S***
''His arm action's good; he's throwing free and easy...He's not close to throwing off a mound yet. There's some issues
there, no question.''
No, not a reprint of a 2005 article or 2004 article or 2006 article, but rather Larry Rotschild talking about Rich Harden at the Cubs Convention on Saturday. Don't worry though, the Cubs have the spin ready.
Cubs insiders say Harden is right on schedule toward a strong, on-time
and well-conditioned start to spring training and the season.
Of course they believe that...but what about this?
But sources also confirmed Saturday that Harden has a tear in the
joint, just severe enough that some players might seek surgery but
slight enough to be in a range often treated effectively with a
strengthening program, therapy and a well- managed work schedule.
A tear you say, never had any problems with one of those.
That's more than the Cubs let on last fall, even after the
revelation that Harden had a cortisone shot for ''rotator tendinitis.''But Harden has been working six days a week this offseason on a
program that might be the most rigorous of any Cub -- and the first of
his career to focus this strongly on his shoulder, team officials say.
In fact, the team estimates his shoulder is stronger now than it was
when he joined the team in July and started piling up 97 mph scoreless
innings.
Other things the Cubs have estimated over the years: Sosa would never become a problem with the team and will be beloved by all fans, Kerry Wood and Mark Prior would pitch full seasons in 2006 and 2005, and that they'd win a World Series sometime within the last 100 years.
''I'm on a set program, and I'm not behind at all,'' Harden said.
''I'm right on schedule and feeling great. I'll be ready for the start
of the season for sure. There's no doubt in my mind. Nobody has any
doubts whether I'll be ready or not. I will.''If anything, that might have been the confusion with Rothschild's
comments -- that Harden isn't ready to throw from a mound by design.
He's on a deliberate throwing program to ease him up to pitching
condition by the end of an extra-long 2009 spring training.
They tried that shit with Mark Prior.
it didn't work.
Anyone have Kevin Towers phone number?
Dr. Hecht's medical take is below.
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Comments
stay classy, Kerry
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 11:03am Permalink
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090118&c...
2 full page ads today thanking the Cubs and their fans...
He Said, She Said
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 11:04am Permalink
On Saturday, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said Wood's agents wanted
a three-year deal and significant salary. Hendry said Wood was on the
disabled list for 62 percent of the Cubs games over the last four years
and that last season's blister problem "was one of the strangest
injuries of all time."
Hendry said he didn't feel the length of contract that Wood's agents
were seeking was fair to the team and disputed Wood's contention that
he would've stayed for a one-year deal.
Crane Kenney
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 11:08am Permalink
"That's one of the dumber things we've done, right?" Kenney said. "In my six years of decisions, that's probably maybe (No.) 2 or 3 in the dumb things that we've done."
yup
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=265292
Re: Crane Kenney
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 11:36am Permalink
what was No.1?
Re: Crane Kenney
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 11:38am Permalink
that time he killed a hooker in Vegas, but he can't talk about that...
Re: Crane Kenney
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 12:02pm Permalink
He didn't kill the hooker. The hooker killed Kenney.
You bastard!
Rich Hill - Sayonara
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 11:12am Permalink
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs...
Hendry was blunt about Hill's status, saying: "He had a shot, and he lost it."
Re: Rich Hill - Sayonara
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 11:45am Permalink
Like he wasn't trying to sell quite low enough.
Re: Rich Hill - Sayonara
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 11:56am Permalink
I suggested Rich Hill, Felix Pie and a few other parts for Johan last offseason and being laughed at that it was too much. At the time, it would have been a better package than they got from the Mets. Who's laughing now? Who's laughing now?
I kid...but yeah, I look forward to our new minor league scrubs from these deals.
Re: S***
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 11:50am Permalink
Rich Hill to Baltimore for one of Andy's old red sweater-vests?
Re: S***
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 11:51am Permalink
Barrett's in Toronto (hint, hint)...
Re: S***
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 12:30pm Permalink
I'm not sure anybody currently in the organization can squeeze into McPhail's size. Not Hendry, not Lou, not Randy Bush. Maybe Oneri? Tim Wilken?
An early Valentine's Day gift from Jimbo?
Re: S***
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 12:50pm Permalink
this is TCR...what's with all the fuckin' ***'s
Re: S***
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 3:11pm Permalink
I try to keep the profanity out of the titles
Re: S***
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 11:41pm Permalink
Those of us who keep the TCR RSS feed active at work thank you.
That fucking injury to fucking Harden has me fucking pissed btw.
Re: S***
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 1:22pm Permalink
Rosenthal reporting Cubs traded Felix Pie to Baltimore for Garret Olson...
Re: S***
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 1:26pm Permalink
Interesting, when I googled (or Yahoo!ed, rather) 'Garret Olsen', this is the first result:
http://comment.mlblogs.com/search?tag=Garret+Olsen...
*sigh*...
Re: S***
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 1:36pm Permalink
Sucks. I guess Jim and Lou really think Gathright will be better. I'm not so sure. At least we got something of value for him though, which wouldn't have happened had we waited till March.
Re: S***
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 1:46pm Permalink
This is like a two years younger Rich Hill, no?
Let's see what Jimbo gets for Rich Hill and Cedeno. Anyone else think they should hang onto Cedeno or try to get a utility infielder back in one of the deals? Who's behind Miles at SS? What happens if we lose a middle infielder to injury? Andres Blanco?
Honestly, though, how many outfielders does the team need? Soriano, Fukudome, Bradley, Johnson, Hoffpauir (LF, emergency RF), and Fuld in AAA, plus this Brad Snyder dude. Joey Gathright really needs to be on the 40 man roster? Doesn't Fuld bring the same skill set, except mostly better?
Re: S***
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 7:00pm Permalink
What can the Cubs possibly get for Hill? He's working on a full big league season and one winter league stint of almost complete control of any pitch. Going back through his entire minor league career he's had to be "motivated" at various points to regain his control, and while up until 2007 it looked like he was headed in the right direction, what team is going to trade for him with an eye toward putting him on the 40-man?
The only thing that's going to provide him with another opportunity from anyone is that he's left handed. The Cubs will be lucky to get a single A player in return.
Re: S***
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 7:19pm Permalink
If that's the case, why not carry Hill as the second lefty in the pen and send Olson to Iowa to rack up some innings? You don't have to use the second lefty much unless he's effective, and you can always give Hill away later, or release him. Hill's really only ever had the two pitches anyway--maybe he'd make a good loogy. If it turns out he's injured, they can put him on the DL and not lose him that way. If you can't get anything of value for him, then any of these options make more sense, I think. Why sell so low when it doesn't take all that much creativity to buy time? Sure, Hill could lose more value through continued struggles, but what do you really lose in that case as opposed to now? A nondescript A-ball player?
Re: S***
on Mon, 01/19/2009 - 8:56am Permalink
Because he can't find the plate.....?
Remember his starts with the Cubs last year. In the last 2 I believe Lou couldn't finagle him past the 2nd inning. How can he pitch either long or short when he can't throw strikes?
A guy with the yips really has no value. The only value that Hill has at this point is to a team that would have the patience and time to try to work his kinks out. The Cubs have neither, and I don't think any other contender is going to take any kind of flyer on him for more than a fringe prospect.
Re: S***
on Mon, 01/19/2009 - 8:51pm Permalink
I'm pretty sure the Pirates have room for someone like him.
Re: S***
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 1:36pm Permalink
See ya later Pie, one of the most over-rated prospects in recent years. Learn how to hit a curveball and call me.
Re: S***
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 1:42pm Permalink
Kerry Wood says "Thanks" to Cub fans
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=txwoodfarewe...
More Rumors
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 1:55pm Permalink
Other rumors have the Cubs taking a look at Kris Benson (while I take another look at Anna Benson) and the Orioles are supposedly not going to extend Brian Roberts, but are also likely not going to trade him.
I don't want to get the whole Brian Roberts rumor mill stirred up again (or maybe I do), but why wouldn't the Orioles want to trade Brian Roberts. Unless they choose to decide the AL East by listing the teams alphabetically, Baltimore will not be contending for a division title or wildcard birth. That is pretty much a foregone conclusion (isn't it?). So why not trade Roberts for some prospects that will help the Orioles in the future. Baltimore can finish 4th or 5th in the division either with Roberts or without him.
Re: More Rumors
on Tue, 01/20/2009 - 7:51am Permalink
Had to google Anna Benson...too bad Moderate Safe Search is on at school, or i could only imagine.
Re: S***
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 2:00pm Permalink
also, the cubs get another player in the Pie deal...
The Cubs have reached agreement with the Orioles on a deal that will send Pie to Baltimore for left-hander Garrett Olson and Class A right-hander Henry Williamson, according to major-league sources.
article speculates that Olson will be 2nd lefty (after Cotts) in the pen, freeing up Marshall for the 5th starter position.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9097924/Sources...
Re: S***
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 2:05pm Permalink
the Baltimore Sun link
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-or...
Williamson went 0-1 with 42 strikeouts and a 3.72 ERA in 29 1/3 innings with Single-A Aberdeen and Delmarva in 2008.
(42K's in 29 IP, sounds promising)
Re: S***
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 2:07pm Permalink
more stats on Williamson:
http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?p...
another tall pitcher: 6'5", 225. Righty.
but I wonder why only 29 innings?
Re: S***
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 2:19pm Permalink
Cubs should start worrying about starting pitching for this season.
You can't count on Harden.
So that leaves you Dempster,Lilly and half blind and sore shoulder Z.
No wonder Hendry was trying to deal for Peavey.
Re: S***
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 2:21pm Permalink
is there any truth behind that comment about olson being flipped in the peavy package?
Re: S***
on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 3:08pm Permalink
When rich harden comes off the DL it will be like making a trade!
Re: S***
on Mon, 01/19/2009 - 12:08am Permalink
I thought at the time of the trade there was an article somewhere about the A's training staff re working Harden's workout to get him away from throwing off the mound, because he was a power pitcher it wasnt as vital as it it would for a finese pitcher.