TOP 11 REASONS THE A'S TRADED RICH HARDEN

by DMtShooter, Five Tool Tool

Before we get into today's list, I'd like to ask you all to visit Hugging Harold Reynolds and vote for your old pal Shooter in this week's Iron Ref contest. Together, we can beat the World of Isaac and Soxaholix menace of non-Scrap titties and Boston-based Web comics.

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11. By losing Harden, the A's can dramatically lower their health insurance costs

10. By being very good, Harden made the tragic mistake of deserving a salary above the league minimum

9. The A's believe that the idolatry of fans owning jerseys with player names is blasphemous, and that it can only end if they always move players the fans actually know and like

8. Harden's already 26, which means that in four short years, his palms will glow red and he'll be killed

7. When you have the opportunity to get Corey Patterson's brother, you move heaven and earth

6. Matt Murton's failure to get routine at-bats in Chicago despite good offensive numbers must mean that the Cubs R Stoopid, rather than Murton's bad defensively or a clubhouse problem

5. Justin Duchscherer has more than capably filled his role as Staff Ace Who Gets Hurt And Crushes All Hope

4. With the Angels 4.5 games ahead in the division and the club 4 games out of the wildcard, it's high time to fold up the tents

3. Winning before they move into their new stadium is not in their precise and perfect plan

2. BILLY BEANE IS A GENIUS. ALL HAIL BILLY BEANE. I FEEL MUCH BETTER NOW, THANK YOU.

1. Trading a staff ace for spare parts and prospects always works out like the Mark Mulder deal, except when it works out like the Tim Hudson deal