Harden could also has the best porn name in professional sports.

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How soon we forget Dick Pole and Randy Bush.

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Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

From Buster Olney...

Harden deal happened quickly

Tuesday, July 8, 2008 | Feedback | Print Entry

Twenty-four hours ago, the Oakland Athletics had no serious action on Rich Harden, no serious suitors, no reason to think they would move the talented pitcher who has seemingly existed most of his major league career on the disabled list. An Oakland official spoke with confidence that he didn't think Harden would be traded. And 24 hours ago, the Cubs were not deep into talks on any pitcher.


But the Cubs and Athletics quickly pulled together a six-player trade, with the Athletics moving Harden the way a broker would move a volatile stock before its next decline, and the Cubs swapping some of their few major-league ready prospects for a pitcher capable of being exceptional on his best days -- but on the disabled list most days, in recent seasons.

For the Cubs, the trade is a calculated gamble, because Harden is nothing less than Mark Prior, Redux: He can be dominating, and he can be maddening. He could be the difference between success and heartbreak if he's healthy, and if he's injured, he can be the difference between success and heartbreak.

If Harden holds up, the Cubs will have No. 1 and No. 2 starters capable of matching up with any in the National League, including Ben Sheets and CC Sabathia of the Brewers. Harden throws his fastball in the mid-90s and has refined his changeup into an extraordinary out pitch.

Keep in mind, however: Harden has pitched a total of 277 1/3 innings over the last four seasons, and almost as many months on the DL as he's had victories. He comes to the Cubs with many red flags.

Harden returned from the disabled list on May 11, and in his first nine starts, he pitched as he usually does, dominating hitters, striking out 42 batters in 32 1/3 innings in June, compiling a 1.67 ERA for the month. Some scouts who saw his July 1 start reported that his velocity was down, and he lasted five innings. On July 6, Harden had five erratic innings, walking four and requiring a 95 pitches to get through five innings.

The Oakland Athletics have mostly been held hostage by Harden's talent in recent years: He hasn't been on the field enough to count on, but he's been too good, when he does pitch, to simply give away. And the swiftness with which the Athletics and Cubs completed this deal is being read by some rival executives as Beane moving Harden while he has the chance. "He didn't look as good in his last two starts," said one official, "and the Cubs' offer was a good offer. There were probably months when Billy didn't know if he was going to get anything out of Harden at all, and now he's in a situation when he can get Sean Gallagher for him -- and he jumped at it."

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

Terrific trade for the Cubs. So much for the thought that Beane would pillage the Cubs if this trade would happen.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

As long as this doesn't turn into another Nomar fiasco...

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Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

Pujols - Poo Holes

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I'm like a carpenter building stairs.......Always thinking one step ahead.

Ferris must work at the campus in Bristol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr-Vn7E8uYQ

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I'm like a carpenter building stairs.......Always thinking one step ahead.

What the hell are you talking about? He's a near 300 career hitter. You're not paying attention.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

I don't like the trade. The A's got the best player in Gallagher. Harden obviously has better stuff but that does you no good if he can't be counted on. This team doesn't need a risk/reward guy. I would've rather seen him use Gallagher to get someone a little more reliable.

What?

What has Gallagher done for him to be considered the best player in the deal?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Farewell you sexy redhead

Thats a hot picture KD

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bullshit. The Cubs don't win a DAMN thing this year with Gallagher anywhere near the starting rotation.

I disagree. Gallagher, while promising, wasn't going to be a factor in a post season run. He was just relegated to bullpen duty before the trade. They made a trade for one of the most dominating starting pitchers in the league (when healthy) without greatly affecting their current major league roster. Harden is also arguably the only remaining pitcher on the trade market that could significantly improve the cubs front four of the rotation (what matters for a playoff run), with Burnett, Wolf, etc. being slight upgrades.
Yes, their is a great risk that Harden breaks down again. If he does, though, the Cubs didn't lose anything from their current roster in this trade that is going to prevent them from at least staying as good as they are right now. If he doesn't break down? They're the favorite to go to the world series. I can live with that.

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

Kendall for Bowen last year wasn't a pillaging. Of course it's not the blockbuster this trade is, but all the other gm's in the league can't be that stupid.

I'm a little confused at this statement, Darkside.

What fiasco? what did the Cubs lose? did anyone come out good on that trade? the trade for Nomar in part helped us get Harden-

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

I have to agree with Walkrman here. Murton is the king of the swinging bunt.

By the way, I'm a big fan of this trade. Although it is a high risk, high reward type of trade, I think the risk was definitely worth it. Murton and Patterson, no room for you on the big league roster (it might have been different if Patterson could have been counted on as a second baseman). Gallagher could very well turn out to be a stud pitcher, but like others have said, you have to give something to get something. Who knows how Donaldson will turn out. His stats aren't impressive but it's also his first full year in professional baseball. I also believe Gaudin may very well play a role almost as important as Harden will on this team.

Murton came from Baltimore in the Sosa trade, right?
Patterson home grown though.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

He got on base.
He got his hits.
What's wrong with singles? Nothing.
I don't think it's fair to say he didn't hit. He was a near 300 hitter.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

uhhhhh...nope, Murton came from the Red Sox...

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 4:20 pm

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Fotenot came in the Sosa deal. Murton in the Nomar deal. Patterson just followed his brother out the door of the Cubs system.

right...that's why the Nomar trade in some part helped the Cubs get Harden...strange how that's related, with the parallels in '04...

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Didnt Hendry trade Dontrelle to the Marlins? I didnt see that on list, or did I just miss it?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Nomar was seen as the final piece to the puzzle in '04. That didn't turn out to be the case and Nomar was a bust in Cubs pinstripes. There were murmurs that he was hurt and they turned out to be quite correct. Murton as part of getting Harden will be doubly ironic if Harden flames out in similar fashion.

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Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

Fair enough BSC. Fair enough. Plus, thank you for the amusing trip down memory lane. Some interesting deals I had forgotten about. I appreciate the knowledge.

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Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

Damn, right. Ya got me. I'm getting old.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Beats the alternative. I just had IB refer to "my generation" when talking to me... ouch.

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Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

I forfeit all rights in this matter. Decision final.

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My Maserati does 186.