Rich Harden News: Pro Sports Daily

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March 10

San Francisco Chronicle

"After pitching 22/3 innings against the A's on Monday, Rich Harden said, "It was a good one, an exciting game. It was definitely nice. I was stressed out that game. It was good for the sport. Really got people involved." A spring training game? No, the Olympic gold-medal hockey game. Harden, a native of Victoria, British Columbia, played hockey as a kid, remains an avid fan and celebrated the Canadians' victory over the Americans. After the game, he spoke with his sister, who watched at a San Francisco tavern. "They had a bunch of Canadians in there and were celebrating pretty good," Harden said. "The phone got passed around the bar, and I was talking to all these random people.""

Harden's pitch equation for Rangers? Adding, subtracting speed

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March 5

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"The area where Rich Harden might have been the sharpest Thursday was in his ability to keep things in perspective.He was the winning pitcher in his Texas Rangers' spring debut, giving up one hit and an unearned run in the first two innings of a 13-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals.While Harden's main focus was to get his work in and start to find a comfort zone on the mound in the Cactus League opener, he also was mindful of the things that he believes will help him make at least 30 starts in 2010.The right-hander wants to minimize his pitches and change speeds to make hitters put the ball in play. He accomplished those things against the Royals at Surprise Stadium."Overall, first day, ..."

Less is more: Fewer pitches is aim of Rangers' Harden

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March 5

Dallas Morning News

"The area in which Rich Harden might have been sharpest Thursday was his ability to keep things in perspective. He was the winning pitcher in his Rangers spring debut, allowing one hit and an unearned run in the first two innings of a 13-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals. While Harden's main focus was to get his work in and start to find a comfort zone on the mound in the Cactus League opener, he also was mindful of the things he believes will help him make at least 30 starts in 2010. The right-hander wants to minimize his pitches and change speeds to make hitters put the ball in play. He accomplished those things in his first start. "Overall, first day, I was pretty happy with the ..."

Rich Harden set to be first starter of spring schedule

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February 28

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"Early pitching setRich Harden will be the Texas Rangers' starting pitcher when they open the spring schedule Thursday against Kansas City, and Scott Feldman will follow Friday.Those two right-handers will be the Rangers' top two starters this season, though the order hasn't been set. Manager Ron Washington said there has been no decision made on who will start Opening Day against Toronto.Starting pitchers will throw two innings their first time through the spring rotation with only a few exceptions, said pitching coach Mike Maddux.Harden is scheduled to be followed by Colby Lewis for an inning, Doug Mathis for two, and Ben Snyder, Pedro Strop and a yet-to-be-determined reliever.C.J. ..."

Harden's success with Rangers tied to durability

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February 22

Dallas Morning News

"No player wants to be the guy said to have unlimited abilities that are limited every season by injury. That's the player Rich Harden has become. Harden is a staff ace when healthy, with stuff nasty enough to put an entire lineup in a slump. But only once in seven big league seasons has he displayed his prowess over 30 starts. Harden doesn't hide from his injury-riddled past, but he wants to shake that label in his first season with the Rangers. A top priority this spring is to conceive a formula that will keep Harden pitching every fifth day during the regular season. "I know there's a track record of not making 34 starts, so the goal is to keep him out there 32, 33 times," pitching ..."

New Texas Rangers pitcher Harden hopes injuries are behind him

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December 12

Dallas Morning News

"Rich Harden believes he is ready to take the next step in his career as a big league starter. The right-hander, who signed a one-year contract Thursday with the Rangers, has shown flashes of what he is capable of only to be slowed by injuries. But Harden, 28, believes he's as healthy as he's ever been and ready for big things as he begins his career with the Rangers. "I know I've had some injuries earlier in my career, but I just want to work harder and harder to put that behind me and make 30 starts a season," Harden said. "I really feel like this is a good fit for me here. Everybody I've heard from has said this is a good organization. I feel like it's a good spot for me to go out ..."

Texas gets Ray; Harden awaits physical

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December 10

MLB.com

"The Rangers added right-handed reliever Chris Ray to their bullpen on Wednesday and are on the verge of adding free agent right-hander Rich Harden to their starting rotation. They were able to make both moves by being willing to give up No. 1 starter Kevin Millwood. The Rangers sent Millwood to the Orioles for Ray and a player to be named later at the Winter Meetings. The player to be named could be the third pick in Thursday's Rule 5 Draft. Texas will also pick up $3 million of Millwood's $12 million salary for 2010, leaving it with a savings of about $7 million. The Rangers will use that money to sign Harden to a one-year deal worth $7.5 million with an $11.5 million option for 2011. ..."

Source: Harden would sign 1-year deal

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December 9

Foxsports.com

"Rich Harden is drawing interest from a number of teams. On Wednesday afternoon, one source explained why: He is comfortable signing a one-year contract that would give him the opportunity to show that he's healthy before reentering the market next winter. Much of the interest in Harden has come from the American League, the source said, with the Mariners, Yankees and Red Sox being the most serious contenders. The Angels are not involved, the source indicated. A one-year contract for the 28-year-old right-hander would assuredly include a large incentive package. The base salary itself should fall within the range established by other recent starter signings. Harden's 2009 season was good ..."

Ex-Cubs, White Sox draw interest at winter meetings

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December 7

Chicago Tribune

"Baltimore GM Andy MacPhail has interest in Kevin Gregg and Rich Harden, which comes as no surprise to those who have been following the former Cub president since his departure. Baltimore took Sammy Sosa off Jim Hendry's hands before Mac Phail got there, then MacPhail took Felix Pie, Corey Patterson and Rich Hill from the Cubs. But MacPhail won't do the same with Milton Bradley. Harden likely will end up in Seattle, near his Canadian roots. Former White Sox reliever Mike MacDougal is arbitration eligible in Washington, so he might be let go on Saturday, which is the date for tendering contracts. MacDougal was the Nationals closer but may not be worth the price. Former Cub Mark DeRosa is ..."

Mariners seriously looking at Jason Bay and Rich Harden

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December 3

Seattle Times

"Things are starting to heat up in the rumor mill as the baseball winter meetings approach. As colleague Larry Stone wrote yesterday, FoxSports mentioned the Mariners were pushing hard for British Columbia native Rich Harden to join their starting rotation. The Mariners have let other agents know that pitching is a priority for them at the moment and that other potential deals will be on the back burner. In other words, don't expect the catching situation to be bolstered for quite some time, likely not until well after the meetings in Indianapolis are done. The Red Sox are also getting in on Harden and that's not the only case where they and the Mariners are going head-to-head. We've been ..."

Mariners going hard for Harden

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December 3

Foxsports.com

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"The Mariners are showing strong interest in free agent starter Rich Harden, two major league sources told FOXSports.com. It's not known where Harden ranks relative to John Lackey on Seattle's free agent wish list. But the franchise's location in the Pacific Northwest — a hindrance in some previous offseason pursuits — could help the Mariners with Harden, a native of nearby Victoria, British Columbia. Seattle has competition from the well-heeled Red Sox and other clubs. One source said Tuesday that Boston is serious about pursuing Harden. The Mariners, meanwhile, are actively pursuing Lackey, according to one person familiar with the team's plans. Lackey, who has spent his entire career ..."

Mariners going hard for Harden

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December 2

Foxsports.com

"The Mariners are showing strong interest in free agent starter Rich Harden, two major league sources told FOXSports.com. It's not known where Harden ranks relative to John Lackey on Seattle's free agent wish list. But the franchise's location in the Pacific Northwest — a hindrance in some previous offseason pursuits — could help the Mariners with Harden, a native of nearby Victoria, British Columbia. Seattle has competition from the well-heeled Red Sox and other clubs. One source said Tuesday that Boston is serious about pursuing Harden. The market for Harden could move relatively quickly, since the Cubs didn't offer him salary arbitration before Tuesday's deadline. Harden went 9-9 with a ..."

Will BoSox pursue oft-injured starter Harden?

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December 2

Foxsports.com

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"The Red Sox used their big budget to add pitching depth last winter, signing John Smoltz and Brad Penny for a combined $10.5 million. Smoltz and Penny made just 22 starts between them in 2008, but that didn't stop the team from making its investment. Their talent made Boston comfortable with the risk that accompanied their spotty health histories. Using the same logic, you would expect the Red Sox to have interest free agent Rich Harden this offseason. And you would be correct. One major league source said Tuesday that the Red Sox are serious about pursuing Harden, who made more starts this year (26) than Smoltz and Penny combined in 2008. The source indicated that the Red Sox have not yet ..."

Cubs won't offer salary arbitration to Harden, Gregg, Johnson

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December 1

Chicago Tribune

"The Cubs are not expected to offer salary arbitration to their three free agents today, which means they will not receive compensation for losing pitcher Rich Harden. The story was first reported by David Kaplan on Chicagonow.com. Harden ($7million), reliever Kevin Gregg ($4.2 million) and outfielder Reed Johnson ($3 million) will play elsewhere next season. If they had been offered arbitration, they could have accepted and played next season for whatever an impartial arbitrator decided. The Cubs felt none of them was worth the almost-certain raise that would be coming."

Harden could be good fit for M's

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November 10

Foxsports.com

"Free agent Rich Harden could be a fit for the Mariners, if they decide to upgrade their rotation. (Offense is their main priority.) Harden has had success in the American League West and was born in nearby Victoria, B.C. "He could commute on a seaplane," quipped one person in the industry. A number of teams could benefit from adding a power arm like Harden, but questions persist about his durability."

Cubs seem ready to let Rich Harden and Reed Johnson go

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November 8

Chicago Tribune

"There's no question Rich Harden and Reed Johnson would prefer to return to the Cubs in 2010, and in a perfect world, Jim Hendry would probably re-sign both. But Harden's injury-plagued history makes a multiyear deal unlikely, and Johnson may have to take a salary cut to stay. Harden and Johnson, two of the team's five eligible free agents, were among the first players to file after the World Series ended. The Cubs are focusing on re-signing John Grabow in the next two weeks, while neither Kevin Gregg nor Chad Fox is expected back. The Harden scenario is interesting because he's one of the top free agents in a relatively thin market for starting pitching. His talent never has been an ..."

Cubs' Harden, Johnson file for free agency

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November 7

Chicago Tribune

"118 players have filed for free agency, including Cubs starting pitcher Rich Harden and outfielder Reed Johnson. Harden, 27, was 9-9 with a 4.09 ERA in 26 starts. Although he's had past arm problems, he recorded his second 25-start season. Johnson, 32, made $3 million last season, yet was limited to a career-low 65 games and 165 at-bats because of a fractured foot suffered July 29."

Pitcher Rich Harden would like to be back, but feeling isn't mutual

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September 28

Chicago Tribune

"When he shut himself down for the rest of the season, Rich Harden said he hoped to re-sign with the Cubs. "We'll see what happens," he said. "Hopefully we'll sit down with Jim (Hendry) and talk about that. It's a good city, good fans, good team ... I feel like what we did this year obviously was a little disappointing. It would be good to come back next year and make a run for it." But the Cubs have no plans of bringing Harden back, as manager Lou Piniella hinted Sunday before a 5-1 loss to San Francisco in the final road game of the season. "You look at our starting pitching here for next year," Piniella said. "You've got (Carlos) Zambrano, you've got (Ryan) Dempster, you've got (Randy) ..."

Harden says season over

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September 25

Chicago Sun-Times

"Rich Harden might have pitched his final game for the Cubs after deciding Thursday that he won't make a final start this season. Harden, a free agent-to-be, was skipped in his last turn through the rotation because of fatigue after some heavy pitch counts in short starts this month. But he said his right shoulder, which he has had trouble with in the past, feels ''the best it has felt in a long time.'' ''I've gone through the season with no problem with that,'' Harden said. ''It'd be a lot different if we were in [contention] and needed me to pitch; I'd be out there in a second. I'm still healthy and feeling good.'' Whether Harden returns next season after going 9-9 with a 4.09 ERA in 26 ..."

Harden shut down for season

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September 25

Chicago Tribune

"The Cubs were down to their final strike Thursday night when Jeff Baker's two-out, two-run home run off Brian Wilson launched them to a 3-2 victory over the Giants. Baker's heroics prevented the Giants from gaining a game on the Rockies in the wild card race. Wilson replaced Brad Penny in the ninth and walked Derrek Lee leading off. Lee stole second with two outs before Baker sent a 2-2 pitch into the left-field bleachers. Carlos Marmol survived a shaky ninth to earn his 15th save, stranding two baserunners by striking out Aaron Rowand and Fred Lewis. Aaron Heilman got the win in relief of Ryan Dempster, who threw seven strong innings before leaving with a 2-1 deficit. Before the game, the ..."

Harden may have made last start of '09

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September 24

MLB.com

"Rich Harden, limited to throwing off flat ground and not off the mound since his last start, may be shut down for the remainder of the season, Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Wednesday. Harden (9-9, 4.09 ERA) has not started since Sept. 16, when he went three innings in a loss to Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. The Cubs have 11 games remaining. "I'm not sure about Harden, I'm really not," Piniella said. "I'm not certain on whether Rich is going to get another start or not. It won't be this weekend in San Francisco.""

Cubs' Harden to miss next turn in rotation

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September 18

Chicago Sun-Times

"The Cubs' starting rotation over the final two weeks will take on a different look as the Cubs sit the fatigued Rich Harden and also try to get a look at a prospect or two. Harden, who has made 26 starts, hasn't pitched more than five innings in his last four starts while laboring an average of 22 pitches an inning. Manager Lou Piniella said he will skip Harden's next start Monday in Milwaukee, and possibly one more turn after that, with Tom Gorzelanny taking his place. For Harden (9-9, 4.28 ERA), two skipped starts would leave him with only one more, but Piniella and general manager Jim Hendry denied reports Thursday that they plan to shut him down. Piniella and other team officials said ..."

Rich Harden rocked as Chicago Cubs fall 9-5

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September 17

Chicago Tribune

"Some Cubs fans were startled to see Ryan Dempster walking down Addison Street in warm-up gear about 1 1/2 hours before Wednesday night's game against the Brewers. Batting practice had ended, so Dempster went on a Starbucks run and was seen carrying a large coffee back to the clubhouse for Jake Fox. Whether the Cubs are still on the outskirts of a pennant race, as Lou Piniella insisted before the 9-5 loss to Milwaukee, or just playing out the string, as most observers believe, every day at Wrigley Field is a blessing for those who work there. The game goes on and the ballpark still is packed, so the players might as well enjoy themselves as the season dwindles down to a precious few games. ..."

Chicago Cubs win 4th straight, 6-4 over Cincinnati Reds

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September 12

Chicago Tribune

"Is Rich Harden "walking" his way out of Wrigley Field and into free agency? As daily evaluations -- mostly with the pitching staff -- help constitute the makeup of next year's team, Harden is making it hard to justify keeping him, especially if he could win $10 million in arbitration. So while the Cubs won their fourth straight game Friday -- at least proving they are still better than the Pirates and Reds, against whom they have won 18 of 24 games -- Harden couldn't pitch long enough to get the eventual 6-4 victory. Friday's winner over the Reds was Jeff Stevens, who didn't help his quest for a bullpen spot next summer by allowing three runs on three hits in his one inning of work. But ..."

What could've been

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September 6

Chicago Sun-Times

"Consider them just two more causes for vertigo in this upside-down Cubs season. Knowing before the season that Rich Harden's shoulder would hold up for nearly 30 starts without a pang and that Derrek Lee's power would return in a big way, how many playoff games would the Cubs have been assured of hosting this fall? At least a few more than none. Yet, here we are nearly a week into September, and Harden's biggest concern is whether he is striking out too many batters to pitch deep into games while Lee is starting to hit upper-deck homers in pairs. Even on an afternoon when the two converged for a 5-3 victory against the New York Mets, most of the conversation around this team continues to ..."

Source: Harden, Heilman staying put

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August 31

ESPN.com

"The waiver period for trades before the Sept. 1 roster deadline will come and go without the Chicago Cubs having made a deal, according to Major League Baseball sources. Rich Harden, claimed by the Minnesota Twins, and Aaron Heilman, claimed by the San Francisco Giants, will continue to pitch for the Cubs."

Surging Cubs might not be ready to dump Harden

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August 31

Foxsports.com

"Maybe, if you are Twins general manager Bill Smith, you're calling the Cubs this morning, saying, "I've got to have Rich Harden." But maybe, if you are Cubs GM Jim Hendry, you're responding, "Not so fast." The arithmetic of a pennant race changes daily. As the deadline to complete a Harden deal looms early Monday afternoon, the Cubs are less motivated to act than they were Thursday when the Twins were awarded the claim on the right-hander, major-league sources say. The Cubs began Friday 7 1/2 games back in the National League wild-card race. After winning two of three from the Mets, they are 5 1/2 back, albeit in fifth place. The Rockies and Giants are tied for the wild-card lead. The ..."

Twins haven't asked for Harden's medical records; trade unlikely

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August 31

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"As of late Sunday night, the Twins had yet to request Cubs pitcher Rich Harden's medical records, a person close to Harden told the Star Tribune, adding that a deal by today's noon deadline appeared unlikely. Harden, 27, has been on the disabled list seven times since 2005, so it would be uncharacteristic for the Twins to trade for him without first examining those medical records. Then again, in eight starts since July 16, Harden is 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA, so it's possible the Twins could roll the dice, giving the Cubs the prospects it would take to land Harden for the season's final five weeks. Harden is a pending Type A free agent, so a team could offer him arbitration after the season and ..."

Cubs right-hander Rich Harden just what Twins need

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August 31

Chicago Tribune

"I'm not sure what the game was called, but back in high school, during a study of global politics, we played a decision-making contest of strategies, with the goal being world domination. I was appointed leader of an imaginary country named Nordo and pretty much made every poor choice possible on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, in a desperate situation, I opted for nuclear warfare. The world was destroyed, and there was no winner. Everyone tied for last. Somehow that comes to mind as I consider the possibility of the Cubs trading Rich Harden to the Minnesota Twins. It's not that Harden is nuclear. It's just that he has been the Cubs' best starting pitcher the last two ..."

Twins serious about trading for Harden

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August 30

MLB.com

"The Cubs are open to trading right-hander Rich Harden and the Twins are serious about acquiring the starter, FoxSports.com reported. The Cubs put Harden on waivers earlier this week and the Twins were awarded the claim, meaning both teams have until Monday to work out a deal. The 27-year-old has been pitching well of late, as he has a 1.80 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 50 innings over his past eight starts. On the season, Harden is 8-7 with a 3.99 ERA with 143 strikeouts in 124 innings. Harden would bolster the Twins' rotation and would be received well in the clubhouse, according to the report."

Doubts regarding Harden emerge

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August 30

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Twins officials Saturday would not confirm or deny that they are the team that placed a claim on Cubs pitcher Rich Harden, as ESPN Chicago has reported. But two people close to Harden said they doubted Harden is heading to the Twins. To their knowledge, the Cubs had yet to open a window for the Twins to negotiate a long-term deal with Harden, who is a pending free agent. It's possible the Twins would trade for Harden without a long-term extension. He will be a Type A free agent, which would assure them two compensation picks in the 2010 draft if he signed elsewhere. Though Harden has a history of arm trouble, the Twins believe he would be a good fit. His family actually has roots in ..."

Cubs have until Monday to trade or keep Rich Harden

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August 29

Chicago Tribune

"If Rich Harden makes his scheduled start Monday night against the Astros, he will remain with the Cubs for the rest of the season. The Cubs have until noon Monday to trade Harden and reliever Aaron Heilman, both of whom were claimed off waivers Thursday. According to a report, the Twins were awarded the claim on Harden and the Giants on Heilman. "I was surprised to hear it, but a lot of guys are claimed and nothing happens," Harden said. "I'm happy being here and would like to be able to stay. I love playing here and the fans are good and the team's good. It's not my call." If the claiming team is successful in working out a trade, it would owe Harden only about $1 million before he ..."

Harden, Heilman claimed, but Cubs aren't dealing

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August 28

Chicago Sun-Times

"The reported waiver claims by other clubs on Cubs pitchers Rich Harden and Aaron Heilman aren't necessarily a sign the Cubs have shifted their focus to next year -- unless they result in trades before the waiver period expires Monday. A Cubs source said Thursday that no trades were in the works ahead of the claims and that the club hadn't been contacted by the teams making the claims as of late Thursday. Teams routinely place most or all of their players through waivers after the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. Most pull them back if claimed, sometimes working out a trade with the claiming team. In the case of Alex Rios, the Toronto Blue Jays allowed him and his large contract to go to ..."

Cubs' Harden, Heilman claimed

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August 27

Foxsports.com

"If the Cubs want to point toward the future, this is their chance. Right-handed starter Rich Harden and right-handed reliever Aaron Heilman have been claimed on waivers, according to major-league sources. A National League team was awarded the claim on Heilman, one source said. The claiming team on Harden is not known, but presumably he did not get through the NL, either. Players must pass through their own league first before being exposed on waivers to teams in the other league. The Cubs will have until Monday afternoon to work out trades, allow Harden and Heilman to depart on claims or pull them back them from waivers. Of the two pitchers, Harden is far more intriguing. He is 3-1 with a ..."

Rich Harden's contract an off-season challenge for Chicago Cubs

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August 25

Chicago Tribune

"While Carlos Zambrano takes the spotlight Tuesday night at Wrigley Field, the fate of Rich Harden may be of more immediate importance to the Cubs. Harden has been the Cubs' most consistent starter in the second half with a 3-1 record and 1.64 earned-run average, with a 4-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio. But he could become a sought-after free agent after the season, so the Cubs have to make a decision on how much they're willing to offer him. General manager Jim Hendry never considered trading Harden before the July 31 deadline, believing the Cubs would be in contention the rest of the season. Whether they are or not now, eight games behind the Cardinals in the National League East and seven ..."

CUBS IN BRIEF: Harden, Wells rest up for long haul

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August 18

Chicago Sun-Times

"With only two scheduled days off after Monday and 40 games in those remaining 41 days, one of the biggest keys to the Cubs' playoff chances will be how the starting pitching holds up. That figures to be especially true for the injury-prone Rich Harden, who's on pace for his highest total of starts and innings since 2004, and rookie Randy Wells, who probably is three starts from exceeding his career high in innings at any level. That's a big reason manager Lou Piniella used the rainout Sunday to tweak his rotation to give both right-handers extra rest before their next starts. Harden, who was scheduled to pitch Sunday and completed his pregame warmup routine, was pushed back to Wednesday in ..."

Cubs will try to slot Rich Harden to pitch night games

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July 21

Chicago Tribune

"The Cubs will try to accommodate Rich Harden's statistical idiosyncrasy. Harden is 5-1 with a 2.41 earned-run average at night and 4-1 with a 2.16 ERA on the road. Logically, that would make him a bad candidate for Wrigley Field day games. So ... Harden will start Tuesday night in Philadelphia, then not pitch again until Monday against the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field, although that, at least, is a night game. That would put him on pace to pitch again the following Saturday night in Miami. "We're going to try to accommodate that [quirk] as much as we can," manager Lou Piniella said. "If we have an injury or something, we can't do anything about it." Good news: Ryan Dempster (broken ..."

Harden, Cubs take care of Pirates

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June 30

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"The Pirates did not have too much trouble last night putting pressure on Chicago Cubs right-hander Rich Harden. Scoring runs, however, was a different story. The Pirates knocked out eight hits - seven of them singles - over Harden's final three innings, but all it added up to was a 3-1 loss against the Cubs. Harden (5-4) won for the first time since May 12, snapping a career-worst three-game losing streak. He worked seven innings and allowed a run on nine hits and a walk and struck out nine. The Cubs came into the game having lost six of their previous eight games. Their 35-37 record marked the first time they had been two games under .500 since the fourth game of the 2008 season. Once ..."

Harden throws 70 pitches in rehab start

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June 9

MLB.com

"Cubs right-hander Rich Harden, who has been on the disabled list since May 18 with a mid-back strain, tossed 4 1/3 innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Iowa on Monday. Harden allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits against the Round Rock Express while striking out six and walking two. He was removed in the fifth inning after throwing 70 pitches, 44 for strikes. Harden suffered from flu-like symptoms over the weekend but felt better on Monday and made his first rehab start for Iowa."

Rich Harden OK in bullpen session

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June 3

Chicago Sun-Times

"Rich Harden cleared an important hurdle Tuesday in his efforts to return to the Cubs' rotation from the disabled list, throwing a 33-pitch bullpen session that encouraged pitching coach Larry Rothschild and the medical staff. ''It went really well,'' said Harden, who added the midback pain is gone. ''I'm good.'' Harden, who last pitched May 17, is to throw a longer pen on Thursday and then either throw a simulated game or a make a minor-league rehab start a few days after that. Barring a setback, that could put him on pace for a return to the rotation when the team returns home for a three-game series June 12-14 against Minnesota. Road less taken Piniella met with Carlos Zambrano in his ..."

Rich Harden's tosses pass first test

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May 29

Chicago Sun-Times

"Rich Harden played catch Thursday afternoon, finally starting the process of getting the ailing right-hander on a path toward returning to the Cubs' rotation in the next 10 days to two weeks. Manager Lou Piniella is eager to get Harden back in his rotation so he can return left-hander Sean Marshall to the bullpen. ''We're encouraged,'' Piniella said. ''He didn't feel it, didn't feel a thing. So now we'll get him on a program to get him back on the mound. This was the first test and he passed it with flying colors, which is the best possible news for us. ''It was catch. But now we can start accelerating the process.'' Harden, whose stint on the disabled list began May 18 because of a ..."

Rich Harden holding up just fine

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May 8

Chicago Tribune

"For the last six seasons, Rich Harden has been baseball's china doll. He is on his way toward changing that perception, making it through his first six starts this season without needing extra rest or kid-glove handling. Manager Lou Piniella often has talked about the need for a sixth starter to step in when Harden's arm needs a break. But the 27-year-old has held his own thus far, going 3-1 with a 4.83 ERA while working 31 2/3 innings and being injury free. Harden worked into the eighth inning Wednesday night against the Houston Astros. "I felt like I could have finished the game," Harden said. He said his arm felt as good as it has all season, even though he struck out only four in the ..."

14-pitch at-bat flustered Chicago Cubs' Rich Harden

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April 16

Chicago Tribune

"Rich Harden started out like he was going to match Kerry Wood's 20-strikeout game in 1998, fanning the first four Colorado batters. But Harden struggled with his control in the second inning Wednesday, falling behind hitters and running up his pitch count. Manager Lou Piniella didn't seem to blame Harden for the outing, which was his first loss in Wrigley Field. "It was a cold, blustery day," Piniella said. "His stuff was good. The results weren't." Harden had eight strikeouts in only three innings but wasn't sharp otherwise. A 14-pitch at-bat by Garrett Atkins in the second, when Atkins fouled off eight straight before striking out, was the start of the downfall. "After that point, I ..."

Rich Harden shows skeptics with sharp outing

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April 11

Chicago Tribune

"Perhaps Rich Harden was just playing possum in spring training. The Cubs right-hander found his fastball at the right time Friday, throwing in the mid-90s and striking out 10 in a sterling six-inning, 96-pitch performance. It was his eighth double-digit strikeout game, and his sixth in a Cubs uniform. "I was never really too concerned about velocity in spring training," he said. "It's a lot different once you get out here in a game that means something and there's more intensity. It's easier to do. Overall I was happy with the way I felt and still felt like I could have thrown some more pitches." Soto watch: Catcher Geovany Soto is unlikely to play in the series because of tendinitis in ..."

Harden ready to let actions tell his story

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April 10

Chicago Sun-Times

"The realization started to sink in near the end of last season, after 2½ months in Chicago. And by the time he slowly, surely navigated a nearly incident-free spring training, his strongest in years, Cubs pitcher Rich Harden knew for sure. ''Even if I get through the season, it's not going to shut anybody up,'' he said. Even if he gets through his first 30-start season in five years? ''No.'' No matter how strong and how successful this season eventually looks? ''No.'' Because the questions about his shoulder keep coming, the theme always the same, the when-not-if doubt always in the tone. So at 27, as he prepares today in Milwaukee to open a 2009 season with the anticipation of personal ..."

Starting to look healthy

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March 26

Chicago Sun-Times

"Cubs right-hander Rich Harden proved Wednesday that he's strong enough, sharp enough and healthy enough to dominate the Pacific Coast League. Now if he can just get back a few of those pounds he lost as a result of food poisoning last week and get through two more big-league exhibition games the way he did Wednesday's four-inning cruise through Oakland's Class AAA team, he expects to be ready for prime time again -- just in time for an April 10 season debut against Milwaukee. And just in time to give the Cubs their Rotation for the Ages -- or at least the first one of those since 2004 -- intact and in good health for the start of the season. No? You thought the Cubs' dream rotation ..."

Cubs' Rich Harden feels strong after short outing

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March 16

Chicago Tribune

"For a pitcher who had just allowed three runs and ended his day by walking two consecutive batters, Rich Harden was amazingly upbeat. With Harden, of course, health comes before results in the spring. "I was happy with the way I felt," he said after giving up three runs in 22/3 innings Sunday in the Cubs' 10-7 victory over the Diamondbacks. Harden's second outing of the spring started with two perfect innings before a leadoff homer and three walks in the third.Despite the way it looked, Harden said he did not tire in the third as he approached his 50-pitch limit. "I mechanically started doing some bad things and started losing command a little bit, but it wasn't because I was tired," he ..."

Healthy Harden has strong debut

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March 11

Chicago Sun-Times

"Just about the time you started to realize this spring training has been conspicuously void of Cubbie occurrences, Rich Harden took the mound for the first time, only to have his fourth pitch lined back toward his head. A quick glove turned it into an out, and Harden went on to post an efficient two shutout innings Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners and fend off the Cubbie occurrences for another day. ''I've been doing some PFPs,'' he said of pitcher's fielding practice. ''I've got to give credit to the coaches for that one.'' The rest belonged to Harden, who allowed two hits (one questionable on what appeared to be a routine hopper near second base) and struck out one. ''It's nice to ..."

Rich Harden sharp in first spring appearance for Chicago Cubs

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March 11

Chicago Tribune

"The ghosts of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood still hover at Cubs camp, casting their weary shadows over right-hander Rich Harden. After making his Cactus League debut Tuesday with two scoreless innings against Seattle, Harden went through the same grilling about his arm strength that Prior and Wood heard year after year following spring outings. It may be unfair to compare Harden with the oft-injured pitching duo, but Harden has come to accept that his health will always be scrutinized in Chicago. "I totally understand that," he said. "I've had some injuries in my past, and that's just the way it is. Even if I'm healthy four years in a row, people are still going to think about that, so I just ..."

Harden ready to go

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March 10

Chicago Sun-Times

"Hey, Rich, what's with the shoulder? Where's the tear? How's the strength? How many starts can you make this year? When do you pitch next? Do you need a cortisone shot? Extra rest? How do you feel? How do you feel? How do you feel? For Cubs pitcher Rich Harden, it's like an echo that won't go away, ringing in his ears the last few seasons, the constant irritant lingering from the injuries that limited him to an average of 11 starts from 2005 to '07. That might make him the one guy in a contract year whom you can believe when he says it's not about the money. ''With the work I've put in here and how I'm feeling,'' Harden said, ''I want to know the work has paid off and put in a whole ..."