Results tagged ‘ rich harden ’

The Cubs’ Dilemma, Plus What The Blue Jays Should Do With Alex Rios

After this season, one of the Cubs’ top starting pitchers, Rich Harden becomes a free agent.  Harden is one of many pitchers who show an ability to dominate when healthy, but due to injury concerns, cannot go 6, 7 innings consistently.  Harden was superb in 2008 for the Cubs, going 5-1 with a 1.77 ERA, and a 0.97 WHIP in 12 starts after being acquired at the trade deadline, however, injury concerns caused him to throw only 71 innings for Chicago,  not quite 6 innings per start.

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Harden has had an up-and-down 2009, complete with HR struggles, and back issues.  Through 19 starts this year, Harden is 7-7 with a 4.41 ERA, and a 1.35 WHIP.  His high ERA and WHIP are products of a high BABIP, and a regression from a low BABIP in 2008.  Despite his struggles, Harden has shown almost identical strikeout and walk rates in 2008 and 2009.

With all the injuries the Cubs have had this year, and the fact that Harden has dominated in his combined full season with the Cubs, it is necessary that the Cubs re-sign Harden as he hits free agency.  However, with Harden’s injury history, the Cubs, or any team for that matter, should commit to a deal longer than two-years.  The optimal deal would be a 2-year $12-16 million contract, but who knows what Harden will demand, or receive with all his potential.  The Cubs do not have a player who could step in take over Harden’s rotation spot, which is why they must re-sign him this offseason.

  • Alex Rios and the Blue Jays

Alex Rios

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Temperental bust, awarded a 7-year/$70 million, heavily backloaded contract, based on one good year.  Rios has shown that his ceiling is only a 20/20 player.  He’ll lose part of that speed over time, for sure.  If the Blue Jays hang onto him, which seemed to be their only choice because of his contract, they would eventually be paying 12.5 million dollars for a solely above-average, hitter and an average fielder.  But now the unthinkable has happened.  A MLB team, likely the White Sox, has claimed Rios on waivers.  The Blue Jays now have ’till 1:30 ET tomorrow to trade Rios to the claiming team, or let him go to the claiming team for nothing.  This is a golden opportunity for the Jays to shed payroll, they should just let Rios go.  Why any team would want Rios is just puzzling.  Once again, a golden opportunity to let Rios walk away.

A Pair Of Dramas

  • Who Says The Cubs Offense Is Dormant

The Chicago Cubs are back.  Well, not completely.  But a offense that had been scoring about two runs a game coming back in the final two innings from huge deficits to win 6-5, and 8-7, certainly shows life.  Yesterday against the Indians, Cubs starter Rich Harden struggled through five innings, giving up 7 runs.  The Cubs offense managed to chip away a pair of runs of Cleveland ace Cliff Lee, who went seven innings.  But in the eight inning, the Cubs came back, scoring four runs off relievers Joe Smith, Rafael Perez, and Matt Herges.  The innings’ key hit came when injury replacement number eight hitter Andres Blanco, hitting just .220, drove a two-out, two-run base hit, going into the 9th, the Cubs were down 7-6, but that quickly changed when Derrek Lee blasted a one-out solo homerun, his second of the game to tie the score.  Kevin Gregg kept the game tied in the top of the tenth, then Ryan Theriot drove a bad-hop single that scored Alfonso Soriano for the teams second straight walk-off win.

  • Tom Glavine won’t play again in ’09, may retire

Tom Glavine will not retire.  He is too big-headed to realize so quickly that no team wants him any more.  Glavine must realize that this not the 90′s any more.

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He has been injured, he has pitched ineffectively, he is 42.  He is done, he had a great career, I wish him success in any future endeavors, but just retire already!!!!!!!

Back to .500 Again

Why are the Cubs tanking again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


One week it’s the hitting, the next it’s the starting pitching, and now it’s the bullpen!!!!!!!  Poor Randy Wells, the journeyman minor league pitches 6 2/3 innings of no-hit ball, yet the bullpen can’t hold a 4-run lead for two innings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  First Carlos Marmol gives up a pair of runs in the eighth, fine 2-run lead for Kevin Gregg.  Two outs, and Gregg implodes again!!!!!!!!!!!  Game tying two-run shot by Jeff Francoeur, and Atlanta wins in the 12th.  The Cubs may only be 4 games out of first, but with Zambrano suspended, Harden injured, and nothing functioning, can this season get any worse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Day in Baseball History

1888-Ernest L Thayer’s poem Casey at the Bat appears in the San Francisco Examiner.

1932-In Philadelphia, Lou Gehrig becomes the first player in the twenieth century to hit four home runs in one game and barely misses a fifth as the Yankees hammer out a major league record for total bases with 50 against the A’s.

1932-Citing poor health, the Giants announce the resignation of long time skipper, John McGraw; in his thirty-two year tenure, the fiery manager won three World Series and nine National League flags including a record four consecutive pennants.Citing poor health, the Giants announce the resignation of long time skipper, John McGraw; in his thirty-two year tenure, the fiery manager won three World Series and nine National League flags including a record four consecutive pennants.

1978-Phillies’ Davey Johnson becomes the first major leaguer to pinch-hit two grand slams in one season. His ninth inning bases-loaded shot beats the Dodgers, 5-1.

1980-The Mets select 18-year old Darryl Strawberry as the #1 pick in the June draft.

1989-It takes 22 innings and seven hours and 14-minutes for the Astros to beat the Dodgers, 5-4 making it the longest game in National League history.

1995-Expo hurler Pedro Martinez hurls nine perfect innings against Padres before giving up a double to Bip Roberts in the bottom of tenth after Montreal had taken the lead. Mel Rojas saves the 1-0 gem.

2001-Manny Ramirez’s 491-foot, fifth deck home run is the longest home run ever hit in the history of the SkyDome. The Red Sox DH’s moon shot eclipses A’s first baseman Mark McGwire’s record established in 1996.

2003-Slugger Sammy Sosa is ejected from the game during the first inning after he shatters his bat and the broken remains exposes cork. The Cub outfielder will be suspended by major league baseball for 8 games (will be reduced to 7) his offense.
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