But his baseball life is in jeopardy now.

Before the Cubs' 14-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, Rusch was reunited with his teammates Tuesday at Wrigley Field for the first time since Sept. 12, when he experienced chest pains during his pregame workout, prompting the Cubs' medical team to send him to an emergency room. The decision probably saved the 31-year-old left-hander's life when a blood clot was discovered in his right lung.

But doctors have told Rusch he must be on blood-thinning medication for at least six months and possibly 12 months or longer.

''Those [thinners], you can't play on,'' he said. ''I can do everything as far as exercises and practice and keeping my arm in shape, but you can't play. You can't risk being hit. If I was to get hit by a line drive, it could be fatal.''

The severity of Rusch's condition is one of several non-baseball injuries that have befallen the Cubs this season.

Reserve Freddie Bynum also suffered a blood clot that required months of medication, and first baseman Derrek Lee, who missed most of the season after suffering a broken wrist in April, left the team a week ago when his 3-year-old daughter suddenly lost vision in one eye. No new information has been available on the child's condition.

''It is tough,'' Rusch said of the Cubs' fortunes. ''So many people have had health problems that you just feel like, 'What's going on?' -- especially when it comes to health problems from other than on the field. You see teams have bad luck where a couple guys hurt their arms or [suffer] breaks. But with us, it's health problems not tied to baseball.''

The injuries complicated manager Dusty Baker's job in the final year of his contract. Baker said general manager Jim Hendry has not said when the two will meet about his fate.

''I'm hoping sooner than later,'' he said.

Baker plans to remain in Chicago for several days after Sunday's season finale, adding that he isn't happy the season is ending.

''Maybe I'm different, but I wish we could just play all the way through until you win and come full circle,'' he said. ''Usually seasons like this are real long. This has actually been a short season, as though you ran out of time. I was telling my wife, 'I'm not ready to go home.'''

Rusch has one year remaining on the two-year contract he signed last season. Asked if he is contemplating retirement, he said: ''I haven't thought that far yet. I hate to make any decisions until I know what it's going to be in the future. I'd love to play again, but we'll see.''

Rusch added that tests showed his condition is genetic, unlike Bynum's situation, and that he will seek further medical opinions near his Los Angeles-area home.

As for the game, rookie left-hander Sean Marshall won for the first time since July 5, and Juan Pierre had two more hits to boost his National League-leading total to 198.

tginnetti@suntimes.com