Another Rich Harden D-Day

Again Rich Harden's health shouldn't determine the Cubs winning the NL Central this season, but his health would give us a run at 95-100 wins. Today he makes his first start of the regular season, and after sucking pretty bad in New York and his previous ST start as well, I'm not optimistic. Then again I'm never optimistic since I thought Brian Moehler would ground the Cubs into frustration and instead he couldn't get out of the second inning.

I'm still convinced that Harden is hurt and I think today the Cubs will finally have to admit that if he has another poor start. A healthy Harden can't throw more than six innings, and that is usually pushing it. Now he did do pretty good against the Brewers last season and his strikeout ability matches up well with their willingness to strikeout. So if Harden is really healthy instead of throwing 85 MPH fastballs then he should be able to shut down the Brewers. If he is hurt then he will get blasted in the first three innings and we lose the game and put him on the DL to rot for a while.

Braden Looper starts for the Brewers today which should be good for the Cubs. Looper isn't a good pitcher and he no longer has the mysterious help of the Cardinals around him. Even with Geo out for a couple more days the Cubs lineup should be able to be patient and get some runs against Looper.

I would expect the standard Soriano, Fukudome, Lee, Bradley, A-Ram, Fontenot, Theriot, Hill, Harden lineup today since that worked Thursday and Geo isn't ready to play yet (thanks WBC).

I'll take the Cubs to win 7-4 if Harden is actually healthy, but if the Cubs are lying again and Harden is hurt they lose 10-7.