Cubs get HARDEN

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER

He has started 14 times this year. His team lost 4 of those games. In those games, he gave up:

0 earned runs
1 earned run
2 earned runs
2 earned runs

He is not the reason his team lost those 4 games. He gave them chances to win. THEY TRADED AWAY THE STARTER WITH THE 2ND BEST E.R.A. IN THE MAJORS, AND YOU SAY IT DOESN'T HURT THEM IN THIS YEAR AND/OR NEXT YEAR? This is like the Andruw signing(we gunna have to agree to disagree.) This game is a war. You can't afford to just give away somebody who has dominating talent(even with a history of injuries.) He is not a journeyman pitcher.

So the net gain over a replacemnet level pitcher who goes 7-7 is 3 games. You are going to risk getting nothing for 3 games? He is not CC Sabathia or Zambrano or Johan Santana. He is a very good pitcher when he is on. The problem is that is simply not very often. He is not a cornerstone guy or a guy you build around. He is a luxury item for a rich team like the Cubs that can take a chance on getting a 1/2 of a season from him. This isnt like trading Albert Pujols.

I like Gallagher. I think he is going to be a good pitcher. Not to mention the fact that he is 22 and durable. Murton may wind up like Eric Byrnes (before he shredded his hamstring).

Let's face it, Oakland needs to be proactive in order to not be like the other teams in another thread, KC and Pittsburgh. They need to liquidate guys like Harden who simply are too risky to pay a lot of money for.

Since 2000 Oakland has a record of 791-599 (close to 200 games above .500), they have been to the playoffs 5 times, they have finished 1st, 2nd ,1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 1st, 3rd, and are currently in 2nd in their division. In the same time frame the NY Yankees are 823-564. So they are 32 games behind the Yankees or divided over the 8 years 4 games a year behind them dispite a huge disparity payroll and revenues. The team that spend the most is 4 games better out of 162. And Beane doesnt know what he is doing or is ripping the fans off? The worst Oakland has finished is 3rd one time. Sounds like a team that isnt trying.