Harden finally pitches in for Cubs
PEORIA, Ariz. - Rich Harden received a rude welcome Tuesday in his first Cactus League start.
Hoping to ease into the spring season while facing Seattle Mariners leadoff man Franklin Gutierrez, the Cubs' right-hander got ahead in the count 1-2 before a rocket line drive up the middle threatened bodily harm.
Harden deftly gloved the drive, and the rest of his day proceeded in equally positive fashion.
"All in all, I felt pretty good," Harden said after throwing 29 pitches over 2 scoreless innings. "First time out, got my work in and I felt good. I thought the ball was coming out of my hand fairly well. I've still got things to work on, but it's early. I have about 5 more starts left.
"It's nice to get that first one out of the way. I feel normal now, like I'm part of the team."
How long Harden is able to feel healthy remains the key question. It has been dogging the 27-year-old pitcher since he was with Oakland in 2005, when injuries to his throwing shoulder began.
"I totally understand that," Harden said. "I've had some injures in my past and that's just they way it is. Even if I'm healthy for four years in a row I'm still going to get those questions and people are still going to think about it. I just accept it and go with it."
Harden's goal for the upcoming season is pitching 200 innings, a feat he has yet to accomplish in five full major-league seasons.
After Harden strengthened the shoulder during the off-season, the Cubs waited until Tuesday to put him in a game.
"He's worked hard," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "We've held him back. We're going to build his arm strength up all spring and he'll be our fourth starter coming out of the box."
Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster still are jockeying for the No. 1 slot in the Cubs' rotation, and Ted Lilly is set at No. 3.
Harden - 5-1 with a sparkling 1.77 ERA in 12 starts with the Cubs last season after being acquired in a trade from the Athletics - doesn't care when he takes his turn.
"I've never gotten too excited about a number in the rotation," he said. "With Oakland, I started at five, moved up to four, three. You know what? The media always makes a big deal about it, the fans do. But it means absolutely nothing.
"I'm pitching on a big-league staff. I still have to go out and pitch exactly the same whether I'm one, five or three or four. It really doesn't matter, especially with a staff like these guys. I'm happy to be a part of the staff."
Dempster, who followed Harden with 3 scoreless innings in the Cubs' 8-1 victory over Seattle, feels much the same way. No matter if he gets the ball first or second, Dempster is just happy to see a healthy Harden back practicing his craft.
"He really worked hard this winter," Dempster said. "I'm sure he'll surprise a lot of people this season. Rich Harden, the numbers don't lie. He's been dominating."
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