MLB Babble

MLB Babble has now moved to the Most Valuable Network. The URL is still the same—http://mlbbabble.com—but I will no longer be posting on this WordPress blog. I have placed this update on all pages in an attempt to redirect visitors to the updated blog. Again, the URL is the same—http://mlbbabble.com. Thanks for reading!

Chicago Cubs fire-baller Rich Harden picked up his seventh win of the year last night, tossing six innings of one-hit, one-run ball, walking none and striking out eight. He threw just 90 pitches, but retired 16 batters in a row.

So, essentially, Harden dominated over a short period of time—six innings. What else is new? This is his modus operandi: He strings five starts of six innings together, goes on the DL with arm pain, comes off, tosses another couple of solid games, and goes back on the DL.

Last year he started 25 games. The year before, 2007, just 4. 2006, 9. 2005, 19. 2004, 31. Woah! This guy is not worth whatever amount you pay him. He was supposed to be a difference maker when the Cubs traded for him last July. And he was… for a little while.

But he got hurt. Again. And, even when he’s not hurt, he doesn’t give you any length. Six innings is not great. It’s good. But it’s not, as MLB.com would like to call it, a gem.

Just put this guy in the bullpen already. He’s been in the majors since 2003. This has been a long enough experiment to determine that he is not physically capable of starting. He has dominant stuff but he is a tremendous liability.

Do what you did with Kerry Wood before you let him go. Put him in the bullpen. Closer Kevin Gregg has a 3.42 ERA and is obviously not the answer. Just as I have admonished the Yankees to do the same with Joba Chamberlain, the Cubs must do so with Harden.

Bottom line: If, for whatever reason, you cannot get it done as a starter, but you have dominant stuff, you get your butt in the ’pen and start the domination in a new, more proper role.