Harden

[Keeper1125]

Anyone know why he came out after 86 pitches?

Is it time for an injury already? I was hoping for 5 starts.

[bigsky]

86 pitches thru 5 inns isnt horrible, but not great either. I havent seen any news or updates, so my guess is the A's are simply being careful. I didnt see any of the game, but: could have been for pinch hitting reasons (it was 0-0 game until the 7th), heart of Boston's order due up, a combo of the two..... With only a fastball and change up in the arsenal for now, and just playing Boston last week, they may have begun figuring him out...

At least this what I'm telling myself at this point. I'm hoping for a few more starts before the inevitable, or at least so I can offer him up in a trade.

[chipper]

A lot of his pitches were out of the stretch, so they got him out of there. Good idea, IMO.

[ILLZ]

I didnt see any of the game, but: could have been for pinch hitting reasons

lol what?

[bigsky]

Oops. i'm an NL guy... forgot about that whole DH thing

[StarsNPinstripes]

According to Rotoworld,seems precautionary.

Rich Harden shut out the Red Sox for five innings in a no-decision on Wednesday.

The Red Sox started the game with a single and two walks, but still couldn't score in the first. Harden finished with six strikeouts, the last three coming in the fifth. He walked four. The A's didn't baby him at all during spring training, but they removed him after 86 pitches today. Enough of them were from the stretch that it was probably the right move.

[Southpawo5]

I was at the game. No sign of any type of injury concern when he came out. As I've said in another thread, he's also scaled his fastball back abit. His working more in the 92-95 range now. He also threw a lot of offspeed pitches. In Japan he and the coaches confirmed that the only offspeed pitch he threw was the changeup. I don't know if the same was true today.

He looked fine overall though, in a few jams, but he's always been a bit wild and has had a tendancy to walk a few here and there. I think the A's were just being cautious today with him.

[Wrangor]

I read that it was because he was throwing out of the stretch....didn't want to put him in the next inning, and get stuck in a 10 pitch at bat, and run his pitches over 100. As a Harden owner, I heartily applaud the A's being cautious.

[d18Mike]

I like SI's suggestion ... the A's should make Harden their Sunday pitcher. Gives him extra rest while maintaining a consistent schedule. It has worked with older pitchers in the past.

Heard a lot of conflicting medical opinions re: Harden's health outlook. "Dr. HQ" (knowledgeable but not a real Dr.)Rick Wilton says Harden has had 5 differnent arm/shoulder injuries and has reached the point where something will inevitably give. Heard a differing opinion this morning on Lenny Melnick's weekly show. Actual MD said that none of Harden's injuries have been "major" and the fact that they are unrealted bodes well. Plus he's very young. Different prognosis if he were 37.

[tmlfan4ever]

Ya. All across the league guys are coming out early. I can't even recall one pitcher making it past 100 pitches yet. Obviously, it's still early and guys need a few starts under their belt before they get really stretched out. When harden loaded the bases in the first with no outs I was stressed, but he did a fantastic job getting out of it. K, K, Out. Beautiful.