The Dan Haren Conundrum (or Travesty?)

[Slateman]

That's what happens when a guy who never has gotten a big deal before, gets a big deal. He doesn't have to prove himself every start to the team. I believe that if we brought him back on a 1 year deal with an option he'd be as good for us as he was last year.

Why would he take a 1 year deal when Chicago offered him three? I also think you're forgetting how mundane he was the second half of last year.

[Ray D]

Why would he take a 1 year deal when Chicago offered him three? I also think you're forgetting how mundane he was the second half of last year.

I think he meant if we had tendered him an offer.   If we had done so he would have lost value, would not have gotten a three-year offer, and would have signed a one-year deal here.

[Ray D]

I also think you're forgetting how mundane he was the second half of last year.

No.  But one half is better than no halves.

[aspenbubba]

Mindfacting here but Jackson is averaging 5 and a third innings per start this year. Haren is averaging 5 and two-thirds.

Jackson's ERA is also over 6 and he's walking over 3 batter per 9 innings.

I am comparing last years EJax to this years Haren

[Slateman]

I am comparing last years EJax to this years Haren

How about comparing this year's EJax to this year's Haren?

[HalfSmokes]

it's not like he gets enough run support for his atrociousness to actually matter

[Slateman]

it's not like he gets enough run support for his atrociousness to actually matter

Right. If he had only given up three runs last night, he still would have lost.

[madj55]

I think he meant if we had tendered him an offer.   If we had done so he would have lost value, would not have gotten a three-year offer, and would have signed a one-year deal here.

Precisely.

How about comparing this year's EJax to this year's Haren?

This comparison doesn't hold much weight to me since EJax isn't with us. Just like with Morse, I only care about how he fit in and performed for our team. Jackson had strikeout stuff and extra velocity where if he made a mistake he could still get it past hitters. Haren can't do that, even against teams that don't hit a lot of homers like the Mets. And aside from two bad starts in which he gave up 8 earned against the Rockies and Cardinals, Jackson was actually very solid for us as a #4 guy.

[More of #34]

Haren adds another problem to the myriad ones we have this year.

[mitlen]

His last two games he was great the first two times through the lineup.  Maybe he's just a middle relief type pitcher now?  Innings eater out of the bullpen?  Better for the bullpen than H-Rod?

I don't have the answer but that sure would be an expensive bullpen with Haren and Soriano.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

I just about fell off my chair when I saw that Haren is getting 13 large this year.

I don't have the answer but that sure would be an expensive bullpen with Haren and Soriano.

[MorseTheHorse]

Boz does not like Haren:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/washington-nationals-havent-met-expectations-so-what-now/2013/06/10/085a7a18-d218-11e2-8cbe-1bcbee06f8f8_story.html

Frankly, I don't get the hate, at least to the severe levels Boz lets loose.  Hope Haren puts up a good game tonight. 

[aspenbubba]

Boz does not like Haren:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/washington-nationals-havent-met-expectations-so-what-now/2013/06/10/085a7a18-d218-11e2-8cbe-1bcbee06f8f8_story.html

Frankly, I don't get the hate, at least to the severe levels Boz lets loose.  Hope Haren puts up a good game tonight. 

At Coors Field? When pigs fly.

[MorseTheHorse]

At Coors Field? When pigs fly.

Heh, forgot about that.  I can still hope he does well tho!

[Slateman]

Over/under for runs given up by Haren tonight: 6

[TigerFan]

Boz does not like Haren:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/washington-nationals-havent-met-expectations-so-what-now/2013/06/10/085a7a18-d218-11e2-8cbe-1bcbee06f8f8_story.html

Frankly, I don't get the hate, at least to the severe levels Boz lets loose.  Hope Haren puts up a good game tonight.

I get where the hate is coming from. Haren is arguably putting up his worst MLB season.  This coming after signing a fat contract.  It could be a mindfact but it seems in many sports after signing a large deal, be it one year or long term, players take their foot off the gas pedal.  I'd assume it is comforting knowing they are financially set and don't need to bear down as much knowing even a bad season they are ok. 

Haren is different in so much as it was just a one year deal and a really poor year hurts his 2014 status with any team.   

[madj55]

Carlos Gonzalez might hit one 500 feet off Haren tonight

[sportsfan882]

Cargo and Tulo have been unbelievable this year. Tonight's game is going to be a crapshow.

Is Ohlendorf still starting tomorrow too?

[Minty Fresh]

Cargo and Tulo have been unbelievable this year. Tonight's game is going to be a crapshow.

Is Ohlendorf still starting tomorrow too?

+1

The positivity of the Twins DH is coming to an end....

[CurlyW4lyfe]

I thought Detwiler was coming back this week.

[Displaced Bucco]

Over/under for home runs given up by Haren tonight: 6

FIFY

[machpost]

Haren's not great. But I wonder how his stats compare to all the other #5 starters out there.

[HalfSmokes]

Haren's not great. But I wonder how his stats compare to all the other #5 starters out there.

his fip this year is 173rd among starters (era is about the same). If you make it a minimum of 30 IP (i.e. eliminating the spot starters and the one or two game injury replacements), he jumps to to 130, but only out of 152 qualifiers. So he's one of the worst starters in the league pretty much anyway you look at it. As far as compared to number five starters, if you multiple 30 teams by 4, that's 120, so ideally, the number 121 starter is the best number five in the league and the number 150 is the worst, so it's safe to assume that compared to other number 5s, he still sucks

[nobleisthyname]

His xFIP is 4.18, his SIERA is 3.97. Those are pretty solid for a #5 starter. His problem has been the long ball. Unfortunately Coors Field isn't the best place to try and change that 

I'm hopeful he pitches like he did against the Orioles/Phillies/Braves/Dodgers (all his good starts in May) but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't apprehensive for tonight's game.

[TigerFan]

Also what no one has mentioned recently at least is he is being paid $13M.  I can't imagine there are two other #5's if that being paid that kind of money.