Rusch has to go!!!!!

[Mizzou]

I don't think I'd DFA Rusch. He'd make a good inning eater on those days that we suck monkey balls --- it happens to everyone.

 

My fear would be that Dusty would put him in too many pressure type situations. Maybe, maybe not.

 

 

Crap, I don't know. When the big guns come back, Rusch may have to be traded or DFA'd.

 

Agreed. If used properly, he could be a good innings eating garbage man, but the only problem with that is that there will not be very many situations for him to come in since we wouldn't have him in the rotation anymore.

 

I'd DFA him - Williams can cover that role.

 

You also don't have bosses that wouldn't be very happy with you losing 5 million dollars. He isn't going to be DFA'd.

Two words: sunk cost.

[PrimeTime]

whats up guys, this is my first post ever on NSB ,so i thought i would join the party and let my frustration out on Rusch and the rest of the cubs mistakes , the guy is REALLY bad,..he sucks so bad that he could probably suck a golf ball through a garden hose... Its sucks when u have a starter going and u expect to lose that day and you have no confidence in him and have more confidnece in guys liek marshall and guzman.... Hes the estes of '03, and pretty much a ...John Garland.. 1 good year.. and hes a bum the rest of his career...they need to seriously stop giving these guys so many chances.Leaving them way in there way to long...hendry is just to nice ..he thinks they can do a complete 180 out of nowhere.. and gives them way to many chances Example : C. Patterson... we need to bring up the " untouchable " Rich Hill who was untradeable and put him in rotation instead of Rusch.. The good thing they did was sending williams to tripleA , wow ive seen 13 year old girls throw better than that chump.and rusch. also Hairston reallly sucks....get rid of him too.....also im sick of hearin about guys of the future and all that... the future is now..its 98 years, and we have no time to wait..its now or never... thank you all

[sunnydoo]

Ohman has to go. Keep Rusch for long relief and bring up Hill, until Williams can come back.

 

Good lord.... Zambrano, Hill, Maddux, Marshall, and Guzman.

 

Long Relief...Rusch

Mid Relief...Novoa/Aardsma

Set up...Williamson/Eyre/Howry

Closer...Dempster

 

The other option would be to send Rusch to Atlanta so they can get rid of Sosa, who is one of the worst starting pitchers i have personally ever seen (this guy makes Sean Estes look like Walter Johnson). Dont know what they would be willing to give us, but I dont want to help them really that much either because we will be fighting later on for a wild card with them.

 

Hendry is going to have to make trades eventually anyway with 6 roster spots needed for all the DL type people.

 

Edit: and welcome to the forums...

[Diffusion]

I was a Glendon Rusch fan until he showed up to Spring Training in terrible shape.

[RynoRules]

I was a Glendon Rusch fan until he showed up to Spring Training in terrible shape.

 

That's a good point that no one else has mentioned. He has been stocky since he got here, but this year he is plain fat. He's David Wells minus the ability to get guys out.

[CUBZ99]

From Suntimes:

 

Baker's next move was to meet after the game with Hendry and pitching coach Larry Rothschild to discuss Rusch's future.

 

One of their options is to recall left-hander Rich Hill from Iowa, where he is 1-0 with a 1.44 ERA and has 33 strikeouts in 25 innings, and reassign Rusch to the bullpen as their third left-hander to go with Scott Eyre and Will Ohman.

 

"I got to talk to Jim and Larry and try to figure this thing out,'' Baker said. "I don't have any answers for you right now. That was a struggle today. Tough day for us, weatherwise and gamewise. They were hitting the ball out of the park big-time, and we were behind from the very first batter.''

 

I guess this debunks the Dusty had to have Rusch in the rotation theory. Rusch was a horrible signing that lies soley on the shoulders of Hendry who vastly overpaid for him.

[JC]

From Suntimes:

 

Baker's next move was to meet after the game with Hendry and pitching coach Larry Rothschild to discuss Rusch's future.

 

One of their options is to recall left-hander Rich Hill from Iowa, where he is 1-0 with a 1.44 ERA and has 33 strikeouts in 25 innings, and reassign Rusch to the bullpen as their third left-hander to go with Scott Eyre and Will Ohman.

 

"I got to talk to Jim and Larry and try to figure this thing out,'' Baker said. "I don't have any answers for you right now. That was a struggle today. Tough day for us, weatherwise and gamewise. They were hitting the ball out of the park big-time, and we were behind from the very first batter.''

 

I guess this debunks the Dusty had to have Rusch in the rotation theory. Rusch was a horrible signing that lies soley on the shoulders of Hendry who vastly overpaid for him.

 

How so?

[Derwood]

Okay, while there is no way to defend the total suckitude of Rusch this year, there is one thing to keep in mind:

 

It is unlikely that the Cubs would have won most of Rusch's starts anyways. Here was the Cubs' fabulous run support for Rusch in his first 5 starts:

 

04/05 - 6 runs (L)

04/11 - 2 runs (L)

04/16 - 7 runs (W)

04/22 - 1 run (L)

04/29 - 2 runs (L)

 

You could argue that an average major league pitcher should have won the April 5th game, but few pitchers on our staff (or any other) are going to win games when their team scores 2 or fewer runs. I think we are blinded to this fact by the enormous amount of runs Rusch gives up, and certainly the early blowout nature of his starts could have a psychological affect on his offense (thus scoring few runs) but there is no way to prove that.

 

Anyways, my point is that I believe Rusch has really only cost the Cubs one more loss than they should have had considering the scores of his 5 starts.

[E.J.]

Okay, while there is no way to defend the total suckitude of Rusch this year, there is one thing to keep in mind:

 

It is unlikely that the Cubs would have won most of Rusch's starts anyways. Here was the Cubs' fabulous run support for Rusch in his first 5 starts:

 

04/05 - 6 runs (L)

04/11 - 2 runs (L)

04/16 - 7 runs (W)

04/22 - 1 run (L)

04/29 - 2 runs (L)

 

You could argue that an average major league pitcher should have won the April 5th game, but few pitchers on our staff (or any other) are going to win games when their team scores 2 or fewer runs. I think we are blinded to this fact by the enormous amount of runs Rusch gives up, and certainly the early blowout nature of his starts could have a psychological affect on his offense (thus scoring few runs) but there is no way to prove that.

 

Anyways, my point is that I believe Rusch has really only cost the Cubs one more loss than they should have had considering the scores of his 5 starts.

 

Regardless of run support, Rusch just isn't getting it done. You can't have a starter with an ERA above 8. That's just not good.

[Derwood]

Okay, while there is no way to defend the total suckitude of Rusch this year, there is one thing to keep in mind:

 

It is unlikely that the Cubs would have won most of Rusch's starts anyways. Here was the Cubs' fabulous run support for Rusch in his first 5 starts:

 

04/05 - 6 runs (L)

04/11 - 2 runs (L)

04/16 - 7 runs (W)

04/22 - 1 run (L)

04/29 - 2 runs (L)

 

You could argue that an average major league pitcher should have won the April 5th game, but few pitchers on our staff (or any other) are going to win games when their team scores 2 or fewer runs. I think we are blinded to this fact by the enormous amount of runs Rusch gives up, and certainly the early blowout nature of his starts could have a psychological affect on his offense (thus scoring few runs) but there is no way to prove that.

 

Anyways, my point is that I believe Rusch has really only cost the Cubs one more loss than they should have had considering the scores of his 5 starts.

 

Regardless of run support, Rusch just isn't getting it done. You can't have a starter with an ERA above 8. That's just not good.

 

of course, of course. I was just pointing out that he hasn't really cost ys many games so far

[bhogg]

Look at his IP in those games.

 

Not many teams are going go win when they are down 2-5 runs by the 3rd inning.

[USSoccer]

From Suntimes:

 

Baker's next move was to meet after the game with Hendry and pitching coach Larry Rothschild to discuss Rusch's future.

 

One of their options is to recall left-hander Rich Hill from Iowa, where he is 1-0 with a 1.44 ERA and has 33 strikeouts in 25 innings, and reassign Rusch to the bullpen as their third left-hander to go with Scott Eyre and Will Ohman.

 

"I got to talk to Jim and Larry and try to figure this thing out,'' Baker said. "I don't have any answers for you right now. That was a struggle today. Tough day for us, weatherwise and gamewise. They were hitting the ball out of the park big-time, and we were behind from the very first batter.''

 

I guess this debunks the Dusty had to have Rusch in the rotation theory. Rusch was a horrible signing that lies soley on the shoulders of Hendry who vastly overpaid for him.

 

How so?

 

I think the only thing that quote shows is that Baker is less willing to stick with crap this year.

[Blueheart05]

Okay, while there is no way to defend the total suckitude of Rusch this year, there is one thing to keep in mind:

 

It is unlikely that the Cubs would have won most of Rusch's starts anyways. Here was the Cubs' fabulous run support for Rusch in his first 5 starts:

 

04/05 - 6 runs (L)

04/11 - 2 runs (L)

04/16 - 7 runs (W)

04/22 - 1 run (L)

04/29 - 2 runs (L)

 

You could argue that an average major league pitcher should have won the April 5th game, but few pitchers on our staff (or any other) are going to win games when their team scores 2 or fewer runs. I think we are blinded to this fact by the enormous amount of runs Rusch gives up, and certainly the early blowout nature of his starts could have a psychological affect on his offense (thus scoring few runs) but there is no way to prove that.

 

Anyways, my point is that I believe Rusch has really only cost the Cubs one more loss than they should have had considering the scores of his 5 starts.

 

There's something to be said for guys losing focus when they get blown out, are in a tight scoring game and their pitcher all of a sudden falls apart, or when they find themselves playing catchup early in the game. I don't think Glendon inspires the confidence of his teammates; In Rusch's losses, he has allowed the opposition to take the lead first or could not maintain the momentum when his team gave him a lead.

[srbin84]

I was at the game yesterday (first 5 innings), and it was pretty obvious the hitters had mailed it in after we were down 8-0. Almost everybody was swinging for the fences on the first couple pitches and flying out.

[Blueheart05]

From Suntimes:

 

Baker's next move was to meet after the game with Hendry and pitching coach Larry Rothschild to discuss Rusch's future.

 

One of their options is to recall left-hander Rich Hill from Iowa, where he is 1-0 with a 1.44 ERA and has 33 strikeouts in 25 innings, and reassign Rusch to the bullpen as their third left-hander to go with Scott Eyre and Will Ohman.

 

"I got to talk to Jim and Larry and try to figure this thing out,'' Baker said. "I don't have any answers for you right now. That was a struggle today. Tough day for us, weatherwise and gamewise. They were hitting the ball out of the park big-time, and we were behind from the very first batter.''

 

I guess this debunks the Dusty had to have Rusch in the rotation theory. Rusch was a horrible signing that lies soley on the shoulders of Hendry who vastly overpaid for him.

 

How so?

 

I think the only thing that quote shows is that Baker is less willing to stick with crap this year.

 

 

That's a good thing. The Rusch experiment has failed mightily this year so it's time to move on and hide him in the bullpen. The Cubs have other options at starting pitcher. I have no idea what Hill will provide in the MLs but I would like to give him the opportunity to start until Wood returns to the rotation.

[snoodmonger]

I was at the game yesterday (first 5 innings), and it was pretty obvious the hitters had mailed it in after we were down 8-0. Almost everybody was swinging for the fences on the first couple pitches and flying out.

 

And while that's understandable, you'd like to see some guys try to work a BB at that point. Chances are we won't hit 8 solo shots. But a few walks, a few basehits, get into the bullpen...who knows.

 

Regardless, Rusch is awful, and the one thing the Cubs have to learn is when these veteran guys bust out with a magical season, chances are they'll regress the next year and thus, don't deserve a longterm contract . (See Fassero, Gaetti, Rusch, Morandini, Borowski to a lesser degree, etc.)

[RyCubsFan]

I don't think anyone's mentioned Ryu in this this thread, but he's another option for middle relief.

 

Ryu's pitching well in Iowa, and might be a better option than Aardsma, Williams, or Wuertz at the moment. In his last start, he went 7 innings without giving up a run.

[Shavo]

I don't think anyone's mentioned Ryu in this this thread, but he's another option for middle relief.

 

Ryu's pitching well in Iowa, and might be a better option than Aardsma, Williams, or Wuertz at the moment. In his last start, he went 7 innings without giving up a run.

 

How about Rusch DFA and Ryu up? Ryu can start a few games until Woody comes back, and if he is better than Guzman he can continue to start until Prior is back. (I'd also send Aardvark down and recall Wuertz.)

[abuck1220]

I don't think anyone's mentioned Ryu in this this thread, but he's another option for middle relief.

 

Ryu's pitching well in Iowa, and might be a better option than Aardsma, Williams, or Wuertz at the moment. In his last start, he went 7 innings without giving up a run.

 

How about Rusch DFA and Ryu up? Ryu can start a few games until Woody comes back, and if he is better than Guzman he can continue to start until Prior is back. (I'd also send Aardvark down and recall Wuertz.)

 

if ryu gets starts ahead of hill, then hill needs to be traded. it simply wouldn't be fair for him to pitch that well for so long and be 11th on the depth chart.

[Shavo]

I don't think anyone's mentioned Ryu in this this thread, but he's another option for middle relief.

 

Ryu's pitching well in Iowa, and might be a better option than Aardsma, Williams, or Wuertz at the moment. In his last start, he went 7 innings without giving up a run.

 

How about Rusch DFA and Ryu up? Ryu can start a few games until Woody comes back, and if he is better than Guzman he can continue to start until Prior is back. (I'd also send Aardvark down and recall Wuertz.)

 

if ryu gets starts ahead of hill, then hill needs to be traded. it simply wouldn't be fair for him to pitch that well for so long and be 11th on the depth chart.

 

Good point. I want to see Hill up but it should have been from day 1. I either want this kid in the rotation for good or traded.

[Laura]

I was at the game yesterday (first 5 innings), and it was pretty obvious the hitters had mailed it in after we were down 8-0. Almost everybody was swinging for the fences on the first couple pitches and flying out.

 

Standing in the cold rain for hours at a time isn't good for morale.

[RyCubsFan]

I don't think anyone's mentioned Ryu in this this thread, but he's another option for middle relief.

 

Ryu's pitching well in Iowa, and might be a better option than Aardsma, Williams, or Wuertz at the moment. In his last start, he went 7 innings without giving up a run.

 

How about Rusch DFA and Ryu up? Ryu can start a few games until Woody comes back, and if he is better than Guzman he can continue to start until Prior is back. (I'd also send Aardvark down and recall Wuertz.)

 

 

I'd be in favor of HILL getting Rusch's spot in the rotation....and Ryu for middle relief. I don't think Ryu should leap HILL at this point.

[Shavo]

I don't think anyone's mentioned Ryu in this this thread, but he's another option for middle relief.

 

Ryu's pitching well in Iowa, and might be a better option than Aardsma, Williams, or Wuertz at the moment. In his last start, he went 7 innings without giving up a run.

 

How about Rusch DFA and Ryu up? Ryu can start a few games until Woody comes back, and if he is better than Guzman he can continue to start until Prior is back. (I'd also send Aardvark down and recall Wuertz.)

 

 

I'd be in favor of HILL getting Rusch's spot in the rotation....and Ryu for middle relief. I don't think Ryu should leap HILL at this point.

 

I'm in favor of signing Al Lieter to take Rusch's spot in the rotation right now. As long as he gawn, I'm happy.

[treebird]

I don't think I'd DFA Rusch. He'd make a good inning eater on those days that we suck monkey balls --- it happens to everyone.

 

My fear would be that Dusty would put him in too many pressure type situations. Maybe, maybe not.

 

 

Crap, I don't know. When the big guns come back, Rusch may have to be traded or DFA'd.

 

Agreed. If used properly, he could be a good innings eating garbage man, but the only problem with that is that there will not be very many situations for him to come in since we wouldn't have him in the rotation anymore.

 

I'd DFA him - Williams can cover that role.

 

You also don't have bosses that wouldn't be very happy with you losing 5 million dollars. He isn't going to be DFA'd.

Two words: sunk cost.

 

exactly. we're paying rusch this money no matter what, it's stupid to pay him this money AND let him screw up our team.

[SAMMYWHO]

Maybe this should be in transactions but I think he should be traded like yesterday. I would call up KC and see if I could get Reggie Sanders and platoon him with Jacque. Any other ideas?