Come To Think of It... Cubs' Rich Harden Throwing Towels Mark Prior Left Behind

Guys like Cubs pitcher Rich Harden can be maddening at times.

On the one hand, there’s all that undeniable talent oozing out of every pore. There are the tantalizing times when he is fully healthy and shows everyone just what he can do. And when he does, boy is it something to behold.

From 2005 to 2008, only Roger Clemens had a lower ERA than Harden's 2.56. He was 10-2 with a 2.07 ERA last season. For his career, he is 41-20 with an 3.23 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP, and opponents have hit only .216 against him.

But then there are the inevitable injuries that serve as a harsh reminder that the man can’t be counted on. He has a small tear in his shoulder joint, so it is highly unlikely that he will be able to start 25 games like he did last year. 

So, how many starts will Harden be good for this season? Well, no one really knows, and that’s the problem. You don’t know when the injuries will happen; you just know that they will. And you hope it doesn’t happen during a critical series or in the playoffs.

But that’s the chance you take when you have a guy like Harden. The rewards are sweet, but the downtime bitter. I hate to mention this, but having gone through the Mark Prior and Kerry Wood years, you would think this team has had enough of the uncertainty. But the temptation can be great because the upside is so great.

Yet, every day that I read about Harden not having thrown off a mound yet this spring, I can’t help but be reminded of Prior, despite the assurances that Harden is getting closer.

But getting closer to what? Call me pessimistic, but get back to me when he actually is able to throw off a real mound, to real hitters, in a game situation.

Meanwhile, if you’re Lou Piniella and Larry Rothschild, how do you plan for this?

It’s clear the Cubs need a fifth starter, and it’s almost equally as clear that it’s going to be Sean Marshall filling that role, barring a last minute injury or acquisition by Jim Hendry.

But what do you do when Harden comes up lame a half hour before game time? Do you keep a guy like Chad Gaudin in the bullpen ready just in case Harden can’t go? And if so, how do you keep him stretched out so that he can actually pitch at least five innings?

Or do you send Jeff Samardzija to the minors and have him at the beck and call of Hendry, assuming you do have at least a day’s notice? And even when he can go, he probably won’t go more than five innings because of high pitch counts, which taxes the bullpen.

Those are the headaches you accept when you sign a guy like Rich Harden. If you want the talent, you had better be ready for the heartache that is packaged with it.

This much is certain: Even in a best-case scenario, the Cubs don’t expect Harden to be ready to go every fifth day all season long, even if the unlikely happens and he can actually stay healthy. In fact, part of the master plan to hopefully keep him healthy is to give him extra days of rest from time to time, as well as the occasional missed start.

Early on, it probably won’t pose a huge concern due to off days and rain-outs (dare I say snow-outs?). But as the season wears on, and other guys get aches and pains, it won’t be so easy to deal with the roller coaster that is Rich Harden.

Then again, things never come easy for our Cubbies, come to think of it.