Rich Harden hurt

by sheamcmurray on Jan 18, 2009 11:36 AM CST Comment 90 comments

Ugh... The Sun-Times is reporting that Harden has a small tear in his shoulder and is "not even close to throwing off a mound yet."

This clearly is not good for our pitching staff and should probably get Hendry & Co on the horn about signing another starter. Lets just hope that Harden doesn't have to take the surgery route and can pitch effectively for us for the entire season. I'm sure Al will have more on this later.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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And so it begins

Here we go again, hopefully this year is the last we have to deal with this junk.

Let the Blaine Gabbert era begin.

by nji232 on Jan 18, 2009 11:39 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Not good news at all. sigh.

"Truth does not do as much good in the world as the semblance of truth does evil," - Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Maxims, 64.

by Emelie on Jan 18, 2009 11:44 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

that didn't take long

he was worth the gamble last year, but as i said at the time i would’ve wagered my entire life savings that Sean Gallagher won more games in an A’s uniform than Harden did in a Cubs uniform

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jan 18, 2009 11:52 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'm confused.

How did he hurt his shoulder if he hasn’t thrown yet?

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Jan 18, 2009 11:54 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

the shoulder has been injured

for a while likely

remember all the dips in velocity and loss in command last year and all the “extra” rest. He was likely pitching through this small tear

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jan 18, 2009 12:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

and he waits until NOW to do something about it?

…something smells fishy here.

"Just win tonight" - derv

by derv on Jan 18, 2009 3:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No, he's not waiting till "now".

He’s been working out all winter, from what I understand.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 18, 2009 3:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

by BLou on Jan 18, 2009 3:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I understand the frustration, though

it seems that players often put of treatment or surgeries. For example, as Al reported, Zambrano is going to undergo lasik eye surgery soon. Because my wife is having the surgery today, I’ve learned that a small minority of patiens take a few weeks to months to fully recover—-why didn’t Zambrano have this done in the first few weeks of the off-season?

by TC Cubby on Jan 19, 2009 8:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

When you say "small minority"...

… you are talking about fewer than 1%, so the risk that Z is taking is miniscule.

I had LASIK ten years ago. Full recovery was less than 48 hours, and I have had NO complications.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 19, 2009 8:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Raise your hand if

you are suprised…………..that’s what I thought.

by sue369 on Jan 18, 2009 11:59 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

This was based on a comment that Rothschild made yesterday

He said it at the convention in a very matter-of-fact way. I didn’t think a second thought about it until I read the Sun Times article…

Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08 Coffee Table Debut: 7/17/08 (http://www.wearecubsfans.com)

by Fuk-U-Meter on Jan 18, 2009 12:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

This is NOT news. This is typical Wittenmyer playing fast & loose with facts trying to stir up trouble.

Harden had this “tear” (which is another word for a muscle strain) when the Cubs exercised his option and it was announced at that time. He is doing a rigorous workout program and is expected to be ready for spring training.

I would NOT worry about this.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 18, 2009 12:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Kerry

Isn’t Kerry technically living with a tear or something of the sort Al?

Barbara V. October 14, 1941 - December 19, 2008. A great lady who was a friend to all and like a second mom to her children's friends (she was my best friend's mom)

by cubstoseriesby100 on Jan 18, 2009 12:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

actually...

… don;t blame Wittenmeyer. He’s reporting the news. Moreover, the poster is just posting a short snippet of an article that goes on to say that Harden is expected to be on schedule, is in a new conditioning program, and his arm feels as good, if not better, than when he joined the Cubs.

by dmlichte on Jan 18, 2009 12:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly.

Wittenmyer, however, made more of a deal out of the tear than on the rest of the news.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 18, 2009 12:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

disagree

there are two paragraphs on the tear, followed up by 7 paragraphs about his throwing program and how he’s expected to be fine. The tear is news… I’m not sure how else you’d expect it to be reported.

by dmlichte on Jan 18, 2009 12:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The tear isn't news.

As I said, it was reported at the time the Cubs exercised his option.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 18, 2009 12:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

but it remains news

I’m follow Cubs news pretty closely and had never read about the tear (or strain or whatever). I have to assume that much of the 95% of Cub fandom, who doesn’t follow the team as closely as I do also didn’t read that. Clearly other people here didn’t read it.

In doing a story about Harden, it is pertinant info that Harden has (albeit slight) some type of tear. I think your criticisms towards the reporter are WAY off base. He did a story of some length on the matter and the vast majority of it was focused on Harden being on track and his overall arm health being quite good.

by dmlichte on Jan 18, 2009 12:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Obviously, it was written in such a way...

… that the person who posted this got concerned.

I’ll search BCB and see if I can find the posts that contain the links mentioning Harden’s tear.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 18, 2009 1:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't take too long...

… Here’s the post from October 8 where Harden’s shoulder problem was discussed at length.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 18, 2009 1:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

How did I miss that thread?

"Just win tonight" - derv

by derv on Jan 18, 2009 3:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

… it was shortly after the playoff exit. Maybe you were too depressed to hang out here.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 18, 2009 3:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

BCB posters getting concerned about something...

… and blowing it out of proportion… imagine the surprise. Be annoyed with a poster who poached one segment of an article and blatantly ignored the rest.

And I’m not saying that the tear didn’t come up. I’m not saying it wasn’t discussed. I’m saying that I didn’t read about it and I tend to keep up on Cubs news fairly religiously. Lots of Cub fans didn’t know of this. The fact is, though, when doing a story on Harden’s arm health, I think it would have been poor journalism to not mention the arm tear.

by dmlichte on Jan 18, 2009 2:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I dont think

I was blowing anything out of proportion, just reporting the story that Wittmeyer reported. I actually first saw the story on rotoworld and it made it sound like they were exploring surgery and that I didn’t know a tear was the same thing as the strain which was reported earlier.

Way to assume that I “blatantly” ignored the rest of the article.

Aramis Ramirez- NL MVP
Kosuke Fukudome- NL ROY
Carlos Marmol- Rolaids Relief Man

by sheamcmurray on Jan 18, 2009 5:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

you didn't report the story

You reported two paragraphs. You portray that Harden is hurt and thus necessitates that the Cubs need another starter. The story that Wittenmeyer wrote said that Harden has this tear but that he is on track to start the season on time, that he’s on a new routine and his arm is as strong as ever.

If you not see how your portrayal of Wittenmeyer’s story is inaccurate than there’s not much I can do to help.

by dmlichte on Jan 19, 2009 12:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

tear = muscle strain???

Since when? Do you mean in general those words are synonymous or just in this case when describing Rich’s injury?

by DrakeCub on Jan 18, 2009 12:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

A muscle strain IS a tear.

I will leave it to those who know more about these things to explain it better than I can.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 18, 2009 12:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

From wikipedia (if you trust them at all)

A strain is an injury to a muscle in which the muscle fibers tear as a result of overstretching. Strains are also colloquially known as pulled muscles. The equivalent injury to a ligament is a sprain.

by daeviant on Jan 19, 2009 9:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That said

I don’t know if a tear is necessarily a strain. But a strain is definitely a tear. I should ask my mom or my sister. They’re nurses.

by daeviant on Jan 19, 2009 9:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

A strain is a subset of tears...

It is a minor tear. If you completely rip the muscle apart (i.e., no fiber connecting at all), you wouldn’t call it a strain. It’d just be a tear.

by SouthernCub on Jan 19, 2009 9:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

The majority of major league pitchers live with arms, shoulders and elbows that aren’t in pristine medical condition. The good Lord didn’t mean for human beings to throw baseballs with their left or right arms for a living. This isn’t news anyway. Rich Harden is the closest thing we have to an ace and I’m grateful he is member of the Cubs.

by BLou on Jan 18, 2009 1:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

you can't be an ACE

if you can’t throw more than 150 innings….

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jan 18, 2009 2:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll guess...

…about 30% of major league starters are pitching with a partial tear in their rotator cuff, and 90% of them, don’t know it.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Jan 18, 2009 8:41 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs

Rec'd

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 19, 2009 4:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

When did all the Harden hating begin?

I don’t understand Cubs fans sometimes.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Jan 18, 2009 12:13 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

I think it is more typical Cub luck that folks are hating on.

"Just win tonight" - derv

by derv on Jan 18, 2009 3:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's worse...

it’s like they are happy to be right.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Jan 19, 2009 8:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Great

Towel drills can’t be far behind.

by Mike Vails Evil Twin on Jan 18, 2009 12:13 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Hardens numbers are just simply mind boggling from last year

If he is healthy he will win the cy young

"I played with one of the best pitchers in history, Greg Maddux," Zambrano said"

by fischisgod on Jan 18, 2009 12:20 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

not with lincicome in the same league.

"Just win tonight" - derv

by derv on Jan 18, 2009 3:09 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

If Harden is healthy, he's better than Lincecum

It’s just that he’s never been healthy a whole season.

The Cubs will also be a better team than the Giants so that gives our starters a headstart on the W category.

The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.

by DGU on Jan 18, 2009 6:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, I think therein lies the reason...

…Lincecum will always be better than Harden. Thanks to his distinctive mechanics, Tiny Tim could pitch 200+ innings for the next 10 years and continue to put up All-Star numbers. Meanwhile, Rich will likely always be handled like fine china and never even get close to Lincecum’s playing time.

That’s not to take anything away from Harden – he’s got killer stuff and I’m glad the Cubs have him. But I think Tim Linceum could revolutionize major league pitching as we know it. He was interviewed on MLB Network recently and they brought him out to Studio 42 (which resembles an actual playing field) and broke down his mechanics. The way he generates torque to take pressure off his shoulder could keep him healthy far, far longer than most of today’s pitchers. I dunno…maybe I’m just buying a bill of goods, but he intrigues me to no end.

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 19, 2009 10:56 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's possible he's figured something out

to improve his chances of longevity, but I remember a certain former Trojan who supposedly had flawless mechanics, and we’re all too aware of how that turned out. I’m not saying one equals the other, but as was stated succintly above:

The good Lord didn’t mean for human beings to throw baseballs with their left or right arms for a living.

"They say we live and learn. Often what we learn is what damn fools we have been." ~Thomas Sowell

by Goodie1969 on Jan 19, 2009 6:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

that same Trojan

got smaller once the Steroid scandals came out, and IMO he was on something. Remember his Popeye calves going away after the steroid testing started? I ahve no proof of him using ANYTHING, it is just 100% opinion

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 19, 2009 9:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Flawless mechanics

Yeah I remember him being touted that way too, geez inverted W and all — what were those guys thinking. Hell what was I thinking.

by StevenABQ on Jan 20, 2009 9:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That quote perfectly describes why Lincecum will succeed...

…where that certain former Trojan didn’t. Because, figuratively speaking, Tiny Tim doesn’t throw with his arm – he throws with his body and his arm is only “along for the ride.” Again, this is assuming Lincecum’s (or, more accurately, Lincecum’s father’s) mechanics truly are as sound as he believes them to be and won’t lead to other complications. For now, I’m buying.

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 20, 2009 10:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1 for the butchering of "Lincecum"

Well done, sir.

Dan

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Jan 18, 2009 8:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I put some Lincicome on a papercut last week.

Healed it right up. Great stuff.

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 19, 2009 10:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

huh - that's weird... i read some Linicome a few years ago and I got a papercut.

not to mention a headache…

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Jan 19, 2009 12:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"Lincicome"... d'oh!

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Jan 19, 2009 12:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Jan 18, 2009 3:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Son of a Bitch

why did you have to post this!?

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Jan 18, 2009 12:31 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

But yeah,,,

Cubs don’t need Peay rollseyes

SORIANO! YESSSSSSSS! JIMBO!!!

by CubFaninCA on Jan 18, 2009 12:45 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Who's Peay?

by sue369 on Jan 18, 2009 3:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

hee!

"Truth does not do as much good in the world as the semblance of truth does evil," - Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Maxims, 64.

by Emelie on Jan 18, 2009 5:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Austin Peay?

I hear he plays a little basketball every now and then. Hope that doesn’t upset any Illini fans… ;-)

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Jan 18, 2009 7:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think I

know now. ;-)

by sue369 on Jan 18, 2009 8:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought we just traded Peay to Baltimore.

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 18, 2009 6:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought we just traded Peay to Baltimore.

That’s what I thought, too. Tradeded Peay to get another part for Peavy.

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

So, are you a Raw Power man, or a Funhouse dude? For me, the first elpee with erstwhile Cubs’ theme song “1969” has no peer.

"Who's Bob Brenly? The guy that used to be the manager for Arizona?" ~ Alfonso Guilleard Soriano

by JohnM on Jan 19, 2009 5:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I gotta give it to "Fun House."

No matter how many times I’ve heard it, I still get chills when that opening lick of “T.V Eye” comes on … and then Iggy’s primal scream…I’m not sure there’s a finer first five to 10 seconds of pure rock ’n roll ever recorded.

The first record is cool, too. Yeah, “1969” could certainly apply to the Cubs. “No Fun” pretty much sums up the off season, and “I Wanna Be Your Dog” Cubs fandom in general at times.

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 19, 2009 10:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Fun House

is awesome but you gotta be in the mood – it’s intense. I like it simple, so the first record does it for me, especially with all those Cubs-related themes.

Mind you, the third record has its moments too — specifically, the intro to “Search and Destroy”, which I would propose as Marmol’s closer entrance music if they actually did that sort of thing at Wrigley.

"Who's Bob Brenly? The guy that used to be the manager for Arizona?" ~ Alfonso Guilleard Soriano

by JohnM on Jan 19, 2009 10:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That would be sweet.

Did you check out “The Weirdness”? It obviously doesn’t rise to the level of their classic stuff, but it has its moments. I was glad Ron got to play with the band one last time.

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 19, 2009 10:59 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No

I heard one cut on the radio or the net and it was OK, but I read a very negative album review and that made me forget about it.

Talk about “weirdness”, though: I was too young to see bands like the Stooges and the New York Dolls on their first go-round, but now my kids (older teenagers) have see them both in recent years on the festival circuit — which I am now pretty much too old for.

"Who's Bob Brenly? The guy that used to be the manager for Arizona?" ~ Alfonso Guilleard Soriano

by JohnM on Jan 19, 2009 11:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

HEYYYY GUYS!

he isn’t even hurt. bunch of ledge jumpers.

by aramis on Jan 18, 2009 1:20 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

Haha no shit

This site has become very negative lately.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Jan 18, 2009 4:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

woooo-ooh
Is Harden there
woooo-oooh!
Living with a tear
We’re waiting in the bleachers with care
oooo-oooh!
Living with a tear
Harden’s got a tear…

[MASSIVE GUITAR SOLO!]

CLEVELAND, WE LOVE YOU!

"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella

by drewishdrewid on Jan 18, 2009 1:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Bored, drew?

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Jan 18, 2009 8:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Slow day, huh?

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Jan 18, 2009 10:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This issue has been known about

This isn’t news. Cubs were well aware of the issue in 2008 and still felt confident enough in doling out a contract for 2009. So long as Harden can deliver 22 or so starts I’m happy

by BLou on Jan 18, 2009 1:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

exactly. the ledge jumping around this place is ridiculous.

by aramis on Jan 18, 2009 2:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Is it wrong to be annoyed by this same stuff happening over and over again?

We just went through all of this junk.

Let the Blaine Gabbert era begin.

by nji232 on Jan 18, 2009 2:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

But all teams have injuries

pretty much every year. Aint never gonna stop.

"Who's Bob Brenly? The guy that used to be the manager for Arizona?" ~ Alfonso Guilleard Soriano

by JohnM on Jan 18, 2009 3:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nothing happened!

The tear was reported months ago, before they exercised the option. He’ll be ready.

by aramis on Jan 18, 2009 3:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Just went through it with whom?

Prior’s been gone for a couple years and Wood has been fine (and he’s obviously no longer our problem anyway).

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 18, 2009 6:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Cubs fans. Sheesh.

We sound more like Red Sox fans nowadays when it comes to stuff like this, as if we are just WAITING for something to happen and then cry about how the outrages of life are our lot.

Criminy, people. Let’s go back to the glass being half full instead of half empty, will ya??

Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!

by cubnational on Jan 18, 2009 3:19 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

AMEN!

Ever since 2003, the new breed of whiny, pessimistic cubs fans is taking over. It sounds exactly like Red Sox fans and makes me sick. Tom Arnold once said the difference between Cubs fans and Red Sox fans is that with a week left and up by 7 games, Sox fans are thinking “we’re going to blow this”, while Cubs fans out by 7 with 7 games left are thinking “hey we’ve still got a chance”. This attitude is waning fast.

For some reason people think being optimistic is a sign of weakness for this team, that or they’ve just been spoiled with winning seasons and forgot why they root for the Cubs in the first place. I don’t know the quote but Billy Murray said something about this that was dead on.

by northpaw22k on Jan 18, 2009 3:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No doubt

People (particularly on BCB) love to be the guy who says “I told you so” when things go wrong.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Jan 18, 2009 4:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

But has he walked out of any autograph signing sessions or referred to himself as an “employee”?

by salparadise23 on Jan 18, 2009 4:26 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Doesn't matter, right?

Garrett Olsen is the new starter we’ve been waiting for…I’m afraid to start the Pie Trade post by itself…I think we’ll deeply regret Gathright over Pie…

100 years would have been nice, but 101 years still has a nice ring to it.

by airweino on Jan 18, 2009 4:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

You don't have to start the Pie post by yourself.

Check the top of the rec list.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 18, 2009 5:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm a day late...

thanks!

100 years would have been nice, but 101 years still has a nice ring to it.

by airweino on Jan 18, 2009 6:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

My only suggestion to everyone is...

…read the article carefully before posting.

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 18, 2009 6:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Come on now

Proper internet culture requires users to bitch first, then maybe read the article.

by dr stabbingworth on Jan 19, 2009 8:10 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Regardless of the status of Harden's arm

Good for Hendry for adding to the pitching depth of the Cubs. Olsen provides protection in the event of injury (which may or may not have occurred), and with Pie out of options, and this “possible” news, the Pie-Olsen trade only looks better.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Jan 18, 2009 8:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Any of you

Trust the medical reports that we see/hear publically from the Cubs, and the players?

I think I have heard this once before, where a pitcher for the Cubs had a minor problem that was leaked into the papers as nothing major. He was rehabbing it, and was right on schedule. It was nothing to get excited about, no reason to worry. He would be just fine by ST.

Last I checked that same pitcher just recently signed a minor league contract with SD.

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 19, 2009 9:42 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Kinda an unfair compaison, no?

We at least got some production out of Harden last season, and its not as though he is slated to be stuck in Mesa for an indefinate period “rehabbing”. I understand if your a little discouraged when you hear Cubs (pitchers especially) with injuries reported — but this really is old hat. If I were you I wouldn’t beat myself up over it, or jump on the train to negative-town…there will be plenty of time for that once the season starts.

by StevenABQ on Jan 20, 2009 9:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs