Comments on: Rich Harden to compete for rotation spot with A’s, but bullpen also an option http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/22/rich-harden-to-compete-for-rotation-spot-with-as-but-bullpen-also-an-option/ Baseball. Baseball. And then a bit more baseball. Wed, 22 May 2013 07:27:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Adam http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/22/rich-harden-to-compete-for-rotation-spot-with-as-but-bullpen-also-an-option/comment-page-1/#comment-100295 Thu, 23 Dec 2010 02:25:32 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=32594#comment-100295 The elephant in the room for the A’s isn’t injuries to their starters, it’s the complete lack of offense.

]]> By: apbaguy http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/22/rich-harden-to-compete-for-rotation-spot-with-as-but-bullpen-also-an-option/comment-page-1/#comment-100185 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:32:26 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=32594#comment-100185 The A’s have an interesting situation for their rotation. The nominal rotation is:

Anderson
Cahill
Braden
Gio
open

With Harden, McCarthy, Outman and others in the mix during Spring for the #5 spot.

The ERAs last year of the A’s starters combined for the best in MLB, which is a tribute to the improved A’s defense (very good to great at every position), to the steps forward the young staff made, and to the vast foul ground at the Mausoleum that makes it such a pitcher’s park.

But. The elephant in the room for the A’s is always injuries. Anderson flirted with arm problems last year. Braden has been dinged up before. Harden and McCarthy we know about, and Outman is coming off TJ. It’s safe to assume we’ll see all those guys opening games for the A’s at some point this year, and hopefully 2 of the starters and maybe 3 will avoid the DL all year.

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