Cubs get HARDEN

[witchdoctor]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Oh Scuds.......

From Buster Olneys blog yesterday...
. On paper, the Cubs' rotation is deep and formidable. But as the season begins, they have to be very concerned about what Rich Harden will contribute. Pitching against the Yankees on Saturday, Harden's fastball was consistently clocked in the range of 85 to 89 mph -- touching 90 mph only a few times -- but you really didn't need the radar gun to tell you that he is not close to being the same pitcher who dominated in the first five months of last season.

When Harden was at his best last year, opposing hitters often looked as though they were swinging in the dark, overwhelmed by his fastball, confused by his changeup. But on Saturday, the Yankees' hitters were completely at ease at the plate against him, leaning into their swings, driving the ball. Mark Teixeira hit a home run in the third inning; then in the fifth, he got ahead 3-0 in the count and just sat on a fastball -- clocked on the radar at 86 mph -- and clubbed it into the second deck. Consider this: In Harden's first 13 starts in 2008, for Oakland, he allowed a total of five homers. On Saturday, he surrendered four against the Yankees, and he has allowed seven in his last 11 innings.


and




CUBS RELEASE GAUDIN (4:35 p.m. ET)
The Cubs have released right-hander Chad Gaudin

The reliever was acquired from Oakland in the trade that brought Rich Harden to Chicago in July.

The Cubs also optioned right-hander Jeff Samardzija to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday.

Gaudin went 9-5 with a 4.40 ERA in 50 outings with the Athletics and Cubs. He was 4-2 with a 6.26 ERA in 24 relief appearances for Chicago.

The 26-year-old has also pitched for Tampa Bay and Toronto. He has a 28-25 career record with a 4.45 ERA.


Guess that trade doesnt look so bad afterall does it? Harden cant even hit 90 on the radar gun and Gaudin couldnt even make the team. Think the Cubs will get any takers for Harden if they tried to trade him now?

Gauden probably could be the number 2 starter for the Astros this year.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

7, 6, 5, and 3 ......That's the amount of earned runs Harden gave up in July, August, September, and October. If your a team that hasn't won a World Series in 80 years(and had seemingly terrific offense of your own,) then I think it was more than worth the price (for Harden.) It took a hell of a performance from Kuroda to beat his effort. He battled us hard that night. Who would of pitched that game for the Cubs(if they didn't make that trade?) In Chuck's World, who would of pitched that game, and kept the Cubs within a couple runs of winning that game? Based on the Cubs offense, he was exactly what they needed( a low era pitcher making 13 starts with a good offensive team.) Whatever else happens has no bearing on the value of that trade. The value of that trade was getting 13 starts from him (an a era of about 2) when they were trying to get an elusive ring. He has already made that trade a quality trade. Maybe you can't see it, but I doubt you had the same goals that the team in question (Cubs ) had. This ain't fantasy bullshit. This was about trying to get a ring. I understood it. You never did. That's probably because you knew the Cubs were going to choke (no matter what,) but from their point of view, the trade is already paid for. Not only that, but the A's tanked after this trade. That's something you(of course) don't ever factor in, because your a fan of that pimp running that sickness called the Athletics (it's a fkn pimp's nest.) The fact you even bring this up shows you have an inability to see the trade is already a success for the Cubs. He did what they needed to get a ring. The other 2 starters? They battle in the post? The hitters battle in the post? I was at the 3rd game of the Cubs Dodgers Series. It wasn't easy. He battled us. If they'd of hit for him, he'd of had a ring (just like junk pitcher HAMELS GOT ONE.)

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER

7, 6, 5, and 3 ......That's the amount of earned runs Harden gave up in July, August, September, and October. If your a team that hasn't won a World Series in 80 years(and had seemingly terrific offense of your own,) then I think it was more than worth the price (for Harden.) It took a hell of a performance from Kuroda to beat his effort. He battled us hard that night. Who would of pitched that game for the Cubs(if they didn't make that trade?) In Chuck's World, who would of pitched that game, and kept the Cubs within a couple runs of winning that game? Based on the Cubs offense, he was exactly what they needed( a low era pitcher making 13 starts with a good offensive team.) Whatever else happens has no bearing on the value of that trade. The value of that trade was getting 13 starts from him (an a era of about 2) when they were trying to get an elusive ring. He has already made that trade a quality trade. Maybe you can't see it, but I doubt you had the same goals that the team in question (Cubs ) had. This ain't fantasy bullshit. This was about trying to get a ring. I understood it. You never did. That's probably because you knew the Cubs were going to choke (no matter what,) but from their point of view, the trade is already paid for. Not only that, but the A's tanked after this trade. That's something you(of course) don't ever factor in, because your a fan of that pimp running that sickness called the Athletics (it's a fkn pimp's nest.) The fact you even bring this up shows you have an inability to see the trade is already a success for the Cubs. He did what they needed to get a ring. The other 2 starters? They battle in the post? The hitters battle in the post? I was at the 3rd game of the Cubs Dodgers Series. It wasn't easy. He battled us. If they'd of hit for him, he'd of had a ring (just like junk pitcher HAMELS GOT ONE.)

this isnt fantasy baseball....EXACTLY!!! You said it was a bad trade for the A's and it is absolutely not. And you dont get a ring for winning the Central Division.

The A's dont have to pay him $7 million this year, if he is hurting and doesnt pitch well or enough he wont be a type A free agent and would have walked for nothing and they could sign deadwood Gaudin for ML min if they choose. They werent winning anything anyways last year and picked up some decent prospects while saving money.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

this isnt fantasy baseball....EXACTLY!!! You said it was a bad trade for the A's and it is absolutely not. And you dont get a ring for winning the Central Division.

The A's dont have to pay him $7 million this year, if he is hurting and doesnt pitch well or enough he wont be a type A free agent and would have walked for nothing and they could sign deadwood Gaudin for ML min if they choose. They werent winning anything anyways last year and picked up some decent prospects while saving money.

Ain't gunna win anything this year either. FK THEM GREEN N' YELLOW HORNET-LOOKING SCABS. They always got prospects, cuz they never want to pay anything. Of course they've got prospects. They're always saving money .They have to, cuz there are fkn tarps on massive banks of their seats. Easy to collect prospects when you have no intention of ever making a serious effort to get a ring.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by witchdoctor

Gauden probably could be the number 2 starter for the Astros this year.

Scuds could be the number 3