What’s up: The jovial lefty is a baseball survivor. Out of baseball in 2007, he signed with the Rockies in May 2008 after being outrighted by the Padres. After stints with Triple-A Colorado Springs, Rusch helped stabilize the Rockies’ shaky rotation, going 4-1 with a 4.30 ERA in seven starts during one stretch. Rusch finished the season in the bullpen. His final Colorado numbers last year: 4-3 with a 4.78 ERA in 23 appearances, including nine starts.
What’s next: Rusch, 34, has nearly 10 years of service in the big leagues. His best chance to make the Rockies’ 25-man roster is as a long reliever. He doesn’t throw hard, but mixes his fastball, slider and changeup with an occasional curveball. He uses plenty of guile to keep hitters off balance because he doesn’t throw hard enough to get by with just a fastball.
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
