DFA RUSCH NOW

[JC]

Were Rusch DFA'd, he'd just get picked up by the Pirates and throw 2 or 3 shutouts against the Cubs the rest of the season.

[CubsBullsBears]

Rusch is an unproductive veteren. The kind of player Dusty likes. And I bet Dusty thinks he's a messiah based on 2004, the way Hendry thinks of Dusty based on 2003.

[abuck1220]

Emotions getting the better of you? I feel the same way, but logically, you have to hold on to Rusch until the deadline.

 

He's a lefty, with some upside. Hold him until then, and trade him in the eleventh hour for a decent prospect. Who cares if the Cubs pick up that salary (or most of it), just get something for him. Believe me, there will be takers out there for Rusch. To DFA him would be a mistake - bad business, if you will.

 

first of all, rusch has NO upside. none. secondly, you're kidding yourself if you think the cubs can get a "decent" prospect for a guy that would be w/o a team if not for the cubs. he's old and he has a 7.29 era. the cubs aren't getting crap for him.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Emotions getting the better of you? I feel the same way, but logically, you have to hold on to Rusch until the deadline.

 

He's a lefty, with some upside. Hold him until then, and trade him in the eleventh hour for a decent prospect. Who cares if the Cubs pick up that salary (or most of it), just get something for him. Believe me, there will be takers out there for Rusch. To DFA him would be a mistake - bad business, if you will.

 

first of all, rusch has NO upside. none. secondly, you're kidding yourself if you think the cubs can get a "decent" prospect for a guy that would be w/o a team if not for the cubs. he's old and he has a 7.29 era. the cubs aren't getting crap for him.

 

Don't forget a multi million dollar contract through next year.

[Mark_R]

Emotions getting the better of you? I feel the same way, but logically, you have to hold on to Rusch until the deadline.

 

He's a lefty, with some upside. Hold him until then, and trade him in the eleventh hour for a decent prospect. Who cares if the Cubs pick up that salary (or most of it), just get something for him. Believe me, there will be takers out there for Rusch. To DFA him would be a mistake - bad business, if you will.

 

first of all, rusch has NO upside. none. secondly, you're kidding yourself if you think the cubs can get a "decent" prospect for a guy that would be w/o a team if not for the cubs. he's old and he has a 7.29 era. the cubs aren't getting crap for him.

 

Don't forget a multi million dollar contract through next year.

 

Y'all just believe in twisting the knife don't ya? :(

[CUBZ99]

Emotions getting the better of you? I feel the same way, but logically, you have to hold on to Rusch until the deadline.

 

He's a lefty, with some upside. Hold him until then, and trade him in the eleventh hour for a decent prospect. Who cares if the Cubs pick up that salary (or most of it), just get something for him. Believe me, there will be takers out there for Rusch. To DFA him would be a mistake - bad business, if you will.

 

first of all, rusch has NO upside. none. secondly, you're kidding yourself if you think the cubs can get a "decent" prospect for a guy that would be w/o a team if not for the cubs. he's old and he has a 7.29 era. the cubs aren't getting crap for him.

 

Don't forget a multi million dollar contract through next year.

 

The sad thing is that someone will take a flyer on Rusch. If he were DFA'd some team would pick him up and if Hendry tried hard enough he could get something for Rusch.

[frostwyrm]

Emotions getting the better of you? I feel the same way, but logically, you have to hold on to Rusch until the deadline.

 

He's a lefty, with some upside. Hold him until then, and trade him in the eleventh hour for a decent prospect. Who cares if the Cubs pick up that salary (or most of it), just get something for him. Believe me, there will be takers out there for Rusch. To DFA him would be a mistake - bad business, if you will.

 

first of all, rusch has NO upside. none. secondly, you're kidding yourself if you think the cubs can get a "decent" prospect for a guy that would be w/o a team if not for the cubs. he's old and he has a 7.29 era. the cubs aren't getting crap for him.

 

 

Don't forget a multi million dollar contract through next year.

Don't forget a career 4.96 ERA. He'll have a little value because he's a lefty. If he were a righty he'd have no value at all.

[NCCubFan]

He doesn't need to be DFA'd at this point, but he does need to be removed from the rotation. Immediately. He cannot be given even one more start under any circumstances, period. If Wood can't go Sunday and Marmol has to start then, the Cubs simply MUST bring somebody else up to replace Rusch in the rotation. If Wood is able to go, then Marmol could replace Rusch.

[CubfaninCA]

pretty impulsive move.

 

just package him w/ someone like walker or ramirez at the deadline to a big market team.

[brinoch]

I think execution would be warranted at this stage. Madame Guillotine would work, methinks.

[gus_dog]

Emotions getting the better of you? I feel the same way, but logically, you have to hold on to Rusch until the deadline.

 

He's a lefty, with some upside. Hold him until then, and trade him in the eleventh hour for a decent prospect. Who cares if the Cubs pick up that salary (or most of it), just get something for him. Believe me, there will be takers out there for Rusch. To DFA him would be a mistake - bad business, if you will.

 

first of all, rusch has NO upside. none. secondly, you're kidding yourself if you think the cubs can get a "decent" prospect for a guy that would be w/o a team if not for the cubs. he's old and he has a 7.29 era. the cubs aren't getting crap for him.

 

 

Don't forget a multi million dollar contract through next year.

Don't forget a career 4.96 ERA. He'll have a little value because he's a lefty. If he were a righty he'd have no value at all.

 

Remember his absolutely horrid year in Milwaukee? The Cubs took a chance on him, and it really helped them out....for awhile anyway.

 

I agree with the statement that this guy has to be moved to mop-up, but I would not DFA him or trade him just yet. Let's get somebody else to start NOW, please.

[Soul]

Emotions getting the better of you? I feel the same way, but logically, you have to hold on to Rusch until the deadline.

 

He's a lefty, with some upside. Hold him until then, and trade him in the eleventh hour for a decent prospect. Who cares if the Cubs pick up that salary (or most of it), just get something for him. Believe me, there will be takers out there for Rusch. To DFA him would be a mistake - bad business, if you will.

 

first of all, rusch has NO upside. none. secondly, you're kidding yourself if you think the cubs can get a "decent" prospect for a guy that would be w/o a team if not for the cubs. he's old and he has a 7.29 era. the cubs aren't getting crap for him.

 

 

Don't forget a multi million dollar contract through next year.

Don't forget a career 4.96 ERA. He'll have a little value because he's a lefty. If he were a righty he'd have no value at all.

 

Remember his absolutely horrid year in Milwaukee? The Cubs took a chance on him, and it really helped them out....for awhile anyway.

 

I agree with the statement that this guy has to be moved to mop-up, but I would not DFA him or trade him just yet. Let's get somebody else to start NOW, please.

 

I doubt Rusch would have 2 starts if it wasn't for the Wood/Prior fiasco. This is what happens when you gamble on highly paid pitchers and they crap out. You wind up starting Rusch, and getting killed.

 

But I really can't be angry at Glendon, because he's a fish out of water starting regularly. He should be long relief.

[goonys evil twin]

pretty impulsive move.

 

just package him w/ someone like walker or ramirez at the deadline to a big market team.

 

It's not an impulsive move if it should have been done a long time ago. This isn't about one bad outing. Rusch is a terrible pitcher who never should have been signed. He carries no trade value. Remember, the Cubs picked him up in the first place because he was released.

[goonys evil twin]

I doubt Rusch would have 2 starts if it wasn't for the Wood/Prior fiasco. This is what happens when you gamble on highly paid pitchers and they crap out. You wind up starting Rusch, and getting killed.

 

But I really can't be angry at Glendon, because he's a fish out of water starting regularly. He should be long relief.

 

The Cubs knew Wood needed shoulder surgery last year. And they knew something was wrong with Prior early in the spring. They signed Rusch for exactly this reason. They had 2 guys likely to miss some time, and their insurance plan was Glendon Rusch. They got what they deserved.

[Soul]

I doubt Rusch would have 2 starts if it wasn't for the Wood/Prior fiasco. This is what happens when you gamble on highly paid pitchers and they crap out. You wind up starting Rusch, and getting killed.

 

But I really can't be angry at Glendon, because he's a fish out of water starting regularly. He should be long relief.

 

The Cubs knew Wood needed shoulder surgery last year. And they knew something was wrong with Prior early in the spring. They signed Rusch for exactly this reason. They had 2 guys likely to miss some time, and their insurance plan was Glendon Rusch. They got what they deserved.

 

Hendry was just stupid enough to believe everything would be OK with Prior & Wood. That's why Rusch was the backup plan. It was a huge, and inadvisable, gamble.

 

The other piece of this puzzle is: just because Rusch was made a full time starter by the Brewers doesn't mean that's what role he's best for. Yet the Cubs have been trying to keep him as a starter ever since. Silly.

[goonys evil twin]

The other piece of this puzzle is: just because Rusch was made a full time starter by the Brewers doesn't mean that's what role he's best for. Yet the Cubs have been trying to keep him as a starter ever since. Silly.

 

He wasn't made a full-time starter by the Brewers. He's been a starter the vast majority of his career. The Brewers and the Cubs are actually the only teams that have tried him out of the pen (the Brewers did it because they figured out he sucked). The problem is he also sucks out of the bullpen. There is no ideal role for Glendon Rusch. And I don't see how you can possibly justify the claim that the Cubs have been trying to keep him as a starter. They've used him out of the pen more than anybody before.

[RynoRules]

The other piece of this puzzle is: just because Rusch was made a full time starter by the Brewers doesn't mean that's what role he's best for. Yet the Cubs have been trying to keep him as a starter ever since. Silly.

 

He wasn't made a full-time starter by the Brewers. He's been a starter the vast majority of his career. The Brewers and the Cubs are actually the only teams that have tried him out of the pen (the Brewers did it because they figured out he sucked). The problem is he also sucks out of the bullpen. There is no ideal role for Glendon Rusch. And I don't see how you can possibly justify the claim that the Cubs have been trying to keep him as a starter. They've used him out of the pen more than anybody before.

 

That's not true: he'd be a great addition to the retired players list.

[YearofDaCubs]

He doesn't need to be DFA'd at this point, but he does need to be removed from the rotation. Immediately. He cannot be given even one more start under any circumstances, period. If Wood can't go Sunday and Marmol has to start then, the Cubs simply MUST bring somebody else up to replace Rusch in the rotation. If Wood is able to go, then Marmol could replace Rusch.

Sure he does. He brings nothing to the table and that slot can be used for a minor leaguer who will probably do better than him anyways.

[Soul]

The other piece of this puzzle is: just because Rusch was made a full time starter by the Brewers doesn't mean that's what role he's best for. Yet the Cubs have been trying to keep him as a starter ever since. Silly.

 

He wasn't made a full-time starter by the Brewers. He's been a starter the vast majority of his career. The Brewers and the Cubs are actually the only teams that have tried him out of the pen (the Brewers did it because they figured out he sucked). The problem is he also sucks out of the bullpen. There is no ideal role for Glendon Rusch. And I don't see how you can possibly justify the claim that the Cubs have been trying to keep him as a starter. They've used him out of the pen more than anybody before.

 

Well, they signed him to start, really. It was going to be as the #5 this year, right? Now they wouldn't do it because if everything was going balls-out with Prior & Wood they'd surely have Marshall starting 5. But my understanding was, at the beginning of the year, Rusch was going to be the 5, and move in to Prior and/or Wood's role if they went down.

 

I'll bet Rusch would be alright in long relief. You'd only see him if someone got sick before their start or got hit with a line drive in the 2nd inning. But the Cubs didn't do that. They signed him as a starter and said "here's our insurance policy for Prior & Wood." That was silly. They've only moved him to the bullpen becuase they now are beginning to realize what a foolish mistake that was. And the Brewers kept him as a starter until he reached 1-13. That's not putting him in the bullpen as a sound baseball decision. That's hanging on to nothing and watching it rot for weeks & weeks in front of thousands of fans. And now they've got new everything: new owner, new GM, new manager & coaches.

[goonys evil twin]

Well, they signed him to start, really. It was going to be as the #5 this year, right? Now they wouldn't do it because if everything was going balls-out with Prior & Wood they'd surely have Marshall starting 5. But my understanding was, at the beginning of the year, Rusch was going to be the 5, and move in to Prior and/or Wood's role if they went down.

 

I'll bet Rusch would be alright in long relief. You'd only see him if someone got sick before their start or got hit with a line drive in the 2nd inning. But the Cubs didn't do that. They signed him as a starter and said "here's our insurance policy for Prior & Wood." That was silly. They've only moved him to the bullpen becuase they now are beginning to realize what a foolish mistake that was.

 

They had him in the bullpen for the majority of his appearances in 2004 and 2005, a greater majority than when Milwaukee used him out of the pen. And I doubt he'd be good in long relief. He had a WHIP of 1.61 out of the pen from 2003-2005. It's 1.40 there this year.

 

I don't think they signed him to be a starter. Considering how they used him in 2004 and 2005, I think they signed him as a swing guy. The problem was signing him at all, because no swing guy is worth what they gave him. The ideal was Prior, Wood, Zambrano, Maddux and Miller. Rusch was in a group with a bunch of kids for the 5th job early. But they did not want him starting all year.

 

This isn't just a case of the Cubs misusing Rusch. The problem is using him at all.

[Soul]

Well, they signed him to start, really. It was going to be as the #5 this year, right? Now they wouldn't do it because if everything was going balls-out with Prior & Wood they'd surely have Marshall starting 5. But my understanding was, at the beginning of the year, Rusch was going to be the 5, and move in to Prior and/or Wood's role if they went down.

 

I'll bet Rusch would be alright in long relief. You'd only see him if someone got sick before their start or got hit with a line drive in the 2nd inning. But the Cubs didn't do that. They signed him as a starter and said "here's our insurance policy for Prior & Wood." That was silly. They've only moved him to the bullpen becuase they now are beginning to realize what a foolish mistake that was.

 

They had him in the bullpen for the majority of his appearances in 2004 and 2005, a greater majority than when Milwaukee used him out of the pen. And I doubt he'd be good in long relief. He had a WHIP of 1.61 out of the pen from 2003-2005. It's 1.40 there this year.

 

I don't think they signed him to be a starter. Considering how they used him in 2004 and 2005, I think they signed him as a swing guy. The problem was signing him at all, because no swing guy is worth what they gave him. The ideal was Prior, Wood, Zambrano, Maddux and Miller. Rusch was in a group with a bunch of kids for the 5th job early. But they did not want him starting all year.

 

This isn't just a case of the Cubs misusing Rusch. The problem is using him at all.

 

I mean, on a good team, you don't sign Rusch. You grab someone who's better. My understanding with Miller was, we were going to rehab him in '06, put him in spot-duty if he was ready either in the bullpen or maybe a few controlled starts, and then see if he could be moved into the rotation in '07. Maybe I'm wrong about that. I know Rusch was in it with a bunch of younguns in spring training, but you know this is Dusty-ism----it was always going to be Glendon...

 

I really don't have an argument for paying Rusch a ton of money and making him a starter. There can be no argument for that. I'm just saying hey, you pay him a mid-range salary and throw him in long relief? Maybe if he knows that's his role and you don't see him very often he works out alright. I do realize he's a crappy pitcher though; I don't want any misunderstanding about that much.

[goonys evil twin]

My understanding with Miller was, we were going to rehab him in '06, put him in spot-duty if he was ready either in the bullpen or maybe a few controlled starts, and then see if he could be moved into the rotation in '07.

 

Given his contract structure, and what Hendry said about him earlier, I don't believe that was the intention.

 

This is not like the Dempster and Williamson contracts, where they paid them a small salary to rehab and then owned an option for the following year. They only control him for this season. So if all he does is rehab and loosen up a bit, the Cubs don't have the option of just bringing him back. He can leave.

[Soul]

My understanding with Miller was, we were going to rehab him in '06, put him in spot-duty if he was ready either in the bullpen or maybe a few controlled starts, and then see if he could be moved into the rotation in '07.

 

Given his contract structure, and what Hendry said about him earlier, I don't believe that was the intention.

 

This is not like the Dempster and Williamson contracts, where they paid them a small salary to rehab and then owned an option for the following year. They only control him for this season. So if all he does is rehab and loosen up a bit, the Cubs don't have the option of just bringing him back. He can leave.

 

That was my bad then. I assumed we were doing a Dempster part deux.

[MustangMike]

Emotions getting the better of you? I feel the same way, but logically, you have to hold on to Rusch until the deadline.

 

He's a lefty, with some upside. Hold him until then, and trade him in the eleventh hour for a decent prospect. Who cares if the Cubs pick up that salary (or most of it), just get something for him. Believe me, there will be takers out there for Rusch. To DFA him would be a mistake - bad business, if you will.

 

I agree, i just don't want to see him start ever again...use the rookies, they need seasoning anyway, season is over anyway.

[Soul]

Emotions getting the better of you? I feel the same way, but logically, you have to hold on to Rusch until the deadline.

 

He's a lefty, with some upside. Hold him until then, and trade him in the eleventh hour for a decent prospect. Who cares if the Cubs pick up that salary (or most of it), just get something for him. Believe me, there will be takers out there for Rusch. To DFA him would be a mistake - bad business, if you will.

 

I agree, i just don't want to see him start ever again...use the rookies, they need seasoning anyway, season is over anyway.

 

Sure, I'd throw Marmol out there. Why not. He's started before. If he stinks, so what. Not like Rusch was going to do any better.