NoCalMike Posted April 17, 2004 Report Posted April 17, 2004 Well when the A's originally traded for him in 2000 I believe, he put up monster numbers to give them the playoff push, then of in the first game of the playoffs he fouled a ball off his ankle, breaking it in two spots. Every year since, he was thought to have been back to form, only to dissapoint. So far this season he already has 6 HRs & 12 RBIs. If this isn't a fluke and he is finally back to his All-Star form, then I really feel that he will be an unaccounted for weapon that the A's have, and that other teams were able to take advantage of the past couple of years. It is exciting to think and witness his return to being a great player.
EVIL~! alkeiper Posted April 17, 2004 Report Posted April 17, 2004 Scary to think he's ALREADY topped last year's HR mark.
Bored Posted April 17, 2004 Report Posted April 17, 2004 Hell he topped it two days ago. I still can't get overly excited just 10 games in but my expectations of what he'd do this season has gone up quite a bit.
NoCalMike Posted April 19, 2004 Author Report Posted April 19, 2004 he has hit safely in every game so far
Guest Anglesault Posted April 19, 2004 Report Posted April 19, 2004 It is exciting to think and witness his return to being a great player. Oh, I'm giddy.
NoCalMike Posted April 19, 2004 Author Report Posted April 19, 2004 It is exciting to think and witness his return to being a great player. Oh, I'm giddy. F-The Yankees~!
OldSchoolWrestling Posted April 19, 2004 Report Posted April 19, 2004 I went to the second game of the season and he already looked to be locked in. The only thing that sucks about being an A's fan is you can't get too excited until they actually get into the World Series. Going to the playoffs isn't enough any more. So I look for them to win the division and count on Billy Beane adding an experienced bat before the trade deadline. Pitching wise they are fine as always.
NoCalMike Posted April 19, 2004 Author Report Posted April 19, 2004 I went to the second game of the season and he already looked to be locked in. The only thing that sucks about being an A's fan is you can't get too excited until they actually get into the World Series. Going to the playoffs isn't enough any more. So I look for them to win the division and count on Billy Beane adding an experienced bat before the trade deadline. Pitching wise they are fine as always. I'm calling right now, if Harden doesn't straighten up, and fast, he is gonna be trade bait. There are two scorching hot prospects in the A's minor league system that are all but ready to come up. Harden gets Ks but so far, hasn't shown he can consistently get the job done. I am not ready to give up on him yet, but when your pitching staff is as stocked as Oakland's it becomes survival of the fittest.
EVIL~! alkeiper Posted April 20, 2004 Report Posted April 20, 2004 Harden's got 6 Ks, 1 BB in six innings. The A's are believers in the DIPS theory, so I'd be SHOCKED if they dumped Harden.
Bored Posted April 20, 2004 Report Posted April 20, 2004 Harden won't be traded but it has been speculated more than once that his future might be in the bullpen. That being said I don't see that move happening this season because he's way too young to give up on as a starter. I was encouraged that he only walked one batter in his first start as that was his main problem last year. Also remember they were playing in Texas, one of the most friendly parks to hitters. We'll see how he does tommorrow in a pitcher's park in Seattle. If anyone is going to be traded anytime in the near future (and I'm talking after this season) it will be Barry Zito. His strikeouts are going down and his walks are going up which is not a good sign. The A's will be talking extension with Tim Hudson this offseason as he's a free agent after 2005 and the A's are still stacked in the minors with starting pitching. They could get plenty for a former Cy Young winner and he might actually be expendable in the long run.
NoCalMike Posted April 20, 2004 Author Report Posted April 20, 2004 Harden won't be traded but it has been speculated more than once that his future might be in the bullpen. That being said I don't see that move happening this season because he's way too young to give up on as a starter. I was encouraged that he only walked one batter in his first start as that was his main problem last year. Also remember they were playing in Texas, one of the most friendly parks to hitters. We'll see how he does tommorrow in a pitcher's park in Seattle. If anyone is going to be traded anytime in the near future (and I'm talking after this season) it will be Barry Zito. His strikeouts are going down and his walks are going up which is not a good sign. The A's will be talking extension with Tim Hudson this offseason as he's a free agent after 2005 and the A's are still stacked in the minors with starting pitching. They could get plenty for a former Cy Young winner and he might actually be expendable in the long run. Yeah Zito is not looking like he used to, however that is the problem with pitchers that don't throw the gas at all, they HAVE to be RIGHT ON as far as accuracy goes, or they will just walk a ton of batters and eventually give in to hitters. Zito is probably the most one dimensional pitcher out of the big three, yet his one dimension which is the curveball is spectacular when it is on. Harden could very well be bullpen material in the next year or to if the prospects in the A's system pan out. One thing to really rally behind is the fact that the A's are just loaded with pitching in the majors and minors.
EVIL~! alkeiper Posted April 20, 2004 Report Posted April 20, 2004 You're underestimating Harden. The guy is absolutely tremendous.
EVIL~! alkeiper Posted April 20, 2004 Report Posted April 20, 2004 Also keep in mind that Harden is YOUNGER than Joe Blanton by almost a full year.
EVIL~! alkeiper Posted April 20, 2004 Report Posted April 20, 2004 Dye strikes again! 9th Inning HR ties the game at one.
Guest FrigidSoul Posted April 20, 2004 Report Posted April 20, 2004 Jermaine Dye was a great pick-up for Fantasy
NoCalMike Posted April 20, 2004 Author Report Posted April 20, 2004 Dye strikes again! 9th Inning HR ties the game at one. hell yeah, he has hit safe in every game so far. I heard it on the radio on the way home from class......extra innings.
Guest FrigidSoul Posted April 20, 2004 Report Posted April 20, 2004 however he just struck out swinging with the bases loaded in the 10th. A Grand Slam would have been nice for added emphasis to this thread.
NoCalMike Posted April 20, 2004 Author Report Posted April 20, 2004 the game isn't on tv here in Sacramento, so I am following via cbssportslines pitch by pitch thing.
Bored Posted April 21, 2004 Report Posted April 21, 2004 Harden tonight pitched seven innings, gave up just one run, and struck out nine. But unfortunently because of second straight pathetic performance by the A's offense against another mediocre Seattle starter, Harden will have to settle for a no decision.
USC Wuz Robbed! Posted April 21, 2004 Report Posted April 21, 2004 As a diehard A's fan, I'm rooting for Dye to help them go to at least the ALCS. On a side note: They do need to trade Zito away. They'll be fine with Mulder and Hudson and maybe Harden shoring the rotation.
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