Filed:June 29th, 2009

Cubs starter RIch Harden (Cubbie Nation/file)

Quick, uneventful, and successful. That is how I prefer all games against the Pirates, and exactly what the Cubs delivered Monday, winning 3-1 in an unofficial 2:18.

Thank you, Rich Harden. After some very shaky start since his return from the DL (0-2, 5.67 ERA), we got to see some vintage Harden in this game; hard fastball, changeups down and in the dirt, and out in front of hitters most of the night. He'd go seven innings, striking out nine along the way.

Actually, there were no complaints about the pitching, as both Carlos Marmol and Kevin Gregg were equally effective in relief, with the Cubs staff walking only one Pirate on the night.

But the highlight belonged to Ryan Theriot, who again went gonzo, driving a solo shot to right off of starter Zack Duke in the third, his seventh of the season. Sometimes I miss the old slap-hitting, opposite-field driving Theriot, but given the Cubs problems scoring right now, I'll take the new version happily.

In some off the field news, Aaron Miles has gone on the 15-day DL with an elbow injury, with Sam Fuld being called up from AAA to replace him on the roster. I think this injury is legit. Happened to get some photos from the Twins game a few week back, and think I caught where he injured it; a play behind second that he had to elevate, and throw off balance on.He appeared to grimace and favor it for awhile. I guess it was a little worse than initially thought.

I wish him well in his recovery, but I would suggest the Cubs think about leaving him there for a few months; he won't be missed. It would leave a roster spot open in case, you know, a trade comes up. There's nothing on his swing right now, so if a couple of quiet months allows him to get his right side well, I say do it. A healthy Aaron Miles is at least useful. Injured, he isn't worth the spot.

And congratulations to ex-Cub Casey McGehee, who hit a grand slam Tuesday in the Brewers 10-6 win over the Mets. I could have done without a Brewer victory, but it does my heart well to see old Cub farmhands doing well around the league. Kind of quiets the argument that they can't produce MLB-ready positional talent.