09/25 CUBS (Harden) @ NY Mets (Martinez) 6:10pm CDT, CSN+

[UMFan83]

All I'm saying is that this isn't the same pitcher we saw in July. Whether its by design or not, this is true. He might be fine pitching to contact like he's apparently doing, but he's not going to be the same dominating pitcher we thought we got when we traded for him.

 

People always talk about the Cubs having the "secret sauce" for playoff success. We need Rich Harden to be throwing 93-94 and striking people out. Otherwise, our rotation looks a lot more shaky.

[Brian]

In April, if I thought that we'd be arguing on 9-25-08 about:

(1) Harden's velocity and effectiveness

(2) Whether or not Hoffpauir or Ward should be taken onto the playoff roster

 

... I'd be a very, very happy man. These are good days.

 

All in the day after win #96.

[17 Seconds]

And now we can't fall back on his number to say he's pitching well.

 

I didn't like that argument to begin with, but that inning shouldn't really change anything. It's not like he was getting hammered. He walked a couple of guys (which he's going to do no matter how healthy he is) and then gave up one hit.

[mikeyt34]

If you were a hard-throwing pitcher with an injury history pitching in a meaningless game where you will be needed for the playoffs, would you be going balls to the wall or would you instead relax a bit and try not to strain yourself?

 

BINGO!!!

[17 Seconds]

All I'm saying is that this isn't the same pitcher we saw in July. Whether its by design or not, this is true. He might be fine pitching to contact like he's apparently doing, but he's not going to be the same dominating pitcher we thought we got when we traded for him.

 

People always talk about the Cubs having the "secret sauce" for playoff success. We need Rich Harden to be throwing 93-94 and striking people out. Otherwise, our rotation looks a lot more shaky.

 

But still much better than any other NL team's rotation.

[UMFan83]

All I'm saying is that this isn't the same pitcher we saw in July. Whether its by design or not, this is true. He might be fine pitching to contact like he's apparently doing, but he's not going to be the same dominating pitcher we thought we got when we traded for him.

 

People always talk about the Cubs having the "secret sauce" for playoff success. We need Rich Harden to be throwing 93-94 and striking people out. Otherwise, our rotation looks a lot more shaky.

 

But still much better than any other NL team's rotation.

 

Agreed. But then you factor in the fact that we have no idea which Z we are getting...

[David]

All I'm saying is that this isn't the same pitcher we saw in July. Whether its by design or not, this is true. He might be fine pitching to contact like he's apparently doing, but he's not going to be the same dominating pitcher we thought we got when we traded for him.

 

People always talk about the Cubs having the "secret sauce" for playoff success. We need Rich Harden to be throwing 93-94 and striking people out. Otherwise, our rotation looks a lot more shaky.

 

 

According to the reports, Harden wasn't the same pitcher right when he got him (in July).

 

This is Rich Harden. His velocity varies from start to start. He's generally very good either way.

[UMFan83]

Twins up 1-0 in the 1st

[17 Seconds]

All I'm saying is that this isn't the same pitcher we saw in July. Whether its by design or not, this is true. He might be fine pitching to contact like he's apparently doing, but he's not going to be the same dominating pitcher we thought we got when we traded for him.

 

People always talk about the Cubs having the "secret sauce" for playoff success. We need Rich Harden to be throwing 93-94 and striking people out. Otherwise, our rotation looks a lot more shaky.

 

But still much better than any other NL team's rotation.

 

Agreed. But then you factor in the fact that we have no idea which Z we are getting...

 

I'm actually not that concerned with Z. His stuff looked really good last night, the ump just got in his head. I think he's going to prove that he is a big game pitcher.

[UMFan83]

All I'm saying is that this isn't the same pitcher we saw in July. Whether its by design or not, this is true. He might be fine pitching to contact like he's apparently doing, but he's not going to be the same dominating pitcher we thought we got when we traded for him.

 

People always talk about the Cubs having the "secret sauce" for playoff success. We need Rich Harden to be throwing 93-94 and striking people out. Otherwise, our rotation looks a lot more shaky.

 

 

According to the reports, Harden wasn't the same pitcher right when he got him (in July).

 

This is Rich Harden. His velocity varies from start to start. He's generally very good either way.

 

Really? I've never heard that his velocity varies from start to start...

[BigSlick]

Gotta say, not too happy with the way our 2 best pitchers have pitched lately

 

I would just pull Harden out right now and throw him in a hyperbaric rest chamber and shoot him to the moon

 

then call him back for the playoffs

[gflore34]

What is disturbing is that Martinez, a shell of his former self, has managed 7 K's yet, a supposedly healthy Harden doesn't have one.

[Ski]

Twins up 1-0 in the 1st

Go Twins! =D> \:D/

[UMFan83]

All I'm saying is that this isn't the same pitcher we saw in July. Whether its by design or not, this is true. He might be fine pitching to contact like he's apparently doing, but he's not going to be the same dominating pitcher we thought we got when we traded for him.

 

People always talk about the Cubs having the "secret sauce" for playoff success. We need Rich Harden to be throwing 93-94 and striking people out. Otherwise, our rotation looks a lot more shaky.

 

But still much better than any other NL team's rotation.

 

Agreed. But then you factor in the fact that we have no idea which Z we are getting...

 

I'm actually not that concerned with Z. His stuff looked really good last night, the ump just got in his head. I think he's going to prove that he is a big game pitcher.

 

I guess I should have watched the game then. All I saw were the results, and the reports that his arm slot was again dropping.

[David]

All I'm saying is that this isn't the same pitcher we saw in July. Whether its by design or not, this is true. He might be fine pitching to contact like he's apparently doing, but he's not going to be the same dominating pitcher we thought we got when we traded for him.

 

People always talk about the Cubs having the "secret sauce" for playoff success. We need Rich Harden to be throwing 93-94 and striking people out. Otherwise, our rotation looks a lot more shaky.

 

 

According to the reports, Harden wasn't the same pitcher right when he got him (in July).

 

This is Rich Harden. His velocity varies from start to start. He's generally very good either way.

 

Really? I've never heard that his velocity varies from start to start...

 

Huh? It's pretty much been the case all year. From his start against the White Sox (for the A's), to every 2-3 starts with us where people have flipped out about his fastball being at 88-90 (from which it gradually increases to 91-92).

 

I was one of them the first 1 or 2 times. Not gonna bother anymore.

[17 Seconds]

All I'm saying is that this isn't the same pitcher we saw in July. Whether its by design or not, this is true. He might be fine pitching to contact like he's apparently doing, but he's not going to be the same dominating pitcher we thought we got when we traded for him.

 

People always talk about the Cubs having the "secret sauce" for playoff success. We need Rich Harden to be throwing 93-94 and striking people out. Otherwise, our rotation looks a lot more shaky.

 

 

According to the reports, Harden wasn't the same pitcher right when he got him (in July).

 

This is Rich Harden. His velocity varies from start to start. He's generally very good either way.

 

Really? I've never heard that his velocity varies from start to start...

 

No, he's right. I've heard that several times from several places.... including Rich himself. He's a weird specimen

[UMFan83]

All I'm saying is that this isn't the same pitcher we saw in July. Whether its by design or not, this is true. He might be fine pitching to contact like he's apparently doing, but he's not going to be the same dominating pitcher we thought we got when we traded for him.

 

People always talk about the Cubs having the "secret sauce" for playoff success. We need Rich Harden to be throwing 93-94 and striking people out. Otherwise, our rotation looks a lot more shaky.

 

 

According to the reports, Harden wasn't the same pitcher right when he got him (in July).

 

This is Rich Harden. His velocity varies from start to start. He's generally very good either way.

 

Really? I've never heard that his velocity varies from start to start...

 

No, he's right. I've heard that several times from several places.... including Rich himself. He's a weird specimen

 

Can he control it? Or does he just wake up one day unable to throw 90?

[Ski]

I would love to see the Twins make the postseason; it would mean I could possibly go to some Twins postseason games. Maybe a Twins-Cubs WS?

[bearjuice]

Rich's velocity is down because he's trying to keep it under covers - aka Rich-in-a-box.

 

http://www.kottke.org/plus/misc/images/ikea-dick-in-the-box-0.gif

Sponsored by Ikea ...

 

---

 

It's going to be okay (I hope).

[UMFan83]

A strikeout!

[mikeyt34]

Is it just me or does it seem like there are a lot of empty seats at Shea tonight. I'm sure the attendance will be paid attendance, but I think there were a lot of no shows.

[David]

Also, remember that Harden's career high in K's is like 11, which he did a few times with us, IIRC. It's not like he's always been a strikeout machine. Look at his K/IP from his first couple years. He's actually K'ing more guys this year with a more limited repertoire.

[David]

92 on that pitch

[splintersag]

http://www.classicmedia.tv/assets/circles/richierich.gif

 

Go Harden!

[David]

94 on ball four