D-Day for Rich Harden, We have a Backup Catcher

Rich Harden is getting another spring start today against the Royals. This start is big for Harden because he needs has to be able to throw more than 80 pitches a game if he is going to be in the rotation. His next start will be at the new Yankee Stadium where he will hopefully get to face a pretty solid lineup of major league players.

I've downplayed Harden's importance to the team in terms of making the playoffs, but if he is going to be in the rotation he does need to be able to throw 110 pitches sometimes. The bullpen cannot be forced to throw 4 innings every 5 days, because it doesn't allow for the other starters to have down games. Of course all of this talk is pointless once his arm gives out in mid-May, but until then I would rather the bullpen not get taxed every Harden start which just puts more pressure on the other starters.

In other news the basically meaningless backup catcher position has been filled. Paul Bako was cut and Koyie Hill will be the once a week catcher. Bako isn't very good at baseball so this was kind of an inevitable decision. Neither guy is a great hitter, but I think that Hill will be at least decent with the bat. If Soto were to get injured and needed to sit out and extended period of time prospect Wellington Castillo would probably get called up to handle the everyday job anyway.

We are a week away from opening day and while there are still some minor issues (the Fukudome problem that the Cubs won't talk about), it seems like everything is coming together for the Cubs to make another run at winning a title. Hopefully this run ends with at least one playoff win.