Link

I don’t think it’s happening, but I wonder if Hendry has thought about approaching him about it. In that article, he says he wants to come back. And the article states that the reason the Cubs aren’t thinking about him is because they feel they have enough starting pitching . . . Well if that’s the case, than I think this idea could work.

Again, I don’t have any delusions of grandeur that this will happen. I’m just curious to see what people think of it as an idea.

has been all sorts of discussion that Harden requires the extended warmup of a starter. I’ve also seen comments that his injury issues aren’t pitch count related like Kerry Wood’s are/were, but that Harden needs the days off between use.

With Marmol coming around, not sure Harden as closer makes sense financially.

not sure he has the head (or control) for it. He’s done well down the stretch but I think a lot of the stress has been off due to the Cubs being out of contention. However, I agree that if Hendry believes in Marmol as the closer, than this idea doesn’t make any sense. However, if we’re going to be in the market for a closer anyway, I think it might merit some consideration.

But, if it’s true about him needing extended warm-up, then again, not going to work . . .

w/o a devastating slider . . .

• Harden will sign elsewhere at 4Y/40M
• He will get hurt sometime in late ’10, early ’11
• He will come back as a reliever, ala John Smoltz in ’12
• He will be lights out as a reliever
• Some Cub fans will criticize Jim Hendry for not keeping him.

As a starter, Harden is one of those guys who is just good enough to get you fired.

but with our payroll committments, it just doesn’t make sense to bring him back at around 10M (as a closer or as a starter) when we have Gorzelanny (sp?) and Marshall who can probably provide similar production that Harden did this year.

He needs more rest in between.

His dad told a buddy of mine that Rich is hoping for one more decent contract – he’ll be asking for 4 years, but will settle for 2. I think he’ll get a Brad Penny kind of deal. Low risk, possible reward for the team that signs him.

…but I guess not. I say NO for four reasons:

1) I understand that, to remain healthy, Harden needs plenty of time between appearances. That wouldn’t work too well for a closer – especially if he went out one game and had one of his patented 30-pitch innings due to maddening amounts of fly balls (and the odd walk or two).

2) Ask yourself why we don’t like Kevin Gregg this season. Here’s a two-word hint: HOME RUNS. Well, Rich had the same problem this year, remember? He’s a three-true-outcome pitcher: Ks, BBs, HRs. As a closer, the Ks would obviously be great – the walks and home runs? Not so much.

3) Even though he had a relatively mediocre year, Harden still has far too much value as a starter to go the closer route just yet. Oh, and despite all the injury concerns, he proved he could go 26 starts this season – something very few would’ve predicted going in.

4) I’ve heard Lou interviewed several times of late and he’s spoken quite glowingly of Carlos Marmol as closer. I think he – and the organzation – have essentially settled on Carlos for that role and aren’t going to (re-)sign a free agent such as Harden to be the closer. They have other things to worry about.

I should have posted that it was considered and dismissed due to concerns about his ability to throw on consecutive days and Harden’s own desire to be a starter.

I don’t want to see him in a Brewers uniform next year.

The guy deserves another 1 year deal / arb to prove his worth.

BIG mistake to let him go. I’m not sold on Randy Wells or Gorz yet.

All come with big question marks. Harden, with stuff as good as anyone in the game but who is brittle, Wells who showed great potential but who has also struggled the last month or so, and Gorzelanny who has some injuries and some inconsistency despite being a very solid pitcher in his short stint in a Cubs’ uniform. Bottom line, Harden under contract for one more year would be worth the risk.

Marmol is your closer now, and unless you want to seriously mess with the head of one of your most sensitive players, there is just no way you would make a move like this.

This would be like taking the Tonight Show away from Conan after only a couple months and giving it to Alec Baldwin.