I do my best to be consistent. All the accolades—the All-Star games and stuff—those just come along with the territory. If I’m just healthy and I make 34 starts a year, I know the numbers will be there. I just try to be a leader for the staff, lead by example, and try to be a guy other pitchers can turn to. 20
North Valley JUNE | JULY 2010
55 batters in a season. Because of those numbers, and because of the direction they’re heading, Haren’s name is routinely dropped among the best in baseball—CC Sabathia, Roy Halladay, Zack Grienke, Tim Lincecum, Josh Beckett, Felix Hernandez, Brandon Webb. His manager ranks Haren up there with the big names after his opening-day start, and
the rest of the league’s players and managers have picked him for the All-Star Game three years in a row. Haren says he doesn’t necessarily think of himself in that way. “Ever yone is a different k ind of pitcher,” he says. “My game is hitting the strike zone, pounding the strike zone. I don’t need to be mentioned with those guys. I know this team needs me to be