Baysball Examiner

A's trade: so far, so good

Sean Gallagher was outstanding Friday night

Rich who?

The A’s might be able to forget Rich Harden based on the early returns on the July 8 trade that sent the talented but oft-injured pitcher to the Cubs.

Sean Gallagher and Matt Murton, two of the four players the A’s received in exchange for Harden and pitcher Chad Gaudin, were instrumental in the Friday night victory over the front-running Angels at McAfee Coliseum. Gallagher, looking very Harden-like, pitched seven innings, held the Angels to two runs on two hits while striking out seven.

“His fastball is up the high 90s, then he’s got two breaking balls and a changeup,’’ said catcher Kurt Suzuki after handling Gallagher for the first time. “He seems like a confident kid, and why not when you’ve got stuff like that?’’

According to Major League Baseball, which really needs to get over itself, Gallagher’s record is 1-0. Because he changed leagues, his ten starts and 3-4 record with the Cubs are statistically ignored. But the A’s saw enough good in them to want him and the Cubs enough bad to let him go. Had every start in Chicago been like the one with Oakland, he would still be a Cub.

“I was able to bury my breaking ball a lot tonight,’’ he said. “That’s what hurt me in my last couple of outings. I would get a ahead in the count and then leave the breaking ball up in the zone. Guys would get good swings on it. You can’t do that up here. … I was just something with me, more concentration.’’   

Murton, who wasn’t even supposed to be here, drove in two runs in the six-run third inning and made two terrific catches in left field. The A’s plan had been for Murton to join the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. But with Ryan Sweeney temporarily unavailable after jamming a finger on Thursday, the A’s needed an extra outfielder at least until the All-Star break. Murton was given the summons late Thursday night and played like someone who wants to stick around.

“It was just great to get out here on the field and put it behind me, get the first day over with,’’ Murton said. “The first time out here I wanted to make a good impression, get the first hit out of the way, maybe catch a few balls in the outfield.’’

He did all of that, and manager Bob Geren said some of Murton’s defensive efforts, “you are going to see that on the highlights.’’

Twice the outfielder ran a great distance and grabbed wannabe base hits, once colliding with left field wall with some authority. “There’s room to run out here and you can be more aggressive,’’ he said. “And there’s padding on the walls. That always helps.’’

The trade will be evaluated in no small part by how Harden fares, and he was scheduled to make his first appearance for the Cubs on Saturday. But after one game at least, the A’s half of the deal is looking pretty good.  

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