Texas Rangers right-hander Rich Harden carried a no-hitter through 6 2/3 innings on Monday, when manager Ron Washington trotted out to the mound to make a decision.
The outcome: Washington pulled Harden, who walked off the mound to a collective groaning from the fans at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
Had I been in attendance, I probably would have been one of the few applauding Washington's decision from the very start. It was the right call, and a painfully obvious one. I was watching the game on mlb.tv at work, and the moment Harden stepped off the mound, I agreed with the move.
Yes, Harden campaigned on the mound to Washington. The mound visit took longer than usual. Harden wanted to be in there, and I applaud his competitive nature. But the move needed to be made.
Harden threw 111 pitches. He could have stayed in the game longer had he not walked five batters, the last of whom Harden put on base on four straight pitches.
Harden was just coming off the disabled list for right shoulder tendinitis. To get through that game, his pitch count would have likely been near 150. Had that been the case, another trip to the DL would have been imminent.
For a guy as fragile as Harden's history suggests, this had to be an easy call for Washington.
Elevating Harden's pitch count any higher could have had unfavorable consequences.
Take Toronto's Brandon Morrow, who flirted with a no-hitter on Aug. 8, for instance. Morrow threw 136 pitches that day against Tampa Bay. His no-hitter was broken up in the ninth, but he completed the game and struck out an absurd 17 batters. He made his next start with added rest (nine days), and still only went four innings.
Another example is Edwin Jackson, who typically is known for his ability to make a lot of pitches. Jackson, then with the Arizona Diamondbacks, threw a no-hitter against the Rays (odd theme there) on June 25 in Tampa, Fla. His pitch count was 150 by game's end. A ludicrous eight walks didn't help the situation. Anyway, Jackson only went five innings in his next two starts.
If there's one thing Harden needs to work on, it's consistency. He's had three games where he's looked rather brilliant this season. He's followed them up with sub-par performances each time. That's a big reason his record only stands at 5-4, his ERA sits at 5.00 and his strikeout-to-walk ratio is a less than desirable 70/55.
When he's on, he can be well above-average. Harden probably earned himself another start over Derek Holland with his performance against the Twins.
By pulling Harden after 6.2 innings, Washington is giving Harden the opportunity to cement his name in the rotation for the rest of the season. I'd be OK with him as a fifth starter if he can stay healthy and semi-limit his walks (I say that because Harden will never be able to fully eliminate his walks).
He should be able to pitch on normal rest and continue to compete in an exciting pennant race. Harden has no reason to be mad at Washington for last night's move. He should actually thank him.
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