Big Move or Big Panic....

Hello again, and welcome back, Today I would like to discuss the new addition of Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin to our beloved Cubbies.  Now most people are saying that we made this move to counter the Brewers picking up CC Sabathia earlier this week.  I really don't think that was the case.  Yes, I do think that we were talking to Cleveland about CC, but here is what I think happend behind those closed doors.  I believe the Hendry did make an effort to pick up CC but it was back a few weeks ago and realized that for what he had  to offer them and what they wanted it probably wasn't going to pan out.  Cleveland was asking for starting position players who could play full time and make an impact by 2009.  We have pitchers that fit that mold but we are a little light with postion players.  So pretty much I imagine Hendry started looking elsewhere.  Now in my opinion, there were only two pitchers out there this year that are worth making a trade for: CC and Rich Harden.  I know everybody was throwing Erik Bedard out there but I think he has something wrong with him mentally and would be a clubhouse distraction, which is what you don't need when trying to make a World Series push.  When Hendry realized he wasn't going to be able to land CC, I think he naturally went to Oakland and asked what was it going to take.  Sean Gallagher was the piece he didn't want to give up out of that deal, and the only effect that the CC trade to the Brew Crew had was make him throw in Gallagher just to make sure he would land Haren and get it done before any other team could go nuts and offer half of a team for him.  I just hope  I believe Hendry when he said that he wanted Harden two weeks ago, but couldn't get it done with what he wanted to give Oakland.  I don't believe that Miluakee landing Sabathia forced him into this trade at all.  I imagine it just as more of a coinceidnece, then a panic move, that they happend so close to each other.  I would imagine that we would be sitting here talking about Harden and Gaudin even if CC wasn't moved yet because Hendry already made up his mind before we were even thinking about it.  I think it was the total opposite in fact, and the Brewers heard that we were close to landing Harden and wanted to make sure that they got CC before the Cardinals could jump in and grab him.  Because look at St. Louis now, what are they going to do?  They obviosly have to make some sort of move to get any pitching help that they can.  Mulder was suppose to come back and be that move or in a sense bring up the team like a trade, but he lasted all of 0.1 innings before the dream came to meet a hard wall of reality.  Chris Carpenter is still over a month and a half from returning and the Cubs and Brewers could bury lil ol St. Louis by then and build up a huge lead in the standings.  That's where the Brewers did not want to be, left in the dust.  So even though they are only renting CC, for half of a season they thought it was worth it, just to have a shot at the wild card or the division if the Cubs falter.  The one thing that CC going to Miluakee does do is make them a powerhouse in a playoff series later this year.  Facing Ben Sheets and CC number 1 and 2 will slow down any offense and make the other team have to work to take any of those games from them as long as their offense doesn't go into hibernation, because with a young team like that, games 163, 164 and so on take a huge toll on their young minds and bodies.  I am still standing by my earlier statement I made a couple weeks ago that the only opponent that could beat the Cubs are the Cubs themselves.  As long as they stay healthy and away from falling into that July/August slump that us fans are so accustomed to, we will be in the playoffs with a good shot at winning the NL and more.  Til next time my friends, this is Fro and Go Cubs Go!!!