Thread: Harden: Best He's Felt in Six years

Brian Murphy of the Pi Press checks in on Rich Harden. it has a variation on the usual "best shape of my life" spring training story:

"It's the best I felt in six years," Harden declared Wednesday, Feb. 13, following his first bullpen session. "I'm really excited to have an opportunity to pitch for this team. Ball's coming out good. It's just kind of putting it all together with some consistency."

Lord, help me, but I'm going to get sucked in by this. I'm going to believe. I can feel the stomach punch already.

Minnesota Twins' Rich Harden hopes for more time on mound, less on DL - TwinCities.com

This would make an absolutely amazing story if he can come back like his early self. I guess he's already passed the Zumaya test.

Thanks for all these updates today John, they are appreciated. If Harden could be back by mid-late April to +90% of what he was, he could be the Twins #1 guy and round out a nice starting rotation. Still a big if, but what a great first report.

Twins fan walking through the desert. Almost ready to expire when he looks up and sees a mirage. Water - no Ice cold Grain Belt - No - It's the 2008 version of Rich Harden

Right after his last surgery the doctor who performed the operation said that what he fixed was the likely cause of his other shoulder problems. Lets hope he is right.

Is this tracked on hardballlltalk as a best shape of my life? They actually tracked those last year and then looked at performance......

The classic low risk/ high reward signing! It would be awe fully good to see this one pay off. This one, of all the recent such signings, really has the potential to be a difference maker. If only!

Holy crap, optimism.

I wish the Twins would sign a guy like this.

[QUOTE=John Bonnes;83689] Lord, help me, but I'm going to get sucked in by this. I'm going to believe. I can feel the stomach punch already.

This is funny

Tsk tsk. . .This feels like all the times my dad said he'd quit hitting my mom.....or something.

Originally Posted by John Bonnes

Minnesota Twins' Rich Harden hopes for more time on mound, less on DL - TwinCities.com

Some headlines, or even entire articles, just about write themselves this time of year, don't they.

It isn't until late May when the team is in a 11-37 slump after starting so promisingly at 1-1 that the headlines start to read "So and So hopes for more time on DL, less on mound".

It's a cliche, but I want to believe.

Originally Posted by PseudoSABR

I wish the Twins would sign a guy like this.

Those guys don't want to come to teams like the Twins.

Just this once......please

Call me when it's when it's early April and this is still true. "Player X feels stronger and healthier than ever!" is stock material for journalists. I'm glad he's on the mound and throwing though.

As an added bonus, if Harden is good, then he might become very valuable as the trade deadline approaches.

Originally Posted by glunn

As an added bonus, if Harden is good, then he might become very valuable as the trade deadline approaches.

If Harden is both good and healthy by the deadline, it may be tough getting a deal done, what with the four hoursemen running roughshod over the world and all.

Sign him up long-term now!

Originally Posted by FrodaddyG

If Harden is both good and healthy by the deadline, it may be tough getting a deal done, what with the four hoursemen running roughshod over the world and all.

awesome

Did anyone else notice that the article says Harden pitched for Toronto in 2008? Pretty sure that didn't happen (Somebody misread "TOT" on Baseball Reference?)