The official Rich Harden is SICK and the most underrated player in baseball Thread

hahaha you are suggesting the reason harden is good is because hitters dont have enough film to study. Hahahahahahaha That is RIDICULOUS. And you are saying my argument is bad?!?!?!?! its not like he has only pitched 30 MLB innings he has dominated. As pointed out earlier oakland is 34-11 in his last 45 starts. that is outstanding and I dont know where you got those k/bb numbers. He has never, not in one season had k/bb ratios that good. his are slightly better than harden's over his career.

If he stays healthy he is better than sabathia

No, I'm suggesting Harden is good because hitters never face him, because he never pitches. If you honestly believe he'll keep those numbers over the course of a 200+ inning season (which he's never had), then you're an idiot.

Me o my wrote:

I dont know where you got those k/bb numbers. He has never, not in one season had k/bb ratios that good. his are slightly better than harden's over his career.

CC's 2007 season: 209 ks, 37 bbs. Would you like a calculator?

Cubs have 4 games remaining until the All-Star break and now have a 4.5 game lead.

Now's the time to start getting nervous, however...

My prediction - with Z back on his game, the addition of Harden, and Soriano getting closer by the day to coming back....the Cubs will win the division by over 7 games - no doubt, no doubt in my mind.

Hey Midwesta, Baseball Guy what did you think of Harden's start today?

5.1in 10K's 0 ER.

How can you say it is ridiculous to compare him to Santana he does this everytime out.

He is an absolute stud. Please admit you are wrong now or it is going to start get embarassing for you.

Again he will be better than CC the rest of this year.

He only went 5 1/3, and managed to expose the soft Cubbie bullpen. Can't do that every 5th day.

any major league team would take a guaranteed 5.1 in 0 run performance. you're an idiot.

And you're an idiot if you're taking Harden over Sabathia.

Harden 1, Sabathia 0

I said when healthy he is better than sabathia. All of the numbers agree with me. We'll see who has a better 2nd half in their new digs.

yes, that is why I said it right after stating that only 21 OFs did it last year (The year before, less than 20). Only one Cub OF did it last year, so maybe it is a little more difficult to acheive. But hey, if the Cubs are having trouble finding such guys, maybe that is why they have to pay big money for Fukudome.

Feel free to use mlb.com.

actually, he is ranked #174 right now (.263 w/ 8 HR), and that is including pitchers....so he is roughly the 6th best player on each MLB roster. Not to mention that GA makes more than $10 million. Also, Anderson hit .283 with 17 hr back in 2005, and that was good enough for the All-star team.

Per baseball reference, Murton's career MLB line is .294/.361/.447

He might be useful. Also, interestingly, his most similar player (on baseball reference) is Andre Ethier.

phew, that was easy.

Look, I agree, this is a deal the Cubs have to make. Harden can be a difference maker in the post-season, but he has to get there intact first. Meanwhile, the A's picked up a nice young SP, a guy that you compare to Garret Anderson, a potential 2B for next season, and a long shot (but former first round) Catcher. And, after watching Gallagher pitch yesterday, I can see what Beane saw in the kid. He has got great stuff.

You are a moron that #174 is what he was projected to do before the season even started. Based on the production this season he is ranked #246 (Phew that was easy, idiot.) To summarize those numbers are dime a dozen numbers despite what you think. I guess if you think the #246 ranked player isnt avg you are an idiot.

Yes his OBP is middle of the road as well. Comparable to Chris Ianetta.

If you think Matt Murton will have a comparable career to Anderson you are stupid. Anderson is having a bad year and that is why I compared them.

Harden was dominant today and is going to continue proving you wrong. It was a terrible trade by beane.

If Matt Murton becomes what you consider an "average" player, I think Beane will be happy. An average player is actually quite valuable. Other comparable "average" OF might be Andre Ethier (10 hrs, .284 BA, ranked 154) or Raul Ibanez (10 hrs, .273 BA, ranked 164) or maybe Adam Jones (5 hrs, .280 BA, ranked 217).

Honest question: Would you consider a player with a .280 BA and 7 hrs at this point in the season a disappointment?

What is wrong with Chris Iannetta?

No, I didn't say that. However, I am sure you were aware that Anderson's Batting Average since the start of 2004 is .284, with his hr totals being: 14, 17, 17, 16, 8. And his OBP is way below Chris Iannetta's.

I hope he does. I don't like seeing great players on the DL. But I understand Beane's choice to trade him. And I think he really likes Gallagher.

From reading this thread, I am guessing that most of you are 8 years old. "You're an idiot!" "No, You're an idiot!" I really don't think that adding a front line starter midway through the season makes a huge difference during the regular season. It really shows up in the playoffs, when you can start a guy 2 or 3 times in a series. That being said, it's hard to find an example of a mid season trade for a big name pitcher leading to a world series championship. Hopefully that changes.

Harden looks good. Go Cubs Go!

and to the guy who said that the Cubs' bullpen was exposed...it was Carlos Marmol who gave up most of the runs. He's been going through some tough times, but he has proven that he is a phenomenal relief pitcher. The Cubs' pen is much better than the Brewers' and Cardinals' relief corps.

Brewers and Cardinals...objects in rear view mirror are closer than they appear.

thanks for bringing this back to the front page. I had almost forgotten about it. Nice 1 hitter from Harden last night. Also another 10 K performance. Harden 2, Sabathia 0.

me o my wrote:

thanks for bringing this back to the front page. I had almost forgotten about it. Nice 1 hitter from Harden last night. Also another 10 K performance. Harden 2, Sabathia 0.

It means nothing if they dont win.

CC just dropped his third consecutive complete game on St. Louis. I'm taking the chunky left hander. You can have the skinny guy in pinstripes.

especially since they've won all of his starts. He had 1.88 era with the crew before this 9 inning shutout today. Wonder what's it at now. You keep having your guy go 5 or 6 innings and blow up your bullpen. I'll have my guy go complete games all the time and save the bullpen for september and october. How many wins does Harden have since moving to the cubs?