If he were a race-car driver, he'd have burned up a dozen engines by now. But Harville is a pitcher, where fast is a good thing. To a point. And while outfielder Mario Encarnacion has the strongest arm among the River Cats' position players, Harville has the cannon on the mound. Sometimes, as Harville has learned in his young career, having the fastest gun on Main Street isn't enough.
Speed is good.
But it's not good enough. Battling shoulder tendinitis, Harville will not be ready when the season opens next week. But the A's are hoping Harville will become the River Cats' closer this season. It's not the role he relishes, especially after getting a taste of the big leagues whesn he was barely old enough to shave every day. Harville made his major-league debut in 1999.