Rusch signed through '07 (Cubs.com)

[YearofDaCubs]

Done Deal

 

Meh.

No surprise.

[UMFan83]

I enjoy rewarding mediocrity.

 

But that near perfect game against St. Louis was freakin awesome!

[Too Tall]

First bad move of the offseason.. Next I'm sure will be Dusty getting extended...

[Mark Priors Calves]

I think we're getting be looking back at this thread in August and really regret this signing.

[UMFan83]

I think we're getting be looking back at this thread in August and really regret this signing.

 

And regret being Cubs fans :(

[RynoRules]

I think resigning Rusch was an alright move. He can be traded later on and he is protection in the event that Williams and/or Hill are traded for offense.

 

Hopefully he was signed with an eye towards exactly that. I have less of a problem with this if he is to be the team "Mulholland" and is there b/c we have no idea who will be traded, but we are sure that someone (i.e., Williams, Hill, etc.) will.

[Mark Priors Calves]

I think we're getting be looking back at this thread in August and really regret this signing.

 

And regret being Cubs fans :(

 

Too late.

[BigbadB]

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.

[YearofDaCubs]

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.

That's what the problem is. Hendry has set up this offseason to be another failure. His lack of moves last offseason when decent options were available are really going to hurt us now that not many options are available this offseason. I want to be optimistic about this offseason but I just can't.

[BigbadB]

I'm not ready to write him off just yet. He did bring back Walker. If he can get a decent lefty power hitter (with a good OBP) to fill right field, a good OBP guy to fill center that can lead off (or Furcal at SS), then I think he can address pitching and call it a good offseason.

[UK1679666180]

He's an expensive insurnace policy once a starter gets hurt. I just wonder who'll be the #5 between Williams and Rusch, it better be Williams.

[mg420]

i would like to see both of them starting with maddux watching from home in a rocking chair.

[UK1679666180]

Btw, Hendry did have a plan for the '05 OF, it was just based on a couple of incorrect projections. 1)Hollandsworth could be a decent starting LF'er 2)Burnitz could be a decent starting RF'er away from Coors. I don't fault him for Corey's regression.

 

Nothing worked out and the Cubs had the worst OF in the majors, Murton was the only bright spot later on.

 

I liked the trade for Lawton as well, but unlike Burnitz and Hollandsworth, I don't fault him for that either.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Btw, Hendry did have a plan for the '05 OF, it was just based on a couple of incorrect projections. 1)Hollandsworth could be a decent starting LF'er 2)Burnitz could be a decent starting RF'er away from Coors. I don't fault him for Corey's regression.

 

Nothing worked out and the Cubs had the worst OF in the majors, Murton was the only bright spot later on.

 

I liked the trade for Lawton as well, but unlike Burnitz and Hollandsworth, I don't fault him for that either.

 

Where did he come up with those projections for Burnitz and Hollygagger anyways?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Btw, Hendry did have a plan for the '05 OF, it was just based on a couple of incorrect projections. 1)Hollandsworth could be a decent starting LF'er 2)Burnitz could be a decent starting RF'er away from Coors. I don't fault him for Corey's regression.

 

Nothing worked out and the Cubs had the worst OF in the majors, Murton was the only bright spot later on.

 

I liked the trade for Lawton as well, but unlike Burnitz and Hollandsworth, I don't fault him for that either.

 

Where did he come up with those projections for Burnitz and Hollygagger anyways?

 

Cmon man, Burnitz had the 6th best OPS of guys who struck out over 130 times and grounded into fewer than 7 double plays that are Scorpios. He's a stud.

[TheDude]

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.

That's what the problem is. Hendry has set up this offseason to be another failure. His lack of moves last offseason when decent options were available are really going to hurt us now that not many options are available this offseason. I want to be optimistic about this offseason but I just can't.

Hindsight can be clouded. I see this said all the time but it isn't a very complete or fair statement.

 

Many of the marquee big names signed last offseason by other teams spent many games on the DL and (assuming same injury in Cubs uniform) would have been labeled a JH failure anyway.

[YearofDaCubs]

Btw, Hendry did have a plan for the '05 OF, it was just based on a couple of incorrect projections. 1)Hollandsworth could be a decent starting LF'er 2)Burnitz could be a decent starting RF'er away from Coors. I don't fault him for Corey's regression.

 

Nothing worked out and the Cubs had the worst OF in the majors, Murton was the only bright spot later on.

 

I liked the trade for Lawton as well, but unlike Burnitz and Hollandsworth, I don't fault him for that either.

Yeah, nice plan. Not exactly a vote of confidence.

[YearofDaCubs]

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.

That's what the problem is. Hendry has set up this offseason to be another failure. His lack of moves last offseason when decent options were available are really going to hurt us now that not many options are available this offseason. I want to be optimistic about this offseason but I just can't.

Hindsight can be clouded. I see this said all the time but it isn't a very complete or fair statement.

 

Many of the marquee big names signed last offseason by other teams spent many games on the DL and (assuming same injury in Cubs uniform) would have been labeled a JH failure anyway.

Hindsight? No, I dont think so. I knew we wouldn't make the playoffs. Some of the players that were injured were hit by pitches. You dont know if they would follow the same fate if they were Cubs. The simple fact that he didnt attempt to bring in one of the better OF here was a concern. Especially considering the difference in price from Burnitz to Drew was 5mil. Mayeb he should've never gave raises to Perez and Macias.

Edited October 31, 2005 by YearofDaCubs

[UK1679666180]

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.

That's what the problem is. Hendry has set up this offseason to be another failure. His lack of moves last offseason when decent options were available are really going to hurt us now that not many options are available this offseason. I want to be optimistic about this offseason but I just can't.

Hindsight can be clouded. I see this said all the time but it isn't a very complete or fair statement.

 

Many of the marquee big names signed last offseason by other teams spent many games on the DL and (assuming same injury in Cubs uniform) would have been labeled a JH failure anyway.

 

I don't think so, say the Cubs signed Drew, Beltran, or Ordonez (at a reduced rate than what he signed for). I would've had no problem to this day about the signing. Their backgrounds would a higher indicator of future success than Burnitz or Hollandsworth.

[CubinNY]

I think we're getting be looking back at this thread in August and really regret this signing.

 

I regret it already.

[YearofDaCubs]

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.

That's what the problem is. Hendry has set up this offseason to be another failure. His lack of moves last offseason when decent options were available are really going to hurt us now that not many options are available this offseason. I want to be optimistic about this offseason but I just can't.

Hindsight can be clouded. I see this said all the time but it isn't a very complete or fair statement.

 

Many of the marquee big names signed last offseason by other teams spent many games on the DL and (assuming same injury in Cubs uniform) would have been labeled a JH failure anyway.

 

I don't think so, say the Cubs signed Drew, Beltran, or Ordonez (at a reduced rate than what he signed for). I would've had no problem to this day about the signing. Their backgrounds would a higher indicator of future success than Burnitz or Hollandsworth.

Agreed.

[Jehrico]

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.

 

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?

[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.

 

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?

By getting rid of Perez, Macias and Burnitz we would be an improved team. I'm not too worried about OF because they are easier to find than 3Bs. But it doesnt mean I'm not worried abotu RF this year though.

[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.

[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.