ION, if Hec's around, I was curious to hear his opinion on the Rich Harden trade, since he's the resident baseball guru and (I believe) A's fan.
Most A's fans feel like the Cubs got the better part of the deal. Harden is quite simply the most dominating pitcher in baseball when he's healthy. I think he's better than Peavy or Webb. But he's rarely healthy (cf., Prior, Woods).
So, his health history is why we couldn't get more. I think the big shocker for A's fans is losing Gaudin as well. He's an excellent pitcher who can be a very good #3 starter, or a shut down middle relief guy. Gaudin's already better than Marquis.
It's tough to lose Harden when you're only a few games out, but realistically we've had too many injuries this year to make the playoffs.
Most A's fans would've been happy with the deal if we'd gotten Vitters. We need an impact bat and we didn't get that. Why get Gallagher when Gaudin is pretty much the same pitcher? (though Gallagher is a bit younger and has more upside) Also we need a shortstop prospect and a third baseman, so we didn't get that either.
Our top draft pick this year is a speedy second baseman whose defense might not keep him in the infield. If that sounds like Patterson then you can feel our shrug.
It's a gamble for the Cubs. Forget the regular season starts, if they can have a healthy Zambrano, Harden, Dempster rotation going into the post-season I'd bet my money on them.
One reason for Cubs fans to feel better about Harden's chances to stay healthy is that he scrapped his split-finger pitch. He only throws his super-plus fastball (which gets up to 98) and his changeup. But he can sink his changeup several different ways and it's just unhittable. It completely disappears.
One constant with the A's trades of the last year is nabbing top prospects who had fallen out of favor. We just got Wes Bankston, and Murton falls into that category. Ditto Ryan Sweeney (who we got for Swisher, and is playing very well for us.) I think they're big believers in talent which has been mishandled and their coaching and catching players before their break-out 27 year.
Also, good to see you Kal!