There have been many articles written about the deal that brought Rich Harden to the Cubs. Much of that has centered around Harden's injury history. Since he was dealt to the Cubs, comparisons to Mark Prior are inevitable, and flying around like seagulls over Navy Pier.
And since the deal went down the day after CC Sabathia was added to the Milwaukee roster, there are plenty of pitching staff comparisons.
Sabathia and Zambrano are legitimate staff aces. Both are work horse types with long and distinguished resumes.
Harden has shown flashes of brilliance when healthy, and for 13 games this year has been very impressive. His injury history is well documented and a real concern.
What I haven't heard much about is the Brewers' Ben Sheets. He is having a wonderful season, and will be an All-Star.
But, not much is mentioned about his injury history. Granted, he hasn't shown signs of injury at all this year, but his past is also sketchy.
By my calculations, Sheets has missed around 33 starts over the last three years.
Last year, when the team was attempting to make a stretch run, Sheets was little help. He made just six second half starts, going 2-1 with a 5.68 ERA. Overall, he made 17 starts--the same number he made in 2006. He missed around eight starts in 2007.
His past is not as spotted as Harden, who has missed around 50 starts the past two years, but he's no sure thing. The most innings Sheets has thrown in the last three years is 156. So far this year he's at 117.
Picking Harden up was a risky move that could be the makings of another Cubs curse scenario. It could also give them a pitcher that could put them over the hump.
The Brewers could make the same claim about Sabathia. but for them to find out they'll need Sheets to have his first full season in four years.
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3 months ago
Nice article! It should be very interesting if these two meet in the playoffs!
3 months ago
Michael, THANK YOU for pointing this obvious point out! Everyone keeps judging Harden so harshly because of his injury history, yet Ben Sheets is almost a replica of him.
Who in your opinion is more dominating when fully healthy? Harden or Sheets?
from 3 months ago
That's a very hard thing to distinguish, especially this year because both pitchers have been great. However, I've watched all of Harden's starts but none of Sheets'. Harden's stuff is unmatched when he has his mid-90's fastball. He seemed to mostly struggle in the middle innings, fourth or fifth. But, his ability to strike out hitters and dominate good line-ups gives Harden the edge.
from 2 months ago
I hope you're kidding. Sheets has at least as much "ability to strike out hitterse and dominate good line-ups", which you wouuldn't know by not watching his starts. Plus he's an innings eater, with 17 career complete games (4 this year) vs. 2 (0 this year).
3 months ago
"not much is mentioned about his injury history" ...are you kidding? Every discussion of the Brewers' chances, from April onward, is prefaced with the comment "If Ben Sheets stays healthy..." He's had a variety of injuries and everyone is acutely aware of this.
But Sheets' and his injury history have been around awhile. He hasn't had a fully healthy season since is best year, 2004.
The reason Hardin's injury history is being brought up is (1) its even worse than Sheets' injury history, since most of Sheets' issues have been non-shoulder/elbow related (hamstrings; ear problems; back muscle), whereas Hardin's got a perennially bum flipper; and (2) since Hardin and CC were acquired within hours of each other, its logical to compare the two newest NL Central pitchers, in in that regard, there's no comparison: Hardin's been hurt frequently and CC is a workhorse.
from 3 months ago
Nope, not kidding. I was referring to BR articles and the ones I read, nothing was mentioned about Sheets. Which 'every discussion' are you referring to? Mostly, I saw comments like Sabathia gives the Brewers two top starters, but Harden is just taking on an injury risk. Just didn't want everyone to forget Sheets has concerns too.
3 months ago
How / why would anyone "forget" Sheets has been oft-injured? It defines his careers, and is the primary reason he probably won't get re-signed by the Brewers after this season. This was a given, a fact, before this season. The discussions on this site (and others) around Hardin's injuries are really about Hardin vs. Sabathia in terms of their respective durability. And in that regard there's no comparison. "Sabathia gives the Brewers two top starters, but Harden is just taking on an injury risk". How is that not true? That statement is about the two acquisitions. Yeah Sheets gets hurts but so does Kerry Wood - yet neither is really relevant to a discussion about the Cubs' and Brewers' recent key moves. Let's stay on topic and not let every discussion drift into "yeah, welll what about..." territory.
from 3 months ago
Ok, Harden is better than Sabathia.
3 months ago
Sure he is. So Hendry would turn down a straight up Sabathia for Harden trade? I hope you were just kidding.
from 3 months ago
No, but those two weren't moved for each other, so why bring up a deal involving them?
3 months ago
Well, at least you spelled Harden right this time.
3 months ago
But seriously, you have a legit point about the "yeah, well what about," territory that articles drift to. But that's what people do. If not, why is anyone comparing Harden to Prior, which I saw in a few articles? That's not really relevant, as you mentioned, this is about Harden vs. Sabathia. I was attempting to "respond" to articles I read on BR that discussed what the pick-ups did for each team's pitching staffs. In that, I attempted to bring a different angle to the discussion. If I failed to do that or went out of the realm of acceptable comparisons, so be it. But, other members of BR responded well and liked the angle I took. Is there a constructive improvement suggestion you can make about how the article could have broached the subject?
3 months ago
At least I didn't spell it Hardon. Forgive me, w/o Spell Check I am lost.
I am not here to offer coaching. I just commented on how bringing up Sheets in a discussion of the Sabathia and Harden acquisitions was a bit tangential. No big deal.
You saw today Sabathia proved what hs is all about: 112 pitches through 8, he comes out in the 9th and KKK's the side. Then a walk off in the 9th, Crew wins. This is the essensce of CC. Bulldog, horse, whatever you want to call it. Winner is the best word you can use.
Actually when you think about it, Sabathia and Zambrano are a lot a like (bulldogs), and Sheets and Harden are a lot alike (greatness without the ability to stay healthy).
Looking forward to a great 2nd Half. A Cubs-Brewers NLCS is my dream.
from 3 months ago
Yeah, I saw in your profile you moved the 80 miles or whatever down the road.
But you also see Harden dominating just as much and how his employers hold him back. You'll always have people who prefer Sabathia's work horse ability, but others who like Harden's dominance through K's more. I'd take the work horse.
I think both teams got what they needed in their deals. Crew needed an innings guy and Cubs needed that shut down potential.
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