The Cubs certainly got better by acquiring Rich Harden from the A’s. If healthy, Harden is one of the most overpowering pitchers in the game.

Of course, that is the big if. That is why A’s general manager Billy Beane had no reservations about moving him now rather than awaiting additional bidding before the waivers-free deadline.

Here is what some folks outside this market are saying about the deal:

Buster Olney, ESPN.com: “For the Cubs, the trade is a calculated gamble because Harden is nothing less than Mark Prior Redux: He can be dominating, and he can be maddening. He could be the difference between success and heartbreak if he’s healthy, and if he’s injured, he could be the difference between success and heartbreak.”

Jay Mariotti, Chicago Sun-Times: “All you need to know about Harden is that he would lead major-league starters in two categories over the last three seasons — a 2.95 ERA and .201 batting average against — if only he had thrown enough innings to qualify. He has managed merely 26 starts and 149 1/3 innings during that span, which makes him the riskiest of saviors for a franchise that ran out of rosary beads decades ago.”

Ray Ratto, San Francisco Chronicle: “Harden’s previous two starts lasted only five innings each and were marked by lower velocity, and he looked stiff and uncomfortable in his last one against the White Sox on Sunday, so maybe Beane smelled trouble a-brewin’. Maybe he couldn’t bear to put Harden back on the disabled list one more time, or maybe he thought opposing scouts suddenly would downgrade Harden to their superiors.”

Scott Miller, CBSSports.com: “If Harden, 26, can keep his body parts intact and not allow any ligaments, tendons, muscles, joints, teeth, fingernails, etc., to blow into a million pieces, if he can stay on the field and make his start every fifth day, then the Cubs just acquired a right-hander with Cy Young stuff and a drought-killing fastball. As in, that pesky little 100-year drought between World Series wins, 1908 and … 2008? Could be . . . gone.”

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

Questions to ponder while wondering if Joel Pineiro is finally ready is make a positive difference this season:

• What’s more exciting than Chris Duncan arriving home two seconds after the throw gets there?
• Wouldn’t this be a great time for Troy Glaus to resume hitting?
• Is it just us, or does Rafael Nadal look more like a NFL linebacker these days than a tennis player?
• Who could have possibly imagined Michael Vick would run into money troubles?

THAT’S JUST MEAN

Yes, summer has heated all the way up. Just ask NBC funnyman Jay Leno. “It was so hot,” he recently said, “Madonna called A-Rod’s wife just to get the cold shoulder.”

QUIPS ‘R US

Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:

Dwight Perry, Seattle Times: “Pitcher C.C. Sabathia, upon arriving in Milwaukee via trade Monday, asked reporters to henceforth lose the two periods after his initials, please. Oh, and while you’re at it, move the period one digit to the left on his 13.50 All-Star ERA.”

Mark Kriegel, FoxSports.com: “George Costanza didn’t strike out as much as Ryan Howard.”

Bob Ford, Philadelphia Inquirer, on baseball’s gimmicky selection process for its midsummer classic: “When all this nonsense is over, there will be an All-Star Game on Tuesday in Yankee Stadium. It should be quite a show. If they can get Madonna to sing the national anthem with Lenny Kravitz doing the backup vocals, that would just about make it perfect.”

Greg Cote, Miami Herald, suggesting the Dolphins should go after Brett Favre: “Seems he has had a change of heart and wishes to recant his March 4 retirement, but Green Bay appears to have yanked away the welcome mat, like Lucy used to yank away the football just as Charlie Brown was about to kick it. Miami is a team that needs a QB it can trust and rely on in 2008. Favre last missed a game in 1992. Seriously. Tomorrow’s sunrise cannot be trusted and relied on like this dude.”

Mike Downey, Chicago Tribune: “St. Louis hockey player Matt Walker just became a Blackhawk. Uh, oh, Tony La Russa is not going to like this.”

Jerry Greene, Orlando Sentinel: “Colorado Rockies Manager Clint Hurdle should have reconsidered before offering this advice to fans upset about the team’s play: ‘Stop coming, then. That’s the best statement you could make.’”

MEGAPHONE

“It’s more an indication that we’ve got a lot of guys injured and we’re selling, not buying. That said, since the beginning of the year, we’ve exceeded expectations, and for the guys remaining, we’re going to work to continue to do that.”

A’s reliever Huston Street, on Oakland’s latest midseason bailout.