Good News From Fitch Park

by Al on Mar 25, 2009 6:47 PM CDT in News Comment 49 comments

MESA, Arizona -- Stop worrying, everyone.

Rich Harden threw 63 pitches (42 strikes) in throwing four effortless scoreless innings against a team of A's minor leaguers at Fitch Park this afternoon, in front of a crowd of around 100 family members, curious onlookers, beat reporters and other Cubs minor leaguers who stuck around from their earlier workouts and games to see a member of the Cubs' major league rotation.

Harden looked like he was just playing catch in throwing many pitches in the low 90's. All the outs were either strikeouts or fly balls -- typical Harden, who is a fly ball pitcher. He struck out four (two of them being ex-Cub Eric Patterson), including one on a nice breaking pitch for a called third strike, and allowed only three singles. He looks to be on target for resuming major league action; I would expect that he'd be slated to start Monday against the Royals at Surprise, which would also probably put him in the mix for starting one of the games at Yankee Stadium.

The video above gives you a good idea of how easily he was throwing, effortlessly and with absolutely no sign of shoulder trouble. The illness he had earlier this month was likely some sort of food poisoning, which can sap your strength, so the Cubs were smart to keep him out for a while. He appears ready to resume his place in the rotation. Here's a sequence of still photos showing his motion:

Various Cub minor leaguers who were just cut (and others) played in this game, including Jason Dubois, Doug Deeds, Richie Robnett, and Luis Rivas, who was performing this drill with a bat standing on end while in the on-deck circle:

Click on photos to open larger versions in new browser windows. All photos and video by Al

I didn't stay for the rest of the game after Harden was taken out; others who were on that team included Welington Castillo and Rocky Roquet (it was a bit jarring to see him walking by me, wearing the blue "alt" jersey with his name and #34 on the back). Today's catcher was Koyie Hill (who you can see in the photo of Rivas, at bat; Hill batted in every inning to get some extra work in), the Cubs wanting to have one of the guys who might wind up catching Harden during the season, catch him today. Tomorrow night at Scottsdale, Sean Marshall will face the Giants' Barry Zito. According to Bruce Miles, Kosuke Fukudome will take batting practice tomorrow and return to the lineup on Friday, hitting second.

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Worst game recap ever...

you didn’t even tell us the final score or who won.

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 25, 2009 6:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Do you really care?

It was 0-0 when I left.

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

by Al on Mar 25, 2009 6:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

WHAT!?

This is the website that hosted a fake game with a team that is dead, and had hundreds and hundreds of posts. OF COURSE we care about the #473 meaningless spring training game!

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

by dtpollitt on Mar 25, 2009 8:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe you guys need another fake game on an off day, then.

:-)

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

by Al on Mar 25, 2009 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

wait.

there was a fake game that you guys posted on? oh man, have i found the worst possible website to read and comment on.

There's nothing wrong with this team that more pitching, more fielding and more hitting couldn't help......"--Bill Buckner

by laidbackliam on Mar 25, 2009 9:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I giggle like a school girl every time I read this thread. Nearly 900 posts for a fake game.

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2008/8/7/588783/offday-game-thread-cubs-vs

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

by dtpollitt on Mar 25, 2009 10:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Okay, I'm gonna end up re-reading this entire thing...again.

I love this quote:

you have this entire game, bat by bat, planned already don’t you?

by digitalbenjamin on Aug 7, 2008 2:35 PM CDT

I’m only relaying what the wireless is saying.

by santoswoodenlegs on Aug 7, 2008 2:36 PM CDT

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

by dtpollitt on Mar 25, 2009 10:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

this is hilarious

making my night

There's nothing wrong with this team that more pitching, more fielding and more hitting couldn't help......"--Bill Buckner

by laidbackliam on Mar 25, 2009 10:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was pretty fun

by chitownhawkeye on Mar 26, 2009 9:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But Al...

we’re Cubs fans.

Worrying is all we know how to do.

Unless there’s a six-pack near by. Then we know how to do two things.

Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field? - Jim Bouton

by Beaushek on Mar 25, 2009 6:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

and after about four of those...

…you better know how to do a third thing.

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

by ballhawk on Mar 25, 2009 8:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought this headline from mlb.com was funny

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 25, 2009 6:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That's almost Letterman material

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Mar 25, 2009 6:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or Leno? I can't remember who does what anymore. I only watch Connan.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Mar 25, 2009 6:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

isn't he a barbarian?

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

by ballhawk on Mar 25, 2009 8:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Leno does headlines

They’re almost always funny.

Letterman’s a doofus.

by northernsails on Mar 26, 2009 3:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or

by CubFan81 on Mar 25, 2009 8:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow that headline really is awful.

The shortest distance between two points is under construction.

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Mar 25, 2009 9:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am surprised it got approved by the editors

Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 25, 2009 9:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Something tells me the editor was behind it. (No pun intended.)

"That little kid at second base - he is after a job, isn't he?" ~ Lou Piniella, 3/9/09

by dat cubfan daver on Mar 26, 2009 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It would've been funnier if it was:

White Sox checking out Contreras, Colon

And even funnier if they’d mistakenly left out the comma:

White Sox checking out Contreras Colon

And even funnier still if they’d mistakenly left out the comman and inserted (ooh, ouch) a possessive apostrophe:

White Sox checking out Contreras’ Colon

See, folks, this is how I’ve ended up with almost 20,000 comments.

"That little kid at second base - he is after a job, isn't he?" ~ Lou Piniella, 3/9/09

by dat cubfan daver on Mar 26, 2009 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

as long as it is not

Ozzie “I am riding Contreras Colon to the promise land”

Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 26, 2009 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ted Lilly

Threw a simulated game today.

"Check the magic of a winning season and there are always reasons beyond the talent." Ned Colleti

by wrigleyrocker12 on Mar 25, 2009 7:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Actually...

… Lilly’s simulated game was yesterday. Lilly is on target to start Sunday vs. Cleveland.

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

by Al on Mar 25, 2009 7:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sooo

Im guessing Koyie Hill has the backup job? If they wanted him to catch.

by tizzle on Mar 25, 2009 7:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Or...

… he just wanted to get extra work in. Or maybe he does have the job.

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

by Al on Mar 25, 2009 7:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i figured they’d put #34 on hold for awhile

i don’t think they will retire it, but i thought they wouldn’t use the number for some time.

There's nothing wrong with this team that more pitching, more fielding and more hitting couldn't help......"--Bill Buckner

by laidbackliam on Mar 25, 2009 7:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, of course...

… that’s not a major league #34, but still, it looked weird.

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

by Al on Mar 25, 2009 7:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

still

there are a lot of numbers other than that.

agree with you on the weird part.

(must remember, i before, except after c, and in the word weird.)

There's nothing wrong with this team that more pitching, more fielding and more hitting couldn't help......"--Bill Buckner

by laidbackliam on Mar 25, 2009 9:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

worry, heck most Cubbie Blues are worse than grandmothers

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Mar 25, 2009 8:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

"That little kid at second base - he is after a job, isn't he?" ~ Lou Piniella, 3/9/09

by dat cubfan daver on Mar 26, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll feel even better once Harden goes out again in 5 days

And shows the same good stuff against major league hitters

www.talkingchicagobaseball.blogspot.com

by nji232 on Mar 25, 2009 8:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

We’ll find out on Monday.

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

by Al on Mar 25, 2009 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm curious to see how Harden feels tomorrow

after throwing today.

The shortest distance between two points is under construction.

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Mar 25, 2009 9:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll bet his arm will be fine.

But he’s still trying to get his stomach to feel better after the food poisoning.

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

by Al on Mar 25, 2009 11:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yea

this morning the Trib said he lost 7 pounds from it. Just good to hear he was able to get some solid work in.

by AGC on Mar 26, 2009 7:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

glad harden looked good today, lets hope he can keep it up

Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 25, 2009 9:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

TWSS

"That little kid at second base - he is after a job, isn't he?" ~ Lou Piniella, 3/9/09

by dat cubfan daver on Mar 26, 2009 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

my bet is

that at least 3k of your 20k ish posts are twss.

way to keep it strong buddy.

There's nothing wrong with this team that more pitching, more fielding and more hitting couldn't help......"--Bill Buckner

by laidbackliam on Mar 26, 2009 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

TWSS's are the carbohydrates of any good BCBers diet.

"That little kid at second base - he is after a job, isn't he?" ~ Lou Piniella, 3/9/09

by dat cubfan daver on Mar 26, 2009 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

http://www.hiyoooo.com/

I haz blurg: hotbeans.wordpress.com

by digitalbenjamin on Mar 27, 2009 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Harden

gets us 22-25 starts, go 13-4, All will be good.

"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"

by Grockcubs on Mar 25, 2009 10:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

by digitalbenjamin on Mar 26, 2009 10:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 26, 2009 11:48 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That is

good news on Harden. I just hope he can stay healthy.

by sue369 on Mar 26, 2009 1:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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