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James Russell | Relief Pitcher

Team: Chicago Cubs
Age / DOB:  (27) / 1/8/1986
Ht / Wt:  6'4' / 200
Bats / Throws: Left / Left
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Recent News

James Russell has emerged as one of the Cubs' few bright spots in 2013, checking in with a 1.04 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 23 appearances.
The former 14th-round pick also has seven holds and a 19/4 K/BB ratio over 17 1/3 innings. Russell has regressed a bit since an April in which he didn't allow a run, but he's lowered his ERA every season he's been in the majors. We expect him to do so again. May 24 - 3:33 AM

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Player News

Date:
James Russell - R - Cubs

Cubs and RHP James Russell avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.075 million contract.

Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reported the contract terms. Russell was arbitration eligible for the first time this winter after posting a 3.25 ERA and 55/23 K/BB ratio over 69 1/3 innings last year. He figures to pitch in middle relief in 2013.
Source: Jesse Rogers on Twitter
Jan 18 - 5:09 PM
James Russell - R - Cubs

James Russell got two outs against the Padres on Tuesday for his first career save.

Shawn Camp retired all four batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings, but the Cubs chose to go to Russell with one out in the ninth and left-handed hitter John Baker due up. Russell got Baker out, gave up a double to Everth Cabrera and then retired Nick Hundley to end it. He's expected to split save chances with Camp for now.
Related: Shawn Camp
Tue, May 29, 2012 05:50:00 PM
James Russell - R - Cubs

With Rafael Dolis demoted from the Cubs' closer role, the team is expected to use a combination of James Russell and Shawn Camp in the ninth inning.

Sveum said earlier this month that Russell and Dolis would share the role before Dolis briefly ran away with the job, so you'd think the lefty would be higher on the totem pole than Camp. But, Camp has pitched well of late and, since he throws right-handed, could get more chances in the matchups-based approach. Carlos Marmol (hamstring) is due back soon and figures to eventually get his old job back.
Related: Shawn Camp
Sun, May 27, 2012 12:02:00 PM
James Russell - R - Cubs

James Russell has yet to see a save opportunity since Carlos Marmol was removed from the closer role.

Cubs manager Dale Sveum said Russell and Rafael Dolis would share the role, but it's been Dolis used in both save chances even though he faced two left-handed batters while converting his first save and two lefties and a switch-hitter in his second chance. It appears that Russell, who holds a 0.73 ERA and 1.38 WHIP over 13 appearances, might only be used in the ninth inning on days where Dolis is unavailable.
Related: Rafael Dolis
Fri, May 11, 2012 03:25:00 PM
James Russell - R - Cubs

James Russell has been bumped from the starting rotation to the bullpen.

The Cubs don't need a No. 5 starter for another two weeks, so Russell will now be used in relief. Barring a disaster, he's unlikely to make another start, as at least one of Randy Wells (forearm), Andrew Cashner (shoulder) or Doug Davis should be ready at that point.
Source: Paul Sullivan on Twitter
Tue, May 3, 2011 09:25:00 PM
James Russell - R - Cubs

James Russell gave up five runs -- four earned -- in 4 2/3 innings Monday in a loss to the Dodgers.

Although Randy Wells is still probably three weeks away, this should bring an end to the experiment of using Russell as a starter. He lost all four of his starts and hasn't even lasted five innings in any of them.
Tue, May 3, 2011 12:48:00 AM
James Russell - R - Cubs

The Cubs hope not using James Russell out of the bullpen in between starts will result in a better outing Tuesday.

Russell has been terrible in his two prior starts, but he hasn't been used like a typical starter, making two relief appearances between his outings. Perhaps regular side work instead of appearing in games will help him. We're not terribly optimistic that it will. The Cubs would love to replace Russell in the rotation, but they're simply lacking options.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 09:46:00 AM
James Russell - R - Cubs

The Cubs are leaning towards giving James Russell one more start Tuesday.

We had just heard that he was still under consideration, and apparently he's the favorite. Russell has allowed eight runs over 5 2/3 innings in his previous two starts, but the Cubs simply don't have any other viable options right now.
Source: Patrick Mooney on Twitter
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 10:40:00 AM
James Russell - R - Cubs

James Russell hasn't been ruled out to make Tuesday's start.

The Cubs want to replace Russell in the rotation, but the problem is that they might not have any better options. Of the other candidates, Ramon Ortiz gave up three runs and seven hits in three innings in his last outing, and Austin Bibens-Dirkx and Thomas Diamond sport ERAs of 7.31 and 8.78, respectively. ‘‘Everything is on the table,’’ manager Mike Quade said. ‘‘I have to sit down with [general manager Jim Hendry] and [assistant GM Randy Bush]. I’ll talk to [Iowa manager] Bill Dancy and the minor-league guys. They have a better feel than I do [of their pitchers].’’
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 09:52:00 AM
James Russell - R - Cubs

Cubs manager Mike Quade hasn't decided whether left-hander James Russell will start Tuesday against the Rockies.

Russell has been awful over his first two spot-starts, so we can't blame him. "If we have another option, if we have someone who is ready, I'd like to explore that," said Quade. "Everything's on the table still until we take a closer look at it." It's not clear where the Cubs will turn, but Thomas Diamond or Austin Bibens-Dirkx are possibilities.
Source: Cubs.mlb.com
Fri, Apr 22, 2011 05:29:00 PM
James Russell - R - Cubs

James Russell was ineffective as the Cubs dropped the second game of a double-header to the Padres on Wednesday, allowing seven hits and four runs in just four innings.

Russell didn't have a great shot at making it longer than four innings, as he was on a 65-to-75 pitch limit, but it was still a disappointing evening for the fill-in starter. He is not worth a look in NL-only leagues.
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 10:04:00 PM
James Russell - R - Cubs

Tuesday's game between the Padres and Cubs was rained out.

The game will be made up as part of a split-doubleheader on Wednesday. The first game will begin at 2:20 p.m ET while the night cap kicks off at 7:05 p.m. ET. Tuesday's starters James Russell and Dustin Moseley will presumably be pushed back to the first game.
Related: Padres, Dustin Moseley
Source: Marty Caswell on Twitter
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 04:41:00 PM
James Russell - R - Cubs

Cubs manager Mike Quade said James Russell will be limited to 65-75 pitches in his start Tuesday.

He threw 55 in his start on April 12 before making two relief appearances since then. Jeff Samardzija will likely follow Russell out of the bullpen.
Source: Gordon Wittenmyer on Twitter
Sun, Apr 17, 2011 02:53:00 PM
James Russell - R - Cubs

James Russell will start Tuesday against the Padres.

The Cubs were deciding between Russell and Jeff Samardzija for the opening, and it sure says something about the club's confidence in Samardzija that he wasn't picked. Russell made a relief appearance on Saturday night but is still getting the call.
Related: Jeff Samardzija
Source: Carrie Muskat on Twitter
Sun, Apr 17, 2011 12:06:00 AM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1Welington Castillo
2Dioner Navarro
3Steve Clevenger
1B1Anthony Rizzo
2B1Darwin Barney
SS1Starlin Castro
3B1Luis Valbuena
2Cody Ransom
LF1Alfonso Soriano
2Ryan Sweeney
CF1David DeJesus
RF1Nate Schierholtz
2Scott Hairston
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1Matt Garza
2Jeff Samardzija
3Edwin Jackson
4Scott Baker
5Scott Feldman
6Travis Wood
7Carlos Villanueva
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Kevin Gregg
2Kyuji Fujikawa
3Carlos Marmol
4James Russell
5Shawn Camp
6Hector Rondon
7Henry Rodriguez
8Rafael Dolis
9Zach Putnam
10Blake Parker
11Arodys Vizcaino
12Brooks Raley