What's a good word for a pitcher that hasn't ever topped 200 innings in his six-year career? One that's only made more than 20 starts twice in that span? I would probably trend towards calling said pitcher injury-prone. In fact, I'd call him "
Rich Harden," which is more or less a synonym for "injury-prone."
Unless, of course, you're Rich Harden.
''People have criticized,'' he said recently, talking about a track record that includes five trips to the disabled list the last four seasons, including a 15-day stretch with a strained shoulder this season with the Oakland Athletics. ''That's just -- whatever.''
The only way for Harden to shake that image is to get out on the mound and actually pitch every four or five days. Of course, that's exactly what he's done in Chicago. Thus far, he's thrown 42 sparking innings in seven starts and been quite nearly as good as CC Sabathia's been for the Brewers with his 1.50 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 59 strikeouts in those 42 innings against only 14 walks. Those rates are Cy Young numbers for a full-season, but all Cubs fans care about at the moment is whether or not the guy that barely threw 70 innings in 2006 and 2007 can stay healthy for the playoffs.
