Rusch signed through '07 (Cubs.com)

[MPrior]

 

Our team really isn't that indisicplined, top to bottom. It's more a problem of a few incredibly bad players killing the team OBP. Out of DLee, TWalk, ARam, Nomar, Barrett, and Murton, that's 6 out of 8 starters who are fairly disciplined, none of them are easy strike outs. Corey, the black hole in RF, and the bench are just so bad that they make the whole team look bad.

 

Is anyone else scared that RF after Sammy is starting to look like 3B after Santo?

 

Barrett has very little discipline whatsoever. IsoD of .069.

 

.069 is pretty good.

 

Exactly what I was going to say.

[Andy]

Is anyone else scared that RF after Sammy is starting to look like 3B after Santo?

It's a little early to say something like that. Burnitz wasn't great but considering the time frame we were in after trading Sammy he was probably the best guy available. Now if we end up with some Willie Greene/Shane Andrews/Ron Coomer types plugged in at right field then we can talk.

[CubinNY]

 

Our team really isn't that indisicplined, top to bottom. It's more a problem of a few incredibly bad players killing the team OBP. Out of DLee, TWalk, ARam, Nomar, Barrett, and Murton, that's 6 out of 8 starters who are fairly disciplined, none of them are easy strike outs. Corey, the black hole in RF, and the bench are just so bad that they make the whole team look bad.

 

Is anyone else scared that RF after Sammy is starting to look like 3B after Santo?

 

Barrett has very little discipline whatsoever. IsoD of .069.

 

.069 is pretty good.

 

it is? I thougth .100 was good, anything else higher was great.

 

Something like .069 would be like scoring a D on a test.

 

I could be wrong.

[MPrior]

 

Our team really isn't that indisicplined, top to bottom. It's more a problem of a few incredibly bad players killing the team OBP. Out of DLee, TWalk, ARam, Nomar, Barrett, and Murton, that's 6 out of 8 starters who are fairly disciplined, none of them are easy strike outs. Corey, the black hole in RF, and the bench are just so bad that they make the whole team look bad.

 

Is anyone else scared that RF after Sammy is starting to look like 3B after Santo?

 

Barrett has very little discipline whatsoever. IsoD of .069.

 

.069 is pretty good.

 

it is? I thougth .100 was good, anything else higher was great.

 

Something like .069 would be like scoring a D on a test.

 

I could be wrong.

 

.069 is not *great.* It is pretty durn good, though, especially for a catcher. Just by comparison, DLee's, Walker's, and Murton's (three of our more disciplined hitters) IsoDs were .083, .050, and .065, respectively, while Patterson's, Neifi's, and Macias' were .039, .024, and .020 respectively.

 

EDIT: these are 2005 numbers, not career.

[Laura]

MLB.com[/url]"]Glendon Rusch inked a two-year contract with the Cubs on Monday after receiving assurances he will get a "serious look" for a spot in the team's crowded starting rotation.

Rusch's new deal runs through 2007 and guarantees the 30-year-old left-hander $6 million, plus as much as $1 million more in performance bonuses based on starts.

 

Rusch will earn $2.75 million in 2006 and $3.25 million in 2007. The contract includes up to an additional $500,000 each season in bonuses based on starts.

 

"He wasn't interested in hitting the market; he just wanted a fair chance to be a starter," Hendry said. "I personally felt that he's done everything for the club in the last couple of years that we've asked of him." ....

 

"His effectiveness was better this year as a starter," Hendry said. "Obviously, you don't promise anybody ... that they are penciled in the rotation. But I assured him that he could come back as a starting candidate and that I didn't have any interest any longer in putting him in the bullpen."

 

Hendry was set to leave Tuesday morning for organizational meetings in Arizona. He said Cubs priorities include pitching and defense, and he also left the door open on a possible contract extension for All-Star first baseman and National League MVP candidate Derrek Lee.

 

"I'm sure some time after the new year we'll talk to [Lee's agent, Casey Close]," Hendry said. "I'm not real worried about it. It's a perfect match; he's very happy here and we're very happy with him. ... We'll not let the season start without having some serious dialogue with his representative."

[BigbadB]

Pitching and defense, huh?

 

HOW ABOUT OBP?

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

omfg.

 

who needs OBP and a lefty power bat in RF when we can improve the defense. bring Burnitz back! whoohoo!! *%$#!!!

[SouthSideRyan]

NO BUT THE WHITE SOX WON THE WS WITH PITCHING AND DEFENSE SO EVERYONE SHOULD GET THAT PLUS SCOTT PODSEDNIK PLAYS SMALLBALL I HATE HOMERUNS

[Transmogrified Tiger]

 

Our team really isn't that indisicplined, top to bottom. It's more a problem of a few incredibly bad players killing the team OBP. Out of DLee, TWalk, ARam, Nomar, Barrett, and Murton, that's 6 out of 8 starters who are fairly disciplined, none of them are easy strike outs. Corey, the black hole in RF, and the bench are just so bad that they make the whole team look bad.

 

Is anyone else scared that RF after Sammy is starting to look like 3B after Santo?

 

Barrett has very little discipline whatsoever. IsoD of .069.

 

.069 is pretty good.

 

it is? I thougth .100 was good, anything else higher was great.

 

Something like .069 would be like scoring a D on a test.

 

I could be wrong.

 

Adding on to what MPrior said, very few hitters have a .100+ IsoD. Off the top of my head I'd guess that there's fewer than one per team.

[CuseCubFan69]

Pitching and defense, huh?

 

HOW ABOUT OBP?

 

You're funny BbB....you really thought he would say that? :(

[E.J.]

So can we pencil in Rusch as our 5th starter then? Same starting rotation as last year? That really worked well for us...

[CubinNY]

 

Our team really isn't that indisicplined, top to bottom. It's more a problem of a few incredibly bad players killing the team OBP. Out of DLee, TWalk, ARam, Nomar, Barrett, and Murton, that's 6 out of 8 starters who are fairly disciplined, none of them are easy strike outs. Corey, the black hole in RF, and the bench are just so bad that they make the whole team look bad.

 

Is anyone else scared that RF after Sammy is starting to look like 3B after Santo?

 

Barrett has very little discipline whatsoever. IsoD of .069.

 

.069 is pretty good.

 

it is? I thougth .100 was good, anything else higher was great.

 

Something like .069 would be like scoring a D on a test.

 

I could be wrong.

 

Adding on to what MPrior said, very few hitters have a .100+ IsoD. Off the top of my head I'd guess that there's fewer than one per team.

 

Just a quick look at the ESPN website shows that many (I'm guessing 30 or 40 have an IsoD. over .100. But this stuff is new to me so I'll take your word for it. Let's move on.

 

I don't like the Rusch signing. Anyone else?

[HoopsCubs]

Pitching and defense, huh?

 

HOW ABOUT OBP?

 

Triple B,

 

Not to be pedantic about it, but the quote did say, "He said Cubs priorities include pitching and defense..." The word "includes" could be interpreted to mean that "in addition to other items we've mentioned previously (fundamentals, base running, power, speed), we are also going to focus on pitching and defense."

 

From dictionary.com:

 

include

(1) To take in as a part, element, or member.

(2) To contain as a secondary or subordinate element

 

Perhaps, I'm looking for a needle in the haystack here, but I would have been really worried if he had said, "Cubs priorities are pitching and defense..."

 

Hoops

[RynoRules]

Pitching and defense, huh?

 

HOW ABOUT OBP?

 

Triple B,

 

Not to be pedantic about it, but the quote did say, "He said Cubs priorities include pitching and defense..." The word "includes" could be interpreted to mean that "in addition to other items we've mentioned previously (fundamentals, base running, power, speed), we are also going to focus on pitching and defense."

 

From dictionary.com:

 

include

(1) To take in as a part, element, or member.

(2) To contain as a secondary or subordinate element

 

Perhaps, I'm looking for a needle in the haystack here, but I would have been really worried if he had said, "Cubs priorities are pitching and defense..."

 

Hoops

 

=D>

 

This jives with the Gammons thread, which notes that the Cubs have been "aggressive" in pursuing Brian Giles (a/k/a, "OBP Superman") thus far. By now we should also be familiar with the fact that Hendry uses the press to deflect attention from the direction he is really headed. I haven't seen him give anything away during his tenure as GM.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Pitching and defense, huh?

 

HOW ABOUT OBP?

 

Triple B,

 

Not to be pedantic about it, but the quote did say, "He said Cubs priorities include pitching and defense..." The word "includes" could be interpreted to mean that "in addition to other items we've mentioned previously (fundamentals, base running, power, speed), we are also going to focus on pitching and defense."

 

From dictionary.com:

 

include

(1) To take in as a part, element, or member.

(2) To contain as a secondary or subordinate element

 

Perhaps, I'm looking for a needle in the haystack here, but I would have been really worried if he had said, "Cubs priorities are pitching and defense..."

 

Hoops

 

=D>

 

This jives with the Gammons thread, which notes that the Cubs have been "aggressive" in pursuing Brian Giles (a/k/a, "OBP Superman") thus far. By now we should also be familiar with the fact that Hendry uses the press to deflect attention from the direction he is really headed. I haven't seen him give anything away during his tenure as GM.

 

...you mean besides Sosa. ba-da-ba-pssh!! be here all week.

[MPrior]

 

Our team really isn't that indisicplined, top to bottom. It's more a problem of a few incredibly bad players killing the team OBP. Out of DLee, TWalk, ARam, Nomar, Barrett, and Murton, that's 6 out of 8 starters who are fairly disciplined, none of them are easy strike outs. Corey, the black hole in RF, and the bench are just so bad that they make the whole team look bad.

 

Is anyone else scared that RF after Sammy is starting to look like 3B after Santo?

 

Barrett has very little discipline whatsoever. IsoD of .069.

 

.069 is pretty good.

 

it is? I thougth .100 was good, anything else higher was great.

 

Something like .069 would be like scoring a D on a test.

 

I could be wrong.

 

Adding on to what MPrior said, very few hitters have a .100+ IsoD. Off the top of my head I'd guess that there's fewer than one per team.

 

Just a quick look at the ESPN website shows that many (I'm guessing 30 or 40 have an IsoD. over .100. But this stuff is new to me so I'll take your word for it. Let's move on.

 

I don't like the Rusch signing. Anyone else?

 

Not to completely ignore your request to move on (I know, I'm a pest), but about 30 players with a .100+ IsoD is about 1 per team, which is what CPatterson estimated.

[CubsWin]

For those of you who hate this signing, I think I understand where you are coming from.

 

You look at Rusch's overall numbers this season and they don't look good. Nothing above mediocre. He was on the team last season and the Cubs didn't do to well last season, so one way to get better is to get better players. That and you are frustrated with Hendry for two seasons without going to the playoffs so you are making him pay by generally judging what he does with a cynical eye.

 

I can't speak to how willing you are to give up being cynical when it comes to the Cubs GM, you either are or you aren't. But I can say that if you are willing to look deeper into Rusch's numbers, there is hope. And the logic that says it is a bad move to resign someone who was a part of a losing season is clearly faulty.

 

Rusch was consistently very good for the first 2 1/2 months of the season. Then something happened. I don't know what. Tired arm. Something off in his mechanics. He was tipping his pitches. Something. And for the next 2 1/2 months (half of June, July and August) he was terrible. Then, he must have figured it out because for all of September, he was back to the same excellent pitching he was doing in the beginning of the year.

 

The end result was overall numbers that were mediocre, but if you are willing to believe that Rusch righted what was wrong, then what the Cubs just signed for 2.75 million next season is a left-handed spot starter/long reliever who has a proven ability over the last two seasons to maintain an ERA in the threes and possibly lower.

 

Is it that a knock-your-socks-off signing? No. Is it one that can help the team win games? Yes.

[CubfaninCA]

I dont care if Nomar was healthy for the entire year. Chances are we still would have lost. Besides, how can you count on so many injury prone players to stay healthy? Fact of the matter is our lack of discipline at the plate probably cost us more than anything. Our OF and Baker's lineups were pretty bad as well. Those 3 IMO cost us a playoff berth.

 

The Cubs weren't going anywhere w/ the 9th overall pitching staff. Prior was barely above average after returning from injury. Yes, his ERA was alright, but he rarely lasted past 6 innings. Wood was non-existent most of the season. A team isn't going to do much when they're counting on Maddux, Jerome Williams and pitching prospects who weren't ready.

[CubfaninCA]

If Giles and Furcal end up somewhere other than here, guys like Williams and Hill might be needed to lure a decent production guy or two to Chicago. If those guys are needed in trade and the few arms available on the market aren't worth the expense (could be some really high bidding), then Rusch at 3m isn't a bad sign.

 

To me, Rusch is an insurance policy. If they get someone else for the rotation or Williams doesn't need to be traded, then Rusch becomes a decent trade value at the deadline.

 

I also think this is the reason Nomar has to be brought back. There are too many holes to fill already, therefore it makes sense to bring Nomar back as protection in the event you can't fill all of those holes.

 

With the exception of paragraph 3, Xactly. Gotta have a backup plan. Unfortunately, 29 other teams are eligible to bid on free agents.

[YearofDaCubs]

I dont care if Nomar was healthy for the entire year. Chances are we still would have lost. Besides, how can you count on so many injury prone players to stay healthy? Fact of the matter is our lack of discipline at the plate probably cost us more than anything. Our OF and Baker's lineups were pretty bad as well. Those 3 IMO cost us a playoff berth.

 

The Cubs weren't going anywhere w/ the 9th overall pitching staff. Prior was barely above average after returning from injury. Yes, his ERA was alright, but he rarely lasted past 6 innings. Wood was non-existent most of the season. A team isn't going to do much when they're counting on Maddux, Jerome Williams and pitching prospects who weren't ready.

The same case can be made for the offense as well.

[CubfaninCA]

I dont care if Nomar was healthy for the entire year. Chances are we still would have lost. Besides, how can you count on so many injury prone players to stay healthy? Fact of the matter is our lack of discipline at the plate probably cost us more than anything. Our OF and Baker's lineups were pretty bad as well. Those 3 IMO cost us a playoff berth.

 

The Cubs weren't going anywhere w/ the 9th overall pitching staff. Prior was barely above average after returning from injury. Yes, his ERA was alright, but he rarely lasted past 6 innings. Wood was non-existent most of the season. A team isn't going to do much when they're counting on Maddux, Jerome Williams and pitching prospects who weren't ready.

The same case can be made for the offense as well.

 

Pitching > offense. Prior and Wood carried a weak offense into the playoffs in 03.

[YearofDaCubs]

I dont care if Nomar was healthy for the entire year. Chances are we still would have lost. Besides, how can you count on so many injury prone players to stay healthy? Fact of the matter is our lack of discipline at the plate probably cost us more than anything. Our OF and Baker's lineups were pretty bad as well. Those 3 IMO cost us a playoff berth.

 

The Cubs weren't going anywhere w/ the 9th overall pitching staff. Prior was barely above average after returning from injury. Yes, his ERA was alright, but he rarely lasted past 6 innings. Wood was non-existent most of the season. A team isn't going to do much when they're counting on Maddux, Jerome Williams and pitching prospects who weren't ready.

The same case can be made for the offense as well.

 

Pitching > offense. Prior and Wood carried a weak offense into the playoffs in 03.

Maybe in the beginning but lets not forget about the trade with the Pirates which significantly made the offense much better. Having Lofton and Ramirez proved to be a huge difference. Pitching is great and all but it wont get you runs, and without runs you will not win. Believe me the offense was a huge problem and the lack of patience and fundamentals did us in.

 

EDIT: Going back to 2005 Neither the pitching or hitting was good enough to get us to the playoffs.

[frostwyrm]

Looks like a rotation spot is Rusch's to lose, assuming Dusty and Hendry are of the same mind. Even if Rusch is terrible in the spring I'm sure he'll open the season as a starter, since Dusty is extraordinarily forgiving of bad spring play by veterans.

 

(Rusch) told general manager Jim Hendry during the Cubs' final regular-season series that he would like to return to starting full time.

 

"He wasn't interested in hitting the market; he just wanted a fair chance to be a starter," Hendry said. "I personally felt that he's done everything for the club in the last couple of years that we've asked of him."

 

"His effectiveness was better this year as a starter," Hendry said. "Obviously, you don't promise anybody ... that they are penciled in the rotation. But I assured him that he could come back as a starting candidate and that I didn't have any interest any longer in putting him in the bullpen."

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051031&content_id=1262673&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

[E.J.]

Some notes from a new article in the Trib (it's Sullivan though):

 

But Rusch also said he understands Hendry has publicly stated his desire to acquire or sign another starting pitcher this off-season, and he knows he could be crowded out if the Cubs get into the bidding for A.J. Burnett or Kevin Millwood.

 

Despite bringing back Rusch, the Cubs still are intrigued by the possibility of adding another power arm like Burnett. After back-to-back springs dealing with injuries to Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, and with Wood coming off shoulder surgery in September, Hendry wants six quality starters going into Arizona next February.

 

"I am not going to be caught short," Hendry said. "We've had good health reports on everyone, but I'm not going to take a chance of going to spring training and someone goes down. Or there's a snag in someone's rehab. Or so-and-so is off to a bad start."

 

Here's the article:

 

ChicagoSports.com

[Balsa]

WOAH how did you miss this?

 

Murton and Cedeno have earned starting jobs, though their positions will be determined by Hendry's winter moves.

 

"No one is assured of anything," he said.

 

Hendry promptly paused and corrected himself.

 

"[Derrek] Lee will be at first," he said.

 

That's news to me. So Cedeno will start either at 2B if we trade Walker or SS if we can't get Furcal? Is that the plan?