I am dismayed at the once stellar season sinking like a ship taking on water.  My question is what came first:  Did the A's go into the tank because of the trades of Harden, Gaudin, and Blanton, or did Billy Beane/Frost  believe that the first half of the season was an unsustainable fluke, and the season was going down the drain with or without Harden, Gaudin and Blanton?

The Blanton deal appears to be a good one, but I still can not get over the Harden/Gaudin trade.  Four mediocre appearing prospects for two major league pitchers, including one stud in Harden.  WTF?  Another way of saying the same thing....did the A's go into the tank because they were undercut by the Front Office by the Harden trade, or were they going down anyway?

Living in Seattle I am used to observing  bonehead- brain dead moves by the Mariners, but looking at a bonehead(?) move by the A's....a whole new experience. 

Talk me off the ledge....please!