Rich Harden was the missing piece for the Cubs, and if you look at certain statistics, it doesn’t seem like he is really working out.

Sure, his 0-1 record doesn’t seem like the best way to start a season with a new team, but if you delve further than the most shallow of statistics, you will find that he has been lights out, but the Cubs offense when he pitches needs to show some light.

For example, a 1.04 ERA is spectacular, even if it over three starts, he has been unable to allow a lot of runs in a start.

Over 17.1 innings pitched, he has struck out 30 batters, which is almost two batters every inning. His WHIP is less than one, allowing only 16 batters in those 17 innings.

However, he can’t seem to get the offense that other pitchers have been afforded in their outings for the Cubs. Maybe it is just hazing the new guy, but the Cubs bats need to come to life a little more than they have been.

In Harden’s loss this season, the Cubs lost the game 2-0, not scoring a single run and leaving Harden’s seven inning, one run, one hit performance go unrewarded.

In his debut performance, he pitched 5.1 innings, struck out 10, allowed no runs, and was stuck with a no-decision because reliever Carlos Marmol blew the game for him.

Harden has allowed just two runs in his career with the Cubs, and has allowed no more than one run in any game, but he can’t seem to get everything going on the games where he pitches.

Harden may be happy to be a Cub and happy to be with the team with the best record in the NL, but he is going to start to be unhappy if he doesn’t start to get some help offensively and through his bullpen.

The Cubs take on the Brewers in a four-game series starting today, Harden is scheduled to start on Thursday where it is likely that he can finally get his first win as a Cub.

Although with his luck, Dave Bush is going to completely shut down the offense or somebody in the bullpen is going to blow the game.

Hopefully, though, it won’t happen that way and Harden can finally get a win.

The temptation, Cubs fans, is to jump up for joy at the prospect of Cubs GM Jim Hendry counterpunching the timing of Milwaukee’s move with a move of his own.

After all, we desperately needed another starting pitcher. And, let’s face it; after getting Sabathia from Cleveland, the Brewers 1-2 punch of Sheets and CC certainly looks impressive.

And we acquired a young pitcher, only 26, who was 5-1 with a sparkling ERA of 2.34. He has struck out 92 batters in 77 innings. Perhaps just as importantly, he is not a free agent after this season, unlike Sabathia.

When he’s healthy, Harden has filthy stuff. Nasty. As good as anyone in the game. Ah, but there’s that caveat again: when healthy.

For as much as Rich Harden reminds people of Mark Prior in his ability to take over a game, Harden also reminds people of Mark Prior in the fact that he just can’t stay healthy.

There’s the high risk, high reward scenario. Not that I blame Hendry. Oh no, quite the opposite. He had to make this trade and I am glad he did. Just inserting a little realism into the optimism.

Heck, as Hendry himself said on WGN radio tonight, Harden wouldn’t have been available if he didn’t have health concerns. Because when he does pitch, he is dominating. But…

He has been a regular on the disabled list, laid up for long stretches with various strains, pulls and sprains. In fact, Harden has been on the disabled list six times over the past six years. Ouch. (Literally).

But he’s been healthy lately. He has taken his turn in the rotation 11 consecutive times.

So the question then becomes, which Rich Harden have the Cubs acquired? Has he finally turned the corner and gotten past the breakdowns? Or, is he simply on his longest consecutive start streak since 2005, a call to the medics waiting to happen? It’s worth the effort to find out I guess.

For this unhittable but injury prone righty, this mystery wrapped up in an enigma, the Cubs sent righthander Sean Gallagher, outfielders Matt Murton and Eric Patterson and minor league catcher Josh Donaldson. Gallagher is likely the biggest loss here, long-term.

The Cubs also get righthander Chad Gaudin, 25, who can start or relieve. He’s 5-3 with a 3.69 ERA this year.

Well, regardless of what ultimately happens, perhaps the best result of this move is that it shows the team, the fans, and the opposition that the Cubs are serious about wanting to win. Now.

Come to think of it, there are no guarantees in life or in baseball trades. So you might as well go for it while you can. That’s just what Hendry did.

-Bob Warja

I was watching SportsCenter today and I saw something that made me grin. Rich Harden had just been traded to the Chicago Cubs.

This is such breaking news that it isn’t on ESPN’s website, which I just checked to write this article.

At this point, the MLB.com article was up exactly 10 minutes ago, so I must be getting to this early, now, on to the trade specifics.

Here is what each team gets in the deal before going over what this means for the Cubs.

Cubs Get:

Rich Harden SP

Chad Gaudin RP

A’s Get:

Sean Ghallager SP

Matt Murton OF

Eric Patterson OF

Josh Donaldson C

What this means for the Cubs

Just a few days ago, the Brewers acquired C.C. Sabathia who has a 3.83 ERA and 123 strikeouts. (Sabathia makes first start today)

Now the Cubs make a move that seems even stronger than what the Brewers did, not only helping their rotation, but also adding another solid reliever.

Despite Sabathia’s strong numbers, Harden has an ERA about 1.5 less than Sabathia, has a stronger record at 5-1, a better WHIP, more strikeouts per nine innings, and a nearly 3-1 strikeout to walk ratio.

There was talk of the Brewers having the best 1-2 punch in the majors, but the Cubs blew past them with this acquisition, especially when you make it a 1-3 punch adding Ryan Dempster the way he has played.

The addition of Gaudin adds another strong reliever with Carlos Marmol in the bullpen to help get to Kerry Wood in the ninth.

In addition to Gaudin’s help as a reliever, he is also available to step in as a starter, as he has done the job before.

He has 15 appearences this season where he has not allowed a run, and has six starts this season as well.

In his last seven appearances, he has just a 1.7 ERA, which bodes well for the Cubs. This gives them a possibility to put him in the rotation at the fifth spot or keep him as a reliever where he has thrived.

I see this making a huge impact on the race and this could catapult the Cubs into the best team in the majors yet again.

Let me know what you think of the trade.