think Harden will be back this season?

-3- Will he be effective?

-4- What do we need from Harden (do we need Harden at all?) to make a post-season run?

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Comments

Look at macha's comments today

He is not sure Harden will be back.

"slow progress" means "we're still thinking about TJ surgery;

No.

10-12 starts.

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Jul 10, 2006 11:53 AM PDT reply actions

'toon is such a pessimist

he makes me look like Richard Simmons.

I don't think there's any doubt that Richard will be effective if and when he is out there, it's just a question of whether he's out there to begin with.

If he does return and uses an injury-free September to get fine-tuned, we could become dangerous in a short playoff series provided the offense is hitting somewhere in the vicinity of my dead granmother's weight... for which, as we have seen, there is no guarantee.

1972...1973...1974...1989...2006

by emperor nobody on Jul 10, 2006 4:09 PM PDT up reply actions

<stubbornly annoying>

Rich is dead. He will be dead until the secret lab brings him back to life. Then, he will pitch. Then, we will see if the cure works. Otherwise, he will be dead again.

Thank you.

Slow progress: the way to bring him back is being difficult to find.
Yes.
Yes.
We need him to stay alive, and we need him to be just like he is when he's alive (that means good, in case you didn't know). Yes, we need him to be alive. The rotation is much stronger and, IMO, more reliable with him.

<sobs>

"I've heard the hangovers are worse." -Zito on high altitude

by Squeaky on Jul 10, 2006 11:55 AM PDT reply actions

Poor/Rich

-1- He's still healing physically, meaning no pitching progress, only unpredictable elbow progress.

-2- Harden will be back in early September.

-3- Rich will be effective if he pitches, no doubt. Whether or not he can be healthy remains to be seen.

-4- A post season run? Do you mean get to the playoffs, or make it out of the first round?

I think we need Harden to make at least 5 starts to take a legit shot at the World Series, but we can make the playoffs without him.

by rebus on Jul 10, 2006 12:10 PM PDT reply actions

hmmm ...

oaktoon's answer + rebus's answer
Yes; September, whether he's fully healed or not (combination of bullheadedness on the part of Rich and A's management)
Yes, but sporadically, until he reinjures the elbow after 3 starts
I still think we make the playoffs even without Rich; and while I agree with the majority sentiment that we need him to have a halfway decent shot at advancing beyond the first rouond, I think and impact bat would improve our chances more than getting a healthy, consistent Harden back

He's an intelligent man to talk to, but he smells like rat urine @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jul 10, 2006 12:22 PM PDT reply actions

Playoffs

I agree that we can make the playoffs without him. We're too quick to jump on the A's saying they we are destined for another letdown when they go 7-12 over 19 games, that we forget that they were 16-2 right before that. Both stretches without Harden.

I have no reason to believe we won't make another 2nd half run and win the west. If we do that, we can rely on a 4 man rotation in the playoffs to move on.

by Eggman on Jul 10, 2006 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions

LOL

Sprained ankle, except in the elbow. That's like comparing hemorrhoids to a nosebleed, just in different areas. Just terrible.

by znk916 on Jul 10, 2006 1:08 PM PDT reply actions

I hope it's not like

Witasick's ankle injury, cause then Rich won't come back for weeks, and when he does, he's sport a high 7 ERA, only to go back on the DL.

by rebus on Jul 10, 2006 1:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Someone tell Jay Witasick that

he was finally compared to Rich Harden! Woo-hoo!!!!

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Jul 10, 2006 4:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Maybe they transplanted Witasick's Ankle

into Harden's arm!

by Zonis on Jul 10, 2006 2:00 PM PDT reply actions

From the makers of "Macha Watch 2005"

Somewhere, a young Danish boy scout goes unprepared.

by Jennifer on Jul 10, 2006 2:07 PM PDT reply actions

Very nice.

"June is such a great month. They just should rename it Oakland." ~ Kyli

by AsGirl on Jul 10, 2006 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions

is that a giveaway item?

Ushers handing out cheap plastic wristwatches with Rich's face on 'em ... they have alarms, but when you turn off the alarm you receive an electric shock that dislocates your left shoulder. There's also a stopwatch function, but when you try to change speeds, it breaks.

He's an intelligent man to talk to, but he smells like rat urine @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jul 10, 2006 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions