PEORIA, Ariz. — The ghosts of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood still hover at Cubs camp, casting their weary shadows over right-hander Rich Harden.
After making his Cactus League debut Tuesday with two scoreless innings against Seattle, Harden went through the same grilling about his arm strength that Prior and Wood heard year after year following spring outings.
It may be unfair to compare Harden with the oft-injured pitching duo, but Harden has come to accept that his health will always be scrutinized in Chicago.
"I totally understand that," he said. "I've had some injuries in my past, and that's just the way it is. Even if I'm healthy four years in a row, people are still going to think about that, so I just accept it."
Harden allowed two hits while striking out one, throwing 17 of his 25 pitches for strikes. Manager Lou Piniella announced before the game that Harden would be his No. 4 starter, pitching April 10 in Milwaukee.
The rotation is rounding into shape, with Ted Lilly as No. 3 and Sean Marshall likely in the fifth hole. Piniella said he would skip the fifth starter because of a day off in the first week, saving Marshall for the opening of the St. Louis series April 16 at Wrigley Field. Marshall can be available out of the bullpen the first week, assuming he's named the starter.
The only other question is who will be the Opening Day starter April 6 in Houston. Piniella has spoken to Ryan Dempster and Carlos Zambrano, and both have said they would like to pitch that day.
"Me and Zambrano don't even talk anymore," Dempster deadpanned. "Actually, I'm just kind of digging this middle-relief role."
Dempster threw three shutout innings in relief of Harden, getting the cheap victory and saying it was "the best I've thrown all spring." Aaron Heilman, a long-shot candidate for the rotation, also threw three strong innings, allowing one run while striking out five.
But the story was Harden.
"It's nice to get that first one out of the way," he said. "I feel normal now, like I'm part of the team."
Harden, of course, is already a major part of the team, having gone 5-1 with a 1.77 ERA in 12 starts after arriving from Oakland last June in a multiplayer trade. He said he felt strong after Tuesday's outing but didn't want to predict he's back for good.
"I don't want to think about that too much," he said. "There's still a long ways to go. I feel great. Hopefully, I'll continue on this path. I've put a lot of hard work in."
Harden may be the most feared No. 4 starter in baseball if he pitches as effectively as he did with the Cubs last year. While some worry about arm problems, his teammates are dreaming of watching a healthy Harden go a whole season without having to deal with the Wood-Prior comparisons.
"He has worked really hard this winter and I'm sure he'll surprise a lot of people being able to make every start he's asked to make," Dempster said. "He's in really good shape, and a healthy Rich Harden … the numbers don't lie. He's pretty dominating, as dominating as anyone in the game. It'll be fun to watch him every fifth day."
