Well, Mulder makes his debut in the Cardinals home opener Friday, but what about the guys we traded to get him? How are they doing, and how are they being received by "Athletics Nation"?

Well, Oakland fans got to see (on t.v, at least) Danny Haren and Kiko Calero go against the Orioles in Baltimore tonight. What did they think about their new arms?

Following are posts lifted directly from tonight's game feed on www.athleticsnation.com:

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does Haren...

throw anything other than high fastballs?

by goldenhammer on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 04:33:28 PM PS

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HR aside

Haren looks good. Too many strikes (like a hittable 0-2 pitch to Miggy)--nice problem to have.

by Nico on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 04:40:00 PM PST

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agreed

make the other team work, no free passes.

by pickinmachine on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 04:41:47 PM PST

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Korach [the Baltimore broadcaster--Ed.]

Talking about Haren in Game 1 of the WS.  He was really impressive.

Also funny is Korach saying Kevin Millaaaaah.

by pickinmachine on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 04:53:43 PM PST

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Too many pitches for Haren...

He's already got over 40...

by RickeySteals on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 05:03:04 PM PST

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26 pitch inning

so far

by alleninsf on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 05:03:10 PM PST

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another bb

and bases loaded for Haren.

by alleninsf on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 05:05:38 PM PST

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Haren's suffering from Zito-itis

Too much nibbling, not enough killer instinct.

by OaktownTribesman on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 05:05:50 PM PS

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whew

Way to go Haren

by pickinmachine on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 05:08:03 PM PST

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Nice pitch by Haren

He's getting into the groove of things.

by OaktownTribesman on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 05:28:03 PM

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Nice inning...

1,2,3 on 9 pitches

by RickeySteals on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 05:43:35 PM PST

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These two kids are dealing!!!

This could be one of those rivalries that sticks for 10 years!!!

by saint on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 05:52:14 PM PST

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Haren wishes

He had just a couple of Saarloos' runs from yesterday... :)

by OaktownTribesman on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 05:56:52 PM PST

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Two K's in the inning

I like what I'm seeing now from Haren.

by OaktownTribesman on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 05:59:34 PM PST

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Haren!

Good performance.  Kept the O's off the scoreboard for the most part.  Good Job.

by SurfingOC on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 06:21:40 PM PST

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Haren

Got through that lineup three times, only allowing the one run. Nice work. I assume that's all for him (108 pitches, and I get the feeling the A's plan to be careful with their young starters).

by andeux on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 06:25:48 PM PST

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Why not?

...we certainly have the bullpen.

Hell of a pitch to Swisher.

by baseballgirl on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 06:29:29 PM PST

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I know

what a difference from last yr. knowing Calero is warming up makes me feel comfortable the game's in good hands, now let's hope Rincon gets out of this unscathed...

by alleninsf on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 06:36:23 PM PST

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Is it just me...

or did Haren look pretty damn good tonight AND Scutaro impress a little bit at SS?

by baseballgirl on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 06:28:58 PM PST

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Ugh, Rincon

I'd rather see Cruz or Calero in the tight games.

by OaktownTribesman on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 06:32:56 PM PST

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Haren's line looks pretty awesome...

...and better than Hudson's, I might add.

by baseballgirl on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 06:34:13 PM PST

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Three hits...one solo HR...

...against this lineup is pretty damn good. He pitched 6, went through the lineup three times, and other than the 2nd when he loaded the bases, he was pretty much great.

by baseballgirl on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 06:45:41 PM PST

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There ya' go.

I love me some Kiko.

by baseballgirl on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 07:09:30 PM PST

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Hell of a pitch, Kiko.

Excuse me...Kiki (that's what the Baltimore announcers called him at first...did I mention I LOVE THEM?)

by baseballgirl on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 07:05:01 PM PST

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Oh yeah, we can most definitely say bullpen!

I hear you there, Christy, what a splendid inning from Kiki.  Last year I probably would have been in throes of a heart attack of sorts (Mecir was the equivalent of a double bacon cheesburger in that regard, he was known to cause angioplasty).  But damn, right now, I have a smile from ear to ear, and looking forward to seeing more of Kiki as the season goes on.

by Wes7 on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 07:12:26 PM PST

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Calero out for 2 innings

Hopefully they don't ride his arm too much this year.

by OaktownTribesman on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 07:16:53 PM PST

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I think it's clear

Whom Macha/Beane think is the real ace of the bullpen...

by OaktownTribesman on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 07:18:14 PM PST

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Absolutely FROZE B.J.

Lovely pitch, 2 outs.

by baseballgirl on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 07:24:28 PM PST

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Ring him up!

A's win!

by andeux on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 07:25:53 PM PST

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Kiko for Mayor!

Byrnes for President!

by baseballgirl on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 07:25:55 PM PST

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steeeeeeeeeerike 3

by rauber23 on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 07:26:05 PM PST

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Haren for Guv'nor!

:)

by OaktownTribesman on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 07:26:48 PM PST

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nice game

pretty significant outing by haren. He's my game MVP

by gojohn10 on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 07:26:54 PM PST

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Solid game all around

All things considered, I thought everybody stepped up nicely tonight.  Haren pitched damn well, with six strikeouts to a mere three hits allowed.  He wasn't dominating (he did walk three guys too), but he kept us in it and settled down nicely after the craziness of the second.

Throw in a solid effort from Rincon (not flashy, but not nearly as nauseating as he can be) and a splendid turn from Calero and I have nothing but plaudits for the pitchers.  And to have Byrnes come up big and then Chavvy show his stuff to get an extra run, well it was just a heartening experience all around.

Oh and props to Kotsay for his great catch in the second as well.  I'm sure it helps the young pitchers immensely to know that they have a solid defense backing them up and in Kotsay's case, they have an absolute stud.

by Wes7 on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 07:32:12 PM PST

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Short-term thought

The guys we got in the Mulder trade looked awfully good.  Haren struggled a bit early but steadied himself.  Calero was very solid.

by bear88 on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 07:33:07 PM PST

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yep

This trade is paying off quite early.

by Sharon on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 07:48:43 PM PST

Posted by salvo at April 7, 2005 10:21 PM