Says the Commissioner:
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1208154,CST-SPT-cubnt08.article
QuoteThe team was not ruling out surgery for right-hander Rich Harden as they awaited results of exams by their medical staff before tonight's midnight deadline for exercising his $7 million club option for 2009.
"Not ruling out?"
Quote from: Bogs on October 08, 2008, 11:38:43 AM
Says the Commissioner:
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1208154,CST-SPT-cubnt08.article
QuoteThe team was not ruling out surgery for right-hander Rich Harden as they awaited results of exams by their medical staff before tonight's midnight deadline for exercising his $7 million club option for 2009.
"Not ruling out?"
I read if he gets his shoulder "cleaned up" he'd be ready by May.
Holy shit.
Don't exercise the option.
Quote from: LoneStarCubFan on October 08, 2008, 12:02:30 PM
Don't exercise the option.
So pay him more in arbitration? Good idea.
Quote from: Bogs on October 08, 2008, 11:38:43 AM
Says the Commissioner:
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1208154,CST-SPT-cubnt08.article
QuoteThe team was not ruling out surgery for right-hander Rich Harden as they awaited results of exams by their medical staff before tonight's midnight deadline for exercising his $7 million club option for 2009.
"Not ruling out?"
Wait, wait, wait...it only says "not ruling out surgery." I think we've all been following the Cubs long enough to know that these things rarely come to fruition. I'm sure this will be nothing more than say...a quick trip to Birmingham followed by 18 months of recovery time.
No need to panic.
Quote from: LoneStarCubFan on October 08, 2008, 12:02:30 PM
Don't exercise the option.
It's $7 million. As good as Harden is, 15 starts from him is worth $7 million.
Quote from: Eli on October 08, 2008, 12:12:12 PM
Quote from: LoneStarCubFan on October 08, 2008, 12:02:30 PM
Don't exercise the option.
It's $7 million. As good as Harden is, 15 starts from him is worth $7 million.
Unless he plays the role of Mark Prior in 2009. Then it's not.
How is Harden's option up today? Is it a deal where the option comes up a couple days after his team's last game? I thought option decisions were usually at the earliest a couple days after the World Series for that year ends.
Quote from: 5laky on October 08, 2008, 11:57:11 AM
Quote from: Bogs on October 08, 2008, 11:38:43 AM
Says the Commissioner:
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1208154,CST-SPT-cubnt08.article
QuoteThe team was not ruling out surgery for right-hander Rich Harden as they awaited results of exams by their medical staff before tonight's midnight deadline for exercising his $7 million club option for 2009.
"Not ruling out?"
I read if he gets his shoulder "cleaned up" he'd be ready by May.
Holy shit.
I'm not worried.
Harden will be back in time for next year's Cubs first round playoff wipeout.
Great trade. We get a guy who has a mysterious dumpster injury at a time we need him most, and is questioned with regard to his toughness after recovering, coupled with a starter who gives us 5-6 innings every 2 weeks and may need at least a scope. What did Philly have to give Beane to get Blanton? For us, while it seemed to be a steal at the time, it now looks to be garbage in, garbage out.
Quote from: Hawkeye's clutchness on October 08, 2008, 12:52:39 PM
Great trade. We get a guy who has a mysterious dumpster injury at a time we need him most, and is questioned with regard to his toughness after recovering, coupled with a starter who gives us 5-6 innings every 2 weeks and may need at least a scope. What did Philly have to give Beane to get Blanton? For us, while it seemed to be a steal at the time, it now looks to be garbage in, garbage out.
Let's not forget that part, regardless of what happens with Harden and Gaudin (both of whom I still have faith in).
Quote from: PenFoe on October 08, 2008, 01:01:24 PM
Quote from: Hawkeye's clutchness on October 08, 2008, 12:52:39 PM
Great trade. We get a guy who has a mysterious dumpster injury at a time we need him most, and is questioned with regard to his toughness after recovering, coupled with a starter who gives us 5-6 innings every 2 weeks and may need at least a scope. What did Philly have to give Beane to get Blanton? For us, while it seemed to be a steal at the time, it now looks to be garbage in, garbage out.
Let's not forget that part, regardless of what happens with Harden and Gaudin (both of whom I still have faith in).
Yep. Don't think we got hornswaggled. I did like Gallagher, though I don't see him as anything greater than a servicable #4 or 5 starter.
Seriously, this surprises anybody?
Not. One. Bit.
Quote from: Andy on October 08, 2008, 01:08:39 PM
Seriously, this surprises anybody?
The only surprise is that it took this long.
He
is Rich Harden.
Quote from: Andy on October 08, 2008, 01:08:39 PM
Seriously, this surprises anybody?
Not surprised. No element of surprise anymore with this team.
The commish now says no surgery and we picked up his option. So we have that going for us. Whic is nice.
I think it's a good pre-emptive strike on the part of the Cubs. They are forcing Harden to get looked at NOW, and not waiting a couple of weeks or till December. They can go with four-man rotation for most of April and if he's ready to step in by May and is healthy, then he's worth $7 million.
Quote from: Hawkeye's clutchness on October 08, 2008, 01:40:26 PM
The commish now says no surgery and we picked up his option. So we have that going for us. Whic is nice.
Here's the link (http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1209395,harden100808.article)
I can see the headline in the April 14, 2009 Tribune "HARDEN'S SPRING TRAINING ISSUES WILL BE RESOLVED BY SHOULDER SURGERY. MAY RETURN IN 2010 SEASON"
Quote from: Dave B on October 08, 2008, 01:40:47 PM
I think it's a good pre-emptive strike on the part of the Cubs. They are forcing Harden Prior to get looked at NOW, and not waiting a couple of weeks or till December. They can go with four-man rotation for most of April and if he's ready to step in by May and is healthy, then he's worth $7 million.
2004 and 2005'd
Matt Murton.
So this definitely doesn't belong in the Dick Harden splooge-o-rama thread since a) Rich has not been squirtworthy this year and b) Ivy6 is right that Chuck may have permanently ruined the tradition, but I was confused and intrigued by Lou's mysterious quote about Rich's bizarre home/day vs. road/night splits:
Quote"There are reasons for it," Piniella said. "I'm not going to specifically talk about it, but if we can get him as much as we can on the road, you'll see good performances."
Anyone have access to Deep Goat so we can find out the reasons? Is 1:20 Rich's regularly scheduled time of day to take dump or something?
Quote from: RV on July 17, 2009, 09:14:40 AM
So this definitely doesn't belong in the Dick Harden splooge-o-rama thread since a) Rich has not been squirtworthy this year and b) Ivy6 is right that Chuck may have permanently ruined the tradition, but I was confused and intrigued by Lou's mysterious quote about Rich's bizarre home/day vs. road/night splits:
Quote"There are reasons for it," Piniella said. "I'm not going to specifically talk about it, but if we can get him as much as we can on the road, you'll see good performances."
Anyone have access to Deep Goat so we can find out the reasons? Is 1:20 Rich's regularly scheduled time of day to take dump or something?
Sarah Spain doesn't go on the road with the Cubs, natch.
Quote from: RV on July 17, 2009, 09:14:40 AM
So this definitely doesn't belong in the Dick Harden splooge-o-rama thread since a) Rich has not been squirtworthy this year and b) Ivy6 is right that Chuck may have permanently ruined the tradition, but I was confused and intrigued by Lou's mysterious quote about Rich's bizarre home/day vs. road/night splits:
Quote"There are reasons for it," Piniella said. "I'm not going to specifically talk about it, but if we can get him as much as we can on the road, you'll see good performances."
Anyone have access to Deep Goat so we can find out the reasons? Is 1:20 Rich's regularly scheduled time of day to take dump or something?
Didn't Dusty Baker teach you anything, Dude? Rich Harden is white (and Canadian) so he pitches better without the sun.
Quote from: Brownie on July 17, 2009, 09:49:32 AM
Quote from: RV on July 17, 2009, 09:14:40 AM
So this definitely doesn't belong in the Dick Harden splooge-o-rama thread since a) Rich has not been squirtworthy this year and b) Ivy6 is right that Chuck may have permanently ruined the tradition, but I was confused and intrigued by Lou's mysterious quote about Rich's bizarre home/day vs. road/night splits:
Quote"There are reasons for it," Piniella said. "I'm not going to specifically talk about it, but if we can get him as much as we can on the road, you'll see good performances."
Anyone have access to Deep Goat so we can find out the reasons? Is 1:20 Rich's regularly scheduled time of day to take dump or something?
Didn't Dusty Baker teach you anything, Dude? Rich Harden is white (and Canadian) so he pitches better without the sun.
Not too far from the house organ's theory: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090716&content_id=5895642&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc (http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090716&content_id=5895642&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc)
QuoteHarden is now 4-1 with a 2.17 ERA away from Wrigley Field. Expect to see him in the road grays more as the season winds to a close.
"I don't see anything statistically," he said. "I haven't really thought about it too much. I've had some tough games at home with the wind blowing out and the ball carrying."
"I think there's reasons for it," Piniella said.
One theory is that day games seem to wear out Harden more than night games, when the weather is cooler. He's had some problems with mechanics, with his arm dragging and his body opening up. Hitters can see the ball easier if he does that, and his changeup flattens out. He can't be effective that way.
On Thursday he was able to follow through on his pitches and get more ground balls, and he got the job done. It's something he hopes to continue to do.
One theory to be examined would be that Harden always wears the pajama tops. There's a reason the Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins like to wear white at home.
(no I'm not serious)
It's pretty obvious he's a vampire.
Quote from: Brownie on July 17, 2009, 10:12:07 AM
One theory to be examined would be that Harden always wears the pajama tops. There's a reason the Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins like to wear white at home.
(no I'm not serious)
But why do the Redskins do it?
For the day games Harden just needs use Kaplan's tanning plan prior to taking the mound.
Quote from: Waco Kid on July 17, 2009, 10:27:51 AM
For the day games Harden just needs use Kaplan's tanning plan prior to taking the mound.
Which is what? Rubbing Peanut Satay all over his skin?
Quote from: MAD on July 17, 2009, 10:21:08 AM
Quote from: Brownie on July 17, 2009, 10:12:07 AM
One theory to be examined would be that Harden always wears the pajama tops. There's a reason the Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins like to wear white at home.
(no I'm not serious)
But why do the Redskins do it?
September afternoons in DC are not very chilly. If I remember right, Clyde Simmons once ran afoul of Buddy Ryan, and whatever he did people expected would result in a benching. Instead, Simmons started the opener at RFK vs. the Skins, and played, and played fairly well.
Someone asked Buddy Ryan why he didn't suspend him. Ryan said that he did better than a suspension. It was 90 in DC, about 10 degrees warmer on the field. What punishment is worse than making him play ... every ... down... in those green jerseys?
Interesting stuff on Rich's second pitch (http://www.drivelinemechanics.com/2009/11/9/1122184/slack-things-being-picked-up-the#storyjump):
QuoteHarden is more or less a two-pitch guy now, though he seems to mix in a changeup. His real killer pitch isn't the change, however.
QuoteThe second graph is Mariano Rivera's cutter, a pitch that's I've heard is kind of good. It's lot faster than Harden's slider-thing, but the movement chart just struck me. I'm calling it a slider, though FG calls it a changeup. At any rate, it's a pitch that almost no one else is throwing, which is probably the reason Harden gets so many empty swings on it. Harden's only real problem is that he's been a fly ball pitcher since he cut down to two pitches, and he's been lowering his velocity while still pitching up in the zone. Wrigley Field also did him no favors, contributing to a career-high 15.1% HR/FB in 2009.