7/12 - Giants (Corriea) @ Cubs (Harden) 12:05, CSN TV

[rawaction]

So was Harden's velocity back up today or what? I haven't gotten a chance to watch the game yet.

 

He punched it up to 96, 97, 98 a few times, but it was his disgusting changeup that did the most damage. Ive seen him pitch a handful of times, but I apparently didn't pay enough attention, because that is a filthy pitch.

 

Harden sat at 91, 92 for most of the game, but dialed it up when he went up in the zone. I have a feeling that his changeup being so untouchable allows him to not have to bring it 98 every time he throws a fastball. Since he still has the ability to ramp it up to 98 whenever he wants, though, it makes that pitch even more unhittable. A 98mph fastball will begin to look not as impressive after 90 pitches, but when you can run between 91-98 and then toss in an 81mph change that sweeps all the way across the plate, youve got a hell of a repetoire.

 

Seriously, 5 1/3 innings and its easy to tell why this guy is undefeated in his career when his team scores 4 runs in a game.

 

either len or bob mentioned that his fastball had a bigger range of velocities than most pitchers. like watching galllagher last night, almost all of his pitches were in the 92-94 range. i saw some fastballs from harden that were around 90-92, and then a few he dialed up into the 95-98 range. that's unusual.

 

Really. As a batter, what do you do? Just guess? I mean, youre looking at a 20mph differential in three pitches that look exactly the same coming out of his hand. Could be 80, could be 91, could be 98 and you dont know until youve swung the bat.

 

He struck out somebody swinging late on an 88 mph fastball. That's nuts. I haven't seen Harden pitch a lot, but man is his arm explosive.

[CubInOK]

Derosa and Theriot looked so awkward on the celebration right after Derosa scored. They both went to slap hands and instead kind of went into an accidental hug.

 

Don't judge post-win bromancing.

 

Not to OMC this thread, but a friend of mine drilled a buzzer-beating game-winner in OT over our arch rival on their home court from about 10 feet outside of his range and my first reaction was to run over to him and punch him in the face. Why? I don't know!

Who's your friend?

[Sammy Sofa]

Derosa and Theriot looked so awkward on the celebration right after Derosa scored. They both went to slap hands and instead kind of went into an accidental hug.

 

Don't judge post-win bromancing.

 

Not to OMC this thread, but a friend of mine drilled a buzzer-beating game-winner in OT over our arch rival on their home court from about 10 feet outside of his range and my first reaction was to run over to him and punch him in the face. Why? I don't know!

Who's your friend?

 

http://www.contemporarycork.com/shoreacres/kevin.jpg

[CubinNY]

 

He struck out somebody swinging late on an 88 mph fastball. That's nuts. I haven't seen Harden pitch a lot, but man is his arm explosive.

Hopefully it doesn't explode.

[CubsGM]

Derosa and Theriot looked so awkward on the celebration right after Derosa scored. They both went to slap hands and instead kind of went into an accidental hug.

 

Don't judge post-win bromancing.

 

Not to OMC this thread, but a friend of mine drilled a buzzer-beating game-winner in OT over our arch rival on their home court from about 10 feet outside of his range and my first reaction was to run over to him and punch him in the face. Why? I don't know!

Who's your friend?

http://www.frontrowking.com/Concert_Tickets/Pics/dane_cook1200416533temp.jpg

[Omar]

http://www.fangraphs.com/lgraphs/280712116_Giants_Cubs_92434243_lbig.png

[FergieJ31]

http://www.fangraphs.com/lgraphs/280712116_Giants_Cubs_92434243_lbig.png

 

Phew.

 

Reminds me of the game vs Colorado last year, after Howry blew a big lead and nearly got jumped by an idiot.

[Omar]

Phew.

 

Reminds me of the game vs Colorado last year, after Howry blew a big lead and nearly got jumped by an idiot.

 

Except in that game, The Rockies took the lead.

[Andy]

Am I the only one that gets way to much of a kick out of Plesac's 'Big Blue Train' shtick?

How long has he been doing that? It looks exactly like something me and my friends invented independent of Plesac while at Wrigley a few weeks ago.

[Vinestal]

Usually when something goes wrong in a game like today I eat alot of icecream it helps me to forget... Today I was so sick to my stomach I couldnt even eat icecream. If there is such a thing as a dissapointing win this was it. I still feel a little sick.

[Schwarber Fan]

Does this look normal to anyone yet?

 

http://assets.espn.go.com/media/apphoto/e598f295-1b06-416a-a848-c0ee1404406a.jpg

[Schwarber Fan]

Usually when something goes wrong in a game like today I eat alot of icecream it helps me to forget... Today I was so sick to my stomach I couldnt even eat icecream. If there is such a thing as a dissapointing win this was it. I still feel a little sick.

 

You gotta be kidding me.

 

If the Cubs win, I'm happy, and so should you be. It doesn't matter how. If they have a 99 run lead in the 9th and give up 98 runs and still win, I'm happy.

[BigSlick]

I'm glad I went to work and missed most of the 5 run lead blowing by Marmol

 

You gotta take him out after it becomes 7-5, jesus

 

Oh well ,we win, and Marmol gets some much needed rest. I hope this is the last straw for Lou and he starts using Marmol less, but not Mike-Wuertz-less.

 

This is 8000000x better than the loss when Wood was pitching against the Cardinals, so theres that.

[17 Seconds]

I hope this is the last straw for Lou and he starts using Marmol less

 

The problem is that the possibility of fatigue or overuse being the culprit for Marmol's struggles seemingly hasn't even crossed Lou's mind. Marmol struggling? Let's give him more work!

[RedFlash]

I hope this is the last straw for Lou and he starts using Marmol less

 

The problem is that the possibility of fatigue or overuse being the culprit for Marmol's struggles seemingly hasn't even crossed Lou's mind. Marmol struggling? Let's give him more work!

 

So the question is.....to get Lou to trust his other arms in the pen, should Hendry put Marmol on the DL?

[Guest]

"I had a lot of people tell me this was going to be a good experience, and it was," said Harden, who earned a no-decision after the Giants rallied to tie the game with 5 runs in the ninth inning. "I really didn't know what to expect coming in. I wanted to treat it like any other start. I had a lot of adrenaline going in the first couple of innings."

 

...

 

"Harden pitched really, really well," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella. "He did a nice job. It's a shame he didn't get the win."

 

The fan reaction caught Harden a bit off-guard.

 

"It was a pretty cool feeling," he said. "I've never had anything like that pitching in Oakland."

 

Cubs catcher Geovany Soto said Harden was amazing.

 

"Wow," said Soto, who walked, singled and scored twice during Harden's tenure on the mound. "He's a smart kid. We were working together in the first and second innings, and then all of the sudden, we clicked. He came out and everyone was cheering for him. He put on a great show. Everything was going good and I'm really happy to see that.

 

"He was all we were hoping for and more."

 

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=220633