*Waves* Hi Bruce!

[craig]

If Wood, Zambrano and Prior are hurt, or perhaps or, it doesn't matter who our 7th starter is. Might as well go with youth.

 

Yep the season's probably over if Prior and Wood bite the dust again...

 

Obviously if Wood, Prior, and Z all miss the entire season, having Rusch available won't save the season.

 

But I think there's a good chance that: 1) the Cubs might comtend for a playoff spot, 2) that if they do, they won't run away with a playoff spot by a bunch of games, and 3) that one of the Wood/Prior/Z trio will have some issues at one point or another during the season.

 

Maybe Kerry is good for most of the year, but isn't quite ready at start of April, or has his back bothering him enough to need a 15-day DL in August. Maybe Z is good for most of the year, but sprains his toe in July or needs a 15-day DL for his back in August. Maybe Prior is good for most of the year but gets his elbow beaned in May, or has a collision with a 2B during July, or has his Achiles bugging him in September, or has the back problems that require him to miss a couple of starts.

 

It's not like it's an all-or-nothing deal.

 

Even a contender almost certainly needs some fill-in starts by their #6 and #7 starters at some points during the season. And given how injury-prone the Cub staff is, and that all three of Prior, Wood, and Z have battled recurring back problems in addition to recurring arm issues, I think it would help a lot to have a respectable option. Might actually help those guys. If Dusty has a Rusch who's having a good year, and can usually give a competent if non-dominant game, maybe when Z's back is killing him he can skip a start and get well. If the choice is between starting Koronka or Z-with-a-bad-back, Dusty will just ride Z and the back pain may never ease off.

[YearofDaCubs]

Considering what we have been through with Wood and Prior, that is why I think it would be best for us to drop Rusch an use that cash (and more)and look to sign Burnett.

[stitchface]

Is Rusch substantially better than Mitre for those limited starts Craig? I don't think so. If the big three miss much time, I would rather spend the money upgrading the offense so we don't need a starter that dominates.

the track record of guys leaving Coors recently is good (Kile, Hampton, Chacon)

No it's not. One guy is injured for all of 2006, and the other is dead.

oops, double post

[stitchface]

and the third is a wife beater

[CubinNY]

and the third is a wife beater

 

and was helped by the ridiculus offense that is the yankee hitters.

[XZero771679666304]

Considering what we have been through with Wood and Prior, that is why I think it would be best for us to drop Rusch an use that cash (and more)and look to sign Burnett.

 

A.J. is no more likely to be healthy than Wood, and probably less so than Prior.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

If you knew for certain you'd get Glendon Rusch's Cub performance 2004-05 as a starter only, the same results in 2006 and 07, then of course I'd be bring him back. Problem is that he's just as likely to regress badly, to as bad as his Milwaukee form.

 

You go out and get Jarrod Washburn, he's a more predictable version of Rusch in exchange for a lot more money. Which the Cubs have.

 

Myself, if I can't sign Millwood, I'd just as soon pass on ALL the free agent starting pitchers, and look to trade ideas instead.

[Radar3454]

and the third is a wife beater

 

I know Chacon was charged w/ assault b/c of a bar room fight a few years back but I on't remember anything about spousal abuse.

[mg420]

even if the cubs dont sign rusch, why is there a need to get another starter? prior, z & wood are all back with most likely (and the weakest link in the rotation imo) maddux leaving williams/hill/pinto/nolasco in the running for the #5 spot. hendry will be concentrating on rebuilding the of & finding a lead off man imo. assuming walker is back at second, murton in lf & cedeno gets the shot he deserves at ss, other than a few bench & pen guys i dont see any big signings or trades other than the of.

[USSoccer]

even if the cubs dont sign rusch, why is there a need to get another starter? prior, z & wood are all back with most likely (and the weakest link in the rotation imo) maddux leaving williams/hill/pinto/nolasco in the running for the #5 spot. hendry will be concentrating on rebuilding the of & finding a lead off man imo. assuming walker is back at second, murton in lf & cedeno gets the shot he deserves at ss, other than a few bench & pen guys i dont see any big signings or trades other than the of.

 

Because Wood is no longer reliable. If pitching is their strength, it needs to be the kind of overwhelming strength that can carry the team through low points with the offense.

 

A rotation of Z/Prior/Wood/Maddux and then a Millwood/Zito/Lowe with Williams as the swing man is better than the current 5 man rotation with Rusch as the swing man.

[mg420]

even if the cubs dont sign rusch, why is there a need to get another starter? prior, z & wood are all back with most likely (and the weakest link in the rotation imo) maddux leaving williams/hill/pinto/nolasco in the running for the #5 spot. hendry will be concentrating on rebuilding the of & finding a lead off man imo. assuming walker is back at second, murton in lf & cedeno gets the shot he deserves at ss, other than a few bench & pen guys i dont see any big signings or trades other than the of.

 

Because Wood is no longer reliable. If pitching is their strength, it needs to be the kind of overwhelming strength that can carry the team through low points with the offense.

 

A rotation of Z/Prior/Wood/Maddux and then a Millwood/Zito/Lowe with Williams as the swing man is better than the current 5 man rotation with Rusch as the swing man.

 

if wood isnt reliable heshould be in the pen & not starting. i dont care much for lowe (would rather have williams or rusch) and if the price of zito includes either pie or murton i dont see the cubs even considering making the trade. i thought millwood was a lock to sign with cleveland again. again, maddux is the one who worries me next year. it will all come down to prior & wood staying healthy as it has since 2003.