Comments on: #13 – RHP Brant Rustich http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/2009/02/03/13-rhp-brant-rustich/ The Premier Blog about the Mets Minor League System Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:29:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: WC http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/2009/02/03/13-rhp-brant-rustich/comment-page-1/#comment-2401 WC Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:48:54 +0000 http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/?p=2723#comment-2401 I do believe he should be moved to the bullpen. I always thought that was his future anyway, but I loved the move of putting him in the rotation to work on his pitches. But given all his injuries and the fact that he's pitched about 100 innings combined over the past two seasons, it seems to me like asking him to stretch out his arm for even a reasonable minor league workload is a... no pun intended, stretch. I could see him making 5-10 starts at St. Lucie and then switching to relief in Binghamton if he's been having success, but I have to wonder if having him pitch short stints from the get-go wouldn't be a safer bet for his health problems. I do believe he should be moved to the bullpen. I always thought that was his future anyway, but I loved the move of putting him in the rotation to work on his pitches. But given all his injuries and the fact that he’s pitched about 100 innings combined over the past two seasons, it seems to me like asking him to stretch out his arm for even a reasonable minor league workload is a… no pun intended, stretch.

I could see him making 5-10 starts at St. Lucie and then switching to relief in Binghamton if he’s been having success, but I have to wonder if having him pitch short stints from the get-go wouldn’t be a safer bet for his health problems.

]]> By: Displaced Mets Fan http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/2009/02/03/13-rhp-brant-rustich/comment-page-1/#comment-2399 Displaced Mets Fan Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:56:19 +0000 http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/?p=2723#comment-2399 Agreed - his stuff could make him quite the exciting prospect. I note in that last paragraph though you are coming back to the point I was making.... Agreed – his stuff could make him quite the exciting prospect. I note in that last paragraph though you are coming back to the point I was making….

]]> By: mrmustseetv http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/2009/02/03/13-rhp-brant-rustich/comment-page-1/#comment-2398 mrmustseetv Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:56:18 +0000 http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/?p=2723#comment-2398 I got to tell you that I absolutely loved this pick back in '07. I liked Rustich better than the Kunz pick because he had better pure stuff. In some ways, Rustich reminded me of Bobby Parnell in that he had good stuff but was very raw. My hope was that the Mets could help Rustich harness his stuff the same way they were doing with Parnell. Aside from Brad Holt, I can't think of another Mets pitching prospect that has the pure stuff that Rustich has. Problem is (and there are two big ones) that he can't stay healthy and he's wild. The elbow issues concern me as does the issue he apparently was reported as having with his index finger, which he cut or broke in college. It prevents him from properly feeling the ball from what I've read. He's 24 so he has to start showing he can stay healthy and start logging quality innings to build up his arm and repetoire. Either way I'd have him start this year so that he can catch up. 2008 was a waste, so Rustich is behind. If healthy last year, he'd be in AA with a probable AAA call up soon. Now he'll start in St. Lucie. If Rustich can somehow stay healthy and start haressing his stuff, we could be debating who's better - Rustich or Holt by year's end. Still, there's a lot that has to go right. I'm surprised that Toby rated him so high, considering he was injured and showed little command prior to his injury. I guess his potential is what got his rated this high and there's no problem with that. Everyone has a different way/ideology for doing these rankings. I got to tell you that I absolutely loved this pick back in ’07. I liked Rustich better than the Kunz pick because he had better pure stuff. In some ways, Rustich reminded me of Bobby Parnell in that he had good stuff but was very raw. My hope was that the Mets could help Rustich harness his stuff the same way they were doing with Parnell.

Aside from Brad Holt, I can’t think of another Mets pitching prospect that has the pure stuff that Rustich has. Problem is (and there are two big ones) that he can’t stay healthy and he’s wild. The elbow issues concern me as does the issue he apparently was reported as having with his index finger, which he cut or broke in college. It prevents him from properly feeling the ball from what I’ve read.

He’s 24 so he has to start showing he can stay healthy and start logging quality innings to build up his arm and repetoire. Either way I’d have him start this year so that he can catch up. 2008 was a waste, so Rustich is behind. If healthy last year, he’d be in AA with a probable AAA call up soon. Now he’ll start in St. Lucie.

If Rustich can somehow stay healthy and start haressing his stuff, we could be debating who’s better – Rustich or Holt by year’s end. Still, there’s a lot that has to go right.

I’m surprised that Toby rated him so high, considering he was injured and showed little command prior to his injury. I guess his potential is what got his rated this high and there’s no problem with that. Everyone has a different way/ideology for doing these rankings.

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