Wait...the Cubs got somebody else in the Rich Harden deal? OK...who the hell is he? How did a person manage to fit himself inside Harden's luggage when he flew into Chicago?
The last question may be a bit of a stretch.
During the week of Jul. 7-13, the week leading up to the All-Star break, all the talk revolved around pitchers Rich Harden and CC Sabathia. You know the story: The Milwaukee Brewers pulled the first move, snatching Sabathia on Jul. 7 from the Cleveland Indians; the Cubs then immediately countered by picking up Harden from the Oakland Athletics on Jul. 8.
That's right, the very next day. Twenty-three days before the Jul. 31 trade deadline. Every time you heard Harden's name mentioned, it was inevitably followed by the letters "CC." Harden was talked of as the answer, the man who could offset Sabathia and the potential damage he and the Brewers would inflict upon the Cubs in the NL Central race.
The Cubs gave up four players - pitcher Sean Gallagher, outfielder Matt Murton, OF/2B Eric Patterson, and minor league catcher Josh Donaldson—in exchange for Harden and Chad Gaudin (pronounced "go-dan").
You've already seen what Harden is capable of, if he stays healthy, in just six starts in a Cubs uniform: 35 IP, seven ER, 52 K. Considering he has thrown only 72 innings combined over the previous two seasons, this is a BIG if. Leave it to Cubs GM Jim Hendry to demand a quality insurance plan (Gaudin) on such a valuable, yet fragile, commodity.
In addition to simply being a potential replacement to Harden should the injury bug come back, Gaudin will provide the Cubs with a strong, versatile presence in the bullpen.
A guy that can pitch in either long, middle, or late relief, Gaudin has already been asked to come in to many different situations in his first month on his new ballclub. Whether it's been close leads, tie games, extra innings, blowouts, Gaudin has proven effective in whatever situation he has been asked to handle.
Gaudin, at age 25, has already pitched 438 career innings in the majors, compared with Harden, at age 26, who has 576. Gaudin has made 50 career starts, but has been used primarily as a reliever in 2008—first with Oakland, and now with the Cubs.
Gaudin has already seen plenty of action—he has appeared in 15 of the 30 games the Cubs have played since both he and Harden arrived in Wrigleyville. He has picked up the win in 3 of those 15.
In 17 2/3 innings with the Cubs he has allowed six ER (a 3.06 ERA), while fanning 20 and issuing only five walks, a crucial stat for effective mid-to-late inning relief (take note, Carlos Marmol). Also, he has pitched two innings in five of his appearances, providing manager Lou Piniella with a guy he can use in long-relief situations if needed.
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