Rich Harden...

[superjags99]

...any one know the time table for his return? ESPN says he is expected to start throwing every other day this week, so just wondering if a mid-June return is a possibility. Thanks in advance if anyone knows anything!

[poopdungbeatle]

i think i heard mid-june. But i would expect the end of June most likely...

[d18Mike]

Quick! Someone post another Rich Harden update thread. There hasn't been a new one for over 5 hours -- and there are only two active on this very page -- down from an average of three last week.

[dynastykid22]

Quick! Someone post another Rich Harden update thread. There hasn't been a new one for over 5 hours -- and there are only two active on this very page -- down from an average of three last week.

HA HA ! EXACTLY !

Harden = Injuries forum MVP

[pangbones]

I think we need to sticky a Harden thread. It gets depressing each time I look at a new one.

[jtbarr]

i think i heard mid-june. But i would expect the end of June most likely...

and then he'll be out again by mid-July, back by late August. Just a wild guess. then he'll miss most of September...................

[silverZ]

Has this kid even picked up a baseball within the last week?

[STLCards16]

Has this kid even picked up a baseball within the last week?

That would be risking another injury.

[schmidty]

More news on the HarDLen front:

Jun 10 Harden, who is on the disabled list with a right shoulder impingement, did not throw prior to the Athletics' game on Saturday, according to the Contra Costa Times.
Advice: A's manager Bob Geren claimed the right-hander said he was feeling "great" after throwing a bullpen session of 65 pitches on flat ground. Harden is expected to have another session on Sunday, but his return is still uncertain. Continue to monitor his progress.

Jun 11 Mychael Urban, of Oakland.Athletics.MLB.com, reports Oakland Athletics SP Rich Harden (shoulder) was throwing at around 90 percent off flat-ground Sunday, June 10, and could join the active roster in a couple weeks.

For those of you unfamiliar with Hardenitis, this is classic "stage 4". The breakdown is as follows:

Stage 1: Harden is on the A's roster and pitches like an ace (unfortunately, the shortest stage of the syndrome)
Stage 2: Harden "feels something funny", gets pulled early from a game, and keeps getting his next start pushed back without any specific information given out by the team.
Stage 3: Harden goes on the DL, without any specific information about what is wrong.
Stage 4: Harden sounds incredibly optimistic about his recovery, while the team remains somewhat vague about his progress.

At this point, you either stay at Stage 4 for the rest of the season, or loop back to Stage 1 (followed very shortly by Stage 2).

Seriously, Harden remains a pitcher you should certainly stash on the DL just in case. If an angry manager (who drafted HarDLen in the mid-rounds thinking he got an ace-in-waiting) dropped him out of frustration/anger, and you have a free DL spot, pick him up. Maybe this will be the year he breaks the cycle ... err ... yeah, sure

[jnormy]

Quick! Someone post another Rich Harden update thread. There hasn't been a new one for over 5 hours -- and there are only two active on this very page -- down from an average of three last week.

Um, maybe it's 'cause every single Harden update thread ends up littered with jokes and wisea#% remarks instead of actual updates...