Billy Beane Isn't Very Optimistic About Harden

On Saturday when Rich Harden was scheduled to make his first start since April, I wrote that the Athletics shouldn't get overly excited by his return. The possibility Harden would get hurt again was too great. Of course, after 66 pitches in that start, Harden was hurting again.

Though nothing is known yet, Oakland GM Billy Beane doesn't seem to think there's any reason to believe that everything's going to be all right.

"I think at this point, after what's transpired the first part of the season, it would be sort of foolish to plan on Rich being back soon,'' Beane said. "We won't know until he sees the doctor, but, obviously, this has been bothering him for quite awhile. It's been almost three months, and it's still bothering him. To expect he'll just be better in two weeks is unrealistic.''

Asked if exploratory surgery might be a possibility, considering that the injury apparently hasn't responded to rest and treatment, Beane said, "We'll wait and see what the doctor says, but, ultimately, it will be up to Rich."

Harden is currently in Los Angeles right now to meet with Angels team doctor Lewis Slocum to get his opinion. He's hoping he can be back to Oakland in time to work out with the team on Wednesday.

I'm sure Billy Beane is smart enough to know that as he sits around at the All-Star break, pondering what needs to be done with his team for the second half of the season, he must do it with a mindset that Rich Harden will not be a part of the ballclub. With Dan Haren, Chad Gaudin, Joe Blanton, and Joe Kennedy the Athletics already have the best rotation in the American League. With or without Harden in the mix.

To do otherwise would be a huge mistake. Just look at what happened with the Chicago Cubs after 2003. They had a team that was five outs away from a World Series and they let it be held hostage by the frail arms of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. Instead of bringing in reliable starters, they sat around and prayed their two young arms would finally stay healthy. Three years of 90-loss seasons finally shook them out of their daydreaming.

Fortunately for Oakland fans, Billy Beans just isn't that stupid.

Previously at The FanHouse:
Rich Harden to Start Today
Rich Harden Doesn't Feel 'Exactly Right'