Rich Harden to the bullpen?
by tjmacari on Feb 3, 2012 11:34 AM PST
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PrintWould Rich be a good fit for the A's bullpen? Even now he still has swing-and-miss stuff, but obviously didn't show a great ability to get deep into games. What do you all think? He also makes a decent 6th starter if someone goes down so the team wouldn't have to rush Peacock or Parker. He obviously would be unexpensive, not much of a risk, and more importantly he's my favorite pitcher! :)
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Someone tell me why this is a bad idea
because I can’t think of any
John 3:16
"If they want to pay me like Mike Gallego, I’ll play like Gallego." - Rickey Henderson
I Guess
Low-cost bullpen arm. Can be a spot starter. If someone gets injured, Harden can fill in. It’s actually not a bad idea.
the only thing i can think
he’s injury prone? other than that i think it’s a great idea. him or coffey.
Snoochies
mid 90's
that is
and so much for coffey
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/02/dodgers-to-sign-todd-coffey.html#disqus_thread
Snoochies
I'll bite
Rich Harden was #2 from the bottom in HR/9, with 1.85, minimum 60IP (Bronson Arroyo was the worst, over 2). 1.85 was far above the next guy.
There are a couple things a reliever should not do when they come in. Give up a walk, and give up a HR. If you give up a hit, whatever, it happens, but you can’t come in to preserve a lead, keep your team within striking distance, or put out a fire, and be basically the biggest risk to give up jacks in the entire MLB. It really kills your usefulness as a relief pitcher. When could we trust him to lock down an inning? We simply can’t.
If you want him as a long man when the game is already out of hand, plus spot starter, maybe, but you can’t trust him in close game situations out of the pen.
by Billy Frijoles on Feb 3, 2012 1:39 PM PST up reply actions
It might make sense to see if he tended to surrender HRs the 2nd time through the lineup
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Do you know how/where you can sort stats inning by inning?
by Billy Frijoles on Feb 3, 2012 2:09 PM PST up reply actions
yahoo does it by 15 pitch increments:
In 2011 Rich was an utter disaster in his “first 30 pitches,” but over his career that’s not actually the case.
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
Huh, I'm surprised that that wasn't always the case.
My impression of Harden was that he always had trouble with the first inning and then flamed out after the fifth inning.
One reason might have been that he started having extended warm-ups before his starts so that he could hit the first inning with his adrenaline flowing. I believe that’s what led to that nine-pitch, three strikeout first inning against the Angels at the Coliseum. I think that was 2009?
I like the idea of Harden as a starter
To keep Peacock and/or Parker in AAA. But as a reliever, as others have mentioned he struggled immensely early in the game. Don’t want that as a reliever.
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He's also a more expensive version of
DLS, or even Ryan Cook. A two-pitch power pitcher who can give you an inning isn’t anything that special. A starting pitcher can be.
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
Could be a possibility
if he wanted to work really cheap and be available as a spot starter out of the bullpen if one’s needed on short notice. But I’d rather see the A’s go after some other free agent middle relievers still out there like Scott Linebrink or Luis Ayala, who had a good year out of the pen for the Yankees and worked for less than a million – who does that these days?!
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Bullpen > Starter
I think Harden’s value if he signed with the A’s, would be in the bullpen as the longman. I really liked Tyson Ross in the starting rotation, which leaves Godfrey as the longman with Outman traded… We gotta get these young guys starting soon, anyway, right?
Depends on the cost
He should come cheap. He’s not “blocking” anyone in the bullpen.
by OnlybuyBeaneJerseys on Feb 4, 2012 12:00 PM PST reply actions
I think he'd be more valuable as a starter
that would allow us to leave peacock, Parker, etc in the minors for longer
by sam8235 on Feb 4, 2012 5:44 PM PST via iPhone app reply actions
Let him start...
Build value and flip him at the deadline and move Anderson to the rotation!
Every man for himself...
We need one. Anyone.
Please no “7 short relievers” bullpen.
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
Btw in the Dominican Winter League
Jordan Norberto was a starter. Many commented on how effective he was. Melvin has been quoted as considering Norberto for a long reliever role.
by OaklandSi on Feb 5, 2012 12:42 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
He certainly makes for long innings.
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
ha ha
but seriously, he pitched very effectively this past winter as a starter. Some of the writers were suggesting that the A’s consider the possibility of converting him to a starter. If nothing else it would increase his value.
yeah, you can live with a higher walk rate from a starter.
Either way I’m glad he spent the offseason working on his game.
by Billy Frijoles on Feb 6, 2012 10:29 AM PST up reply actions
Type
By the way, the poll question, of course, should be:
“WOULD Rich be a good fit for the bullpen?”
Is it crazy to say?
That Rich would be the best 6th man in the league? Walks and home runs aside, I also think he’d be very valuable in the bullpen, like a poor man’s Kerry Wood (which I mean in the best way) lol
Well, that pretty much finishes this post.
John 3:16
"If they want to pay me like Mike Gallego, I’ll play like Gallego." - Rickey Henderson
No, this does.
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
Actually, this.
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
You set up about as good as whichever pitcher would make this funniest!
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
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