Missing Haren

by javaball on Jun 24, 2008 3:44 AM PDT

It's been such a pleasure watching Dan Haren pitch. How he mows down the opposing lineup with dominating stuff, and, when he doesn't have his best stuff, how he battles and still gets a win, especially when his team needs it the most. He truly is an ace.

Haren has also thrived on big stages. As a former A's ace, he pitched a complete game victory against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, and clinched the ALDS series sweep against the Twins in 2006. Now as the ace of the Dbacks, he out dueled Josh Beckett and beat the Red Sox at Fenway Park. He also made a great diving catch in the game. An outstanding pitcher who can also field and hit, what more can one ask?

The A's would have the best pitching staff in the majors this year if Dan Haren was still with them. The trio of Duchscherer, Harden and Haren would make any opposing team tremble in fear. Even Blanton would've performed a lot better perhaps had he not been forced into the ace role.

Sentimentality aside, I hope Haren continue to have success with his new team, and the A's young pitching staff realize their potential to be one of the best.

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despite my distaste of the Sux

I watched the game last night because Haren was pitching. He was and is a joy to watch.

by OaklandSi on Jun 24, 2008 6:23 AM PDT reply actions

Webb is still the first ace on that team

Other than that, I agree.

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by Flashfire on Jun 24, 2008 7:36 AM PDT reply actions

People here are starting to lean towards Danny.

"There's only one Ken Griffey ." Jay Bruce

by tresselfan on Jun 24, 2008 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions

#'s

Danny has better whip, era, k’s, and OBA

"There's only one Ken Griffey ." Jay Bruce

by tresselfan on Jun 24, 2008 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Shrug

Webb has dead arm. His numbers the last few weeks have been terrible. I doubt it’s a long-term problem.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 24, 2008 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions

I hope you are right

He is a really, really, nice and genuine guy, and funny as hell.

"There's only one Ken Griffey ." Jay Bruce

by tresselfan on Jun 24, 2008 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions

2010, 2011, 2012

W/O the Haren trade, those years would probably be pretty ugly ones. Now we are pretty much guaranteed (barring injury & trade):

G. Smith – 2008 – 2013
Eveland – 2008 – 2013
Duke ‘er – 2008 – 2009
Harden – 2008 – 2009
Blanton – 2008 – 2009

+ Carlos Gonzalez – CF/RF (Centerpiece of Haren Deal) + Chris Carter – 1B/OF (Leads California in HR’s), Brett Anderson – P (Starting Rotation from 2010 – 2015), Aaron Cunningham – CF (OF from 2010 – 2015).

If we kept Haren, we would probably have the same (or worse) record than we have today.

Projected 2010 Rotation:

Greg Smith (L)
Dana Evelend (L)
Trevor Cahill®
Brett Anderson (L)
Gio Gonzalez (L)

Anyone else have a problem w/ 4 lefties in the starting rotation? Something always happens between now and then, so we’ll see what happens.

by Colorado Fan on Jun 24, 2008 7:58 AM PDT reply actions

Simmons > Smith

in upside terms, at least.

Also, Gaudin and Blanton aren’t free agents until 2010… so that’s more like the 2011 rotation.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 24, 2008 9:14 AM PDT up reply actions

Chasing Amy

Is Trevor Cahill a registered trademark? These kids are getting quite cheeky with concern to marketing themselves.

;)

"I'm seeing more and more Paul-baiting these days."

by OptimistPrime on Jun 24, 2008 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions

EVERYONE loves Magical Trevor!

Pessimism FTW! ... Wait what?

by Zonis on Jun 24, 2008 1:59 PM PDT up reply actions

No

He learned from the Cubs

by nevermoor on Jun 24, 2008 7:04 PM PDT up reply actions

I wish Haren the best, but I don't miss him at all

There’s simply no time to miss him. Too busy watching Greg Smith, Dana Eveland, and Carlos Gonzalez.

"Do you know that the guy really doesn't like baseball all that much?" - J.P. Riccardi

by black beane on Jun 24, 2008 9:14 AM PDT reply actions

+1

You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the goddamn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all. ~Earl Weaver

by UncleLeo on Jun 24, 2008 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Ditto

by nevermoor on Jun 24, 2008 7:04 PM PDT up reply actions

But the same could be said for many former A's players around the league.

I mean I check out what the old Big 3 are doing (2/3’s=not much), and could list many more but yeah losing Haren was a tough pill to shallow but with what we were returned for him makes the future a lot brighter than in was looking.

by A'sfaninNC on Jun 24, 2008 10:49 AM PDT reply actions

Two of the Big Three has not done well after they left the A's

Mulder is injured, and Zito in a terrible slump. One sportswriter wrote that it’s because the A’s overwork their starters so much that they are washed up after a few years. I can’t help wonder whether the same will happen to Haren.

by javaball on Jun 24, 2008 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions