It wasn't supposed to happen this way. Brett Anderson wasn't supposed to get hurt this season. Not after signing a four-year contract last year. And once he did get hurt, he wasn't supposed to need surgery; instead, he was supposed to rehab for six weeks, then think about pitching again.

That was four weeks ago. Thursday morning, all that optimism went into the toilet:

Anderson won seven games last season, three games this season, and will likely win zero games next season, with 2013 the realistic target for his return to the rotation. Meanwhile, the A's are paying him just $1 million this season, $3 million next season while he rehabs, and $5.5 million in 2013.

On the field, they'll obviously miss his pitching. And as Oakland's pitchers fall like Zulu warriors at the Battle of Rorke's Drift, the organization's ability to trade for desperately needed hitters becomes practically non-existent.