James Russell: THE RETURN

[ctcf]

Bruce Levine @MLBBruceLevine

Cubs sign LHP James Russell to minor league deal

[Guest]

you are too fast

 

i am irrationally unhappy with this

[ctcf]

Bruce Miles @BruceMiles2112

#Cubs sign LHP James Russell to minor league deal. Will go to AZ this weekend and then to Iowa

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

http://i.imgur.com/mzMmblV.gif

[Hairyducked Idiot]

*shrug* Now we have 5 crappy lefties to choose from instead of 4.

[UMFan83]

*shrug* Now we have 5 crappy lefties to choose from instead of 4.

 

At least this one can get righties out but not lefties

[Clem Fandango]

IT HAS BEGUN...

 

1) Sign James Russell

2) Hope he puts up half a year of decent production

3) Trade him to Atlanta for Arodys Vizcaino

[Rob]

Let's see... he doesn't strike people out. He walks too many. He doesn't get ground balls. And he's not even particularly effective as a LOOGY (lefties hit even better off him than righties last year). All in all, a pretty useless pitcher.

 

Yup, still James Russell.

 

If they brought him back to be depth in AAA just in case a better pitcher breaks down, fine. If somebody is thinking he belongs in the big league pen, I may start bashing my head against a brick wall.

[toonsterwu]

It's a minor league deal. It's fine.

 

As a side note, and it's certainly too late to try now, but I always thought the Cubs were too hasty in moving him to the pen. With his arsenal depth and lack of a big weapon, he felt like the "classic" end of the rotation/"long man" pitchability lefty.

 

Anyhow, I imagine if he's up in the bigs, it's because something's changed. If not, I imagine he'll be one of the many arms in XST until he isn't. I guess they could bump him to AAA at some point, but if he's in AA or lower, I'd be rather disappointed that he's taking up space a youngster could use.

[SouthSideRyan]

He was so [expletive] bad in his rotation try out that I can't imagine anybody getting away with allowing him to start again.

[toonsterwu]

I was referencing more that he had a decent 2008 as a starter at 2 levels before moving to the pen. Granted, there were those out of college that viewed him as a pen arm, but I would've liked to see them keep grooming him for another year or so as a starter to see if anything would click for him. Looking at the numbers, as I really don't recall the situation that well, he had a monstrously ugly ERA as a starter in AA in 2008, and didn't do that well in 2009, which probably led them to shift him as a result. Still, the K and BB rates were decent, and the long ball issue seemed to hurt him more than anything in AA, at least, at a quick scan at the numbers.

 

It's quite possible he wouldn't have done squat if he continued developing as a starter, but I did wonder. I really wouldn't have remembered his 2011 rotation shot if you hadn't mentioned it and he was pretty horrific, although I would contend that extra rotation developmental time in the minors would've made the situation completely different (not that he would've done anything with it ... just that the situation would've been different). Anyhow, there's no point in even remotely considering it now, as we don't need to waste time on that. If he makes it up, it's because he can do something in the pen. In all honesty, I think he's waived if he isn't up in AAA (that is, I don't really see them using a AA (or lower) spot for him).

[Guest]

I think James Russell is one of those guys that's gonna stick around in obscurity for like another decade, intermittently putting up some really good season between stints as a AAAA guy.

[Post Count Padder]

Bye bye Blake

 

The Cubs announced today that they have selected the contract of lefty James Russell from Triple-A Iowa and designated right-hander Blake Parker for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. Chicago’s press release also notes that outfielder Chris Denorfia has been placed on the 15-day disabled list, and recently claimed righty Anthony Varvaro has been added to the 25-man roster.

[Guest]

why couldn't it be [expletive] schlitter

[Burt Macklin, FBI]

http://media0.giphy.com/media/CMvLdjfjQnQAg/giphy.gif

[bukie]

Bye bye Blake

 

The Cubs announced today that they have selected the contract of lefty James Russell from Triple-A Iowa and designated right-hander Blake Parker for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. Chicago’s press release also notes that outfielder Chris Denorfia has been placed on the 15-day disabled list, and recently claimed righty Anthony Varvaro has been added to the 25-man roster.

So...designated for assignment doesn't mean released. For the 90th time.

[Andy]

Bye bye Blake

 

The Cubs announced today that they have selected the contract of lefty James Russell from Triple-A Iowa and designated right-hander Blake Parker for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. Chicago’s press release also notes that outfielder Chris Denorfia has been placed on the 15-day disabled list, and recently claimed righty Anthony Varvaro has been added to the 25-man roster.

So...designated for assignment doesn't mean released. For the 90th time.

True, but in all likelihood he won't be a Cub anymore, unless, I suppose, no one claims him.

[JeffH]

He has an elbow injury. No one is going to claim him.

[SouthSideRyan]

Also, he's like 30 years old so who cares