Harden to Close Games?

[ferris182]

Below is the story.... I hope they don't move him to the BullPen, he has been a great starter....


Athletics: Harden turning the corner

by Fanball Staff - Fanball.com
Tuesday, May 18, 2004

News
With two losses and two no-decisions in his first four starts, and the A's bullpen struggling mightily, speculation raged that Oakland starting pitcher Rich Harden was headed for a relief role, perhaps as closer. Two wins, 17 strikeouts, and an ERA lowered to 3.86 in his last two starts put an end to that quickly. A's general manager Billy Beane suggested that reports of the Oakland pitching demise were greatly exaggerated. "Our pitching has been outstanding," he told the Oakland Tribune. "We're way ahead of schedule. Usually when the fourth and fifth guys get going is when we take off, and that's not until later in the year. The good thing is all five starters are giving us a chance to win."

Views
Harden has a chance to be an elite fantasy starter for quite some time, so we'd hate to see him get transferred into the bullpen. Frankly, if Matt Herges and Billy Koch can find a way to save games, you don't need a talent like Harden back there. Harden and the entire pitching staff has been much improved as of late—and an improving bullpen that pitched 14 scoreless innings on its last road trip will translate into more wins for A's starters

[fantasyfiend]

all the speculation about him potentially closing was only circulated rumors.

now that the bullpen is rock solid, rhodes is warming up to his role, and harden is going deep into games with control that seems to get better by the inning......there's even more of an absolute NO WAY in hell he's moving to the bullpen. it was just speculation, and a very sketchy at that.

[kevdk]

He wont be moving to the pen. He has been giving us some great starts recently.

[G-Man]

don't these teams realize that there are serious fantasy implications associated with these moves?

[Leiter Fan]

Did you actually READ the article before starting this thread? The entire point is that the thoughts of having Harden close have been put to rest after his last few starts!!