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Dave
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Post subject: Rich Harden took shot for shoulder pain
 Posted: Oct 03, 2008 - 02:54 AM CST
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Site Admin
Joined: Apr 18, 2005
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If Rich Harden pitches well in Game 3 on Saturday, one reason might be the cortisone shot he got in his right shoulder a month ago.
Multiple team sources confirmed Thursday that Harden received an anti-inflammatory shot for the discomfort that sidelined him for 12 days between his Aug. 29 and Sept. 11 starts.
It's not rare for pitchers to get anti-inflammatory injections, and insiders suggest it can be considered maintenance as much as injury relief for a pitcher with a history of problems but no structural damage.
Harden's cortisone shot first was reported in Buster Olney's blog on ESPN.com. Harden, who has spent time on the disabled list in four consecutive seasons -- including early this season with the Oakland Athletics -- declined to comment on it Thursday.
The fact he had a shot helps explain some of the strange answers manager Lou Piniella gave during a pregame news conference at the time, continually referring to Harden as ''not available'' to pitch while being evasive about why.
Harden is 1-0 with a 2.65 ERA in three starts since the injection. He's 10-2 with a 2.07 ERA overall this season, making the second-highest number of starts (25) and pitching the second-most innings (148) of his career.
Crowd call
Some said the Game 1 crowd wasn't as animated as regular-season crowds at Wrigley Field, a perception at least one Cubs player shared.
''I did notice it a little bit,'' shortstop Ryan Theriot said. ''The crowd here has always been so great for us and for me. Anytime we can get home games, we're really excited because of it.''
If the wind seemed to leave the crowd's sails Wednesday after James Loney's grand slam, Theriot insisted the Cubs remained confident about the series.
''It doesn't matter if you win the first three or the last three,'' he said.
Who has the goat?
Cubs curses continue to be a topic, even for the Dodgers. Manager Joe Torre was asked again Thursday about the 2004 American League Championship Series, which his New York Yankees lost to the Boston Red Sox after holding a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Red Sox went on to win their first World Series since 1918.
''I'll let you know how important that series was,'' Torre said. ''I brought in the closer in the eighth inning in Game 4 when we were up three games to none. I don't want to leave anything to chance. We have to go out there and be ready to beat [the Cubs], and I don't really buy into any of the history.''
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball ... 03.article
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