The Oakland Athletics are still tied for first place in the AL West, much to everybody's surprise, and it's all the more surprising that they've done it without Rich Harden. Still, if the Athletics are going to continue playing this well, and stay atop the division with the Angels all season, they're probably going to need Rich to stay healthy for the rest of the season.Something that anybody who has been paying attention to Harden's career knows isn't likely to happen. Still, Harden will make his latest return from the disabled list this afternoon and start Oakland's series finale against the Rangers.
His teammates know how much he means to the team, but they're also aware of how fleeting his appearances usually are.
"Rich is very good when he's out there. We just want him to be out there," second baseman Mark Ellis said. "We hope he can throw well the rest of the season. The guy's in great shape and has an incredible arm. We want him out there because when he's out there, we've got a good chance to win."Harden has only been healthy enough to make 18 starts since 2006 (two of them coming this year), and while I'd like to be able to say that this is the time he finally stays healthy, I know I'd be wrong. In fact, I'm setting the over/under at 20 innings pitched before Harden is back on the disabled list.
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