Harden as closer: Makes sense

[reenum]

We all know he has filthy stuff and a shocking inability to stay healthy while starting. Maybe the A's would be better off converting him to a closer and trading Street.

Starters who become closers have been succeeding in recent years (see Smoltz and Nathan), and it's already happened this year once (Brett Myers). I just think that Harden is worth more to the A's on the field than as a guy on the DL with mythical amounts of potential.

Just a thought.

[Yoda]

I don't think that will help him stay on the mound IMO. He is fragile and his body cannot hold up in order for him to consistently do what his brain wants it to do.

[acsguitar]

Wow 2 often injured closers in Harden and Street to go with 2 often injured setup men Duch and Calero!

Awesome

[ironman]

He has more value to me as a starter. Although I have to say in my points league that only has one RP slot and one P slot, I'm rather enjoying the prospects of Brett Myers closing. Closers with SP eligibility are gold in that league.

[LiveForever]

Maybe the A's would be better off converting him to a closer and trading Street.

Harden has way more value in the rotation then Streets does in the pen. Its pretty easy to find effective closers if you know what your doing. Number one starter on the other hand are harder to find. If they traded Streets they have three to four other guys that could come in a probably successes as the closer.

This will never happen.

[AmericanShipbuilding]

This will never happen.

I'm not so sure it will NEVER happen. If there was any evidence Harden could stay healthy as a closer where he is unable to stay healthy as starter, why wouldn't Beane consider it? Sure he's worth more a starter, but he's only valuable if he can actually pitch. Of course, I'm not sure there IS any evidence to suggest this is a viable solution, so it's kind of moot.

The A's really need to take a good long look at their trainers/physical therapists/doctors/etc. Their inability to stay healthy seems slightly more than coincidental.

[greenandgold]

This will never happen.

I'm not so sure it will NEVER happen. If there was any evidence Harden could stay healthy as a closer where he is unable to stay healthy as starter, why wouldn't Beane consider it? Sure he's worth more a starter, but he's only valuable if he can actually pitch. Of course, I'm not sure there IS any evidence to suggest this is a viable solution, so it's kind of moot.

The A's really need to take a good long look at their trainers/physical therapists/doctors/etc. Their inability to stay healthy seems slightly more than coincidental.

Seriously, I have been saying that for years.

[LiveForever]

Zito, Mulder, and Hudson all stayed pretty healthy during their stint with the club. I don't think the A's have any more injures then any other club.

[chadlincoln]

See Kerry Wood

[greenandgold]

We all know he has filthy stuff and a shocking inability to stay healthy while starting. Maybe the A's would be better off converting him to a closer and trading Street.

Starters who become closers have been succeeding in recent years (see Smoltz and Nathan), and it's already happened this year once (Brett Myers). I just think that Harden is worth more to the A's on the field than as a guy on the DL with mythical amounts of potential.

Just a thought.

I think a better idea would be to trade Harden.