It's not enough that Barry Zito, Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson are 1-2-3 in the AL in wins since Zito's debut on July 20, 2000, or Ted Lilly's offseason regimen has him throwing far better than he did last season. But out there on the horizon is 20-year-old Rich Harden. The A's sent Harden, a right-hander, back to Double-A Midland despite a 2002 season in which he fanned 187 batters in 153 innings at Class A Visalia and Midland.
In his first start this season, he was perfect in six innings of work, during which time he struck out nine. Astros scout Scipio Spinks reported of Harden, "his first pitch was 99 (mph) and he got better as he went along."
The comparisons of Harden to Jim Palmer appear real. As much like Palmer had, Harden has an easy arm action with an explosive jumping fastball (he hit 98 mph consistently this spring), curveball and split ..."
"He throws so easy that when it looks like he throwing 88, he's really throwing 98," another scout said.