Rich Harden to the Cubs

Posey H8er · Post #61 » by **Posey H8er** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 3:23 am

Will Friday be Harden's first start? It would be 5 days since his previous start, and he can bump Marquis out of his start. Or Marshall can pitch that day since it will be 5 days of rest for him as well, and Harden can pitch on Saturday.

Mighty Mouse · Post #62 » by **Mighty Mouse** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 3:32 am

Just said it on SportsNite. Said he was shocked and excited at the same time. A good situation to be in, Cubs have good talent and they could do something special. Sad to leave all his friends though.

karch34 · Post #63 » by **karch34** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 4:30 am

Great trade. I like Gallagher, but I think Harden even with injuries is more proven. Murton and Patterson while nice players weren't ever going to see much playing time.

Z, Harden, Lilly, and Dempster are a great 1-4. Anything from #5 (hopefully a corrected Rich Hill or Marshall---Marquis will collapse) is cake.

Posey H8er · Post #64 » by **Posey H8er** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 4:35 am

A 2007 Rich Hill coming back would be amazing. Although I do have a man crush on Marshall. Either pitcher is a good option for the 5th spot.

And speaking of good rotations, which would you take, the 2004 rotation of...

Zambrano
Wood
Prior
Maddux
Clement

or this years rotation of...

Zambrano
Harden
Dempster
Lilly
Marshall

I would still have to go with the 2004 rotation, but it kills me to because that team was the definition of an underachieving team.

SportsWorld · Post #65 » by **SportsWorld** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 4:42 am

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3478902
Anatomy Of The Deal

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry checked in from time to time throughout June with Oakland general manager Billy Beane about the availability of Rich Harden, and their conversations traveled down the same path: Yes, Harden was available, but only at the right price, and that price would include right-handed pitcher Sean Gallagher. And Hendry indicated, repeatedly, that Gallagher wasn't available.

On Sunday evening -- the same night when word broke that the Brewers had worked out a deal for CC Sabathia -- Hendry indicated to Beane for the first time that he would make Gallagher available in a Harden deal, but it would create a problem: If Gallagher was traded, the Cubs wouldn't have the kind of depth they needed to deal with an injury.

"Let me call you back," Beane said.

Beane had an idea. He could fill Hendry's need for depth by adding veteran swingman Chad Gaudin in the trade. He phoned Hendry back on Monday night with the suggestion. "That could work," Hendry said, and the two general managers began piecing together other parts of the trade. Beane called Hendry with a detail of the trade very late on Monday night, California time, figuring the call would switch over to voice mail on Hendry's cell phone because it was so late.

But Hendry answered the phone, wide awake. "Jim, what are doing awake?" Beane asked.

"I'm just laying here on my couch," Hendry said.

Some 15 hours later, the trade was finished. Oakland got Gallagher, a pitching prospect with a more stable medical history than Harden, and the Cubs got a high-risk, high-reward talent in Harden.

-- Buster Olney

IbreakNeckZ101 · Post #66 » by **IbreakNeckZ101** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 4:58 am

i guess they really wanted Gallagher.... if he ends up being really good this might bite us in the ass.

CousinOfDeath · Post #67 » by **CousinOfDeath** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 4:59 am

Posey H8er wrote:A 2007 Rich Hill coming back would be amazing. Although I do have a man crush on Marshall. Either pitcher is a good option for the 5th spot.

And speaking of good rotations, which would you take, the 2004 rotation of...

Zambrano
Wood
Prior
Maddux
Clement

or this years rotation of...

Zambrano
Harden
Dempster
Lilly
Marshall

I would still have to go with the 2004 rotation, but it kills me to because that team was the definition of an underachieving team.

Please don't bring that up...

IbreakNeckZ101 · Post #68 » by **IbreakNeckZ101** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 5:38 am

Michael Barrett < Soto
Derrek Lee =
Todd Walker > DeRosa
Aramis Ramirez =
Nomar Garciaparra > Theriot
Moises Alou > Soriano
Corey Patterson < Edmonds, Johnson
Sammy Sosa < Fukudome

I'd pick the 04' lineup over the 08' lineup.. for the simple reasons that moises and walker were clutch

WEFFPIM · Post #69 » by **WEFFPIM** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 5:44 am

Did Hendry get Beane liquored up? What a steal for the Cubs.

And now we turn our eyes to the Cardinals, I guess. Their turn.

Except AJ...he'll just leap to that bandwagon when they pick up Holliday.

SportsWorld · Post #70 » by **SportsWorld** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 5:50 am

WEFFPIM wrote:Except AJ...he'll just leap to that bandwagon when they pick up Holliday.

cubzfanatic120 · Post #71 » by **cubzfanatic120** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 8:54 am

Ruben Douglas wrote:I could care less about Gallagher. The one thing the Cubs have is at least a little depth at pitching in the minors. Basically the Cubs gave up a future #4 or #5 SP, and two players that couldn't even find a spot on the Cubs bench this season.

Considering Harden is a very high risk pitcher, this is a very low risk move for the Cubs.

Sean Gallagher is only 22, he is already a solid #5 starter on most teams but with more experience he could become more than just a regular #4 or #5. But still considering that we kept Sean Marshall and Rich Hill might find the strike zone eventually its an awesome deal.

GO CUBS GO!!!

#1TKfan · Post #72 » by **#1TKfan** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 2:03 pm

im not upset to see the players we gave up go. this is a great deal for the cubs.

harden is on waddle and silvy right now. ESPN 1000

#1TKfan · Post #73 » by **#1TKfan** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 2:12 pm

rich said he feels fine and healthy and looking foward to playing for lou.

when asked are you aware that the cubs havent won in 100 years, he anwered w/, yeah but hopefully we can change that this year.

good answer.

Howling Mad · Post #74 » by **Howling Mad** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 2:16 pm

<img width="150" height="150">http://www.stanfordfbc.org/FBCFiles/Auction2007/Harden-jersey-201.jpg[/img]

Work?

trying to figure out how to post images...

2poor · Post #75 » by **2poor** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 2:21 pm

Rich Harden FTW

:wave:

hermes · Post #76 » by **hermes** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 2:27 pm

i can't believe it

and :lol:

at hendry lying awake on the couch

Howling Mad · Post #77 » by **Howling Mad** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 2:29 pm

2poor wrote:Rich Harden FTW

lol f'n 2poor came back!!!

Gordon Bombay · Post #78 » by **Gordon Bombay** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 2:45 pm

rich harden arrives and that leads to the cubs board becoming whole again...good job rich :rockon:

Neusch23 · Post #79 » by **Neusch23** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 4:28 pm

great move by the Cubbies. Solid one-two punch! I really like the move! It is a good time to be a Cubs fan!

SportsWorld · Post #80 » by **SportsWorld** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 5:35 pm

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball ... 08.article

"The Waddle and Silvy Show" on WMVP-AM (1000) got a hold of new Cubs pitcher Rich Harden this morning. Here's the transcript:

Silvy: Do you know what you're getting into?

Harden: I've heard about it, and I'm pretty excited to be coming to Chicago. I couldn't be more excited.

Waddle: What are your emotions?

Harden: It's a little different. You go through a bunch of emotions. It's my first trade, I've been in this organization since 2001. It's a bit of a change, but I don't think I could be in a better situation to be coming to a team like the Cubs. Everything from the talent they have to potential World Series team, let alone the city, the fans… It's a great place to be playing.

Silvy: When did you know you were going to be traded?

Harden: There's always rumors, there's been rumors the last few years. You can't listen to that stuff, you just kind of put it behind you and go about your business pitching. I heard a bunch when I was in Chicago, there was a bunch of people saying that I was probably going to be with the Cubs within the next couple of days, and you don't really believe that. Until it happens, it's pretty strange. I just found out yesterday, and I still heard it was going to happen by the end of the day, and I still didn't believe it, you know, and it did. I was pretty surprised.

Waddle: How is your shoulder?

Harden: I'm good. It's been something that we've been managing, and I'm not pushing too hard this early in the season. I definitely want to be strong in the second half, and that's my goal; to be with Chicago here, it' s just to be strong for them in the second half and be healthy and be able to make each start every five days.

Silvy: Are you trying to prove your health to yourself?

Harden: Definitely. You know, and that's something I definitely want to work towards and I think the past few years have just been some random things, some bad luck. I mean, there's just been so many things. I'm also kind of figuring out what works for myself, training routines, everything from my daily warmup to my shoulder exercises, treatments, it's just figuring out what works for myself. And I feel like I've got a pretty good program right now, something I'm going to stick with, and I feel pretty good.

SIlvy: How is your shoulder:

Harden: Yeah, it's good. I think it's just been throwing. Most starts, I don't know how many starts in a row I've been throwing, I think I'm just getting a little tired, but it's nothing to be really worried about. It happens. Just like any pitcher, velocity goes up and down. I'm still planning on going out there, and hopefully making every start here.

Waddle: Have you had any welcoming phone calls from new teammates?

Harden: Not yet, but I know a few of those guys over there, so I'm looking forward to that. I'm seeing them today. Ted Lilly and Neil Cotts, I played with him in the minor leagues. It should be good. I've gotten a lot of phone calls and text messages from family and friends. It's crazy.

Silvy: What do you know about Piniella?

Harden: I think it's going to be good. Of course everybody knows about Lou, and I definitely respect a manager like himself. I look forward to going over there and getting a chance to play for him every five days.

Waddle: Are you aware of the Cubs 100 year World Series drought?

Harden: I am. Hopefully, we can change that this year. We've got a team that's definitely got some talent and they've got the talent to do it.