The Jeff Samardzija Thread

[abuck1220]

The only people who put BA #1 are the people who arent "in the know."

 

And scouts are no better, just more arrogant....

 

so the scouts are the arrogant ones, eh?

 

 

I learn much much more about the players I watch from other broadcasters, college articles (for those who play college ball), die-hard fans and local newspaper articles than from any of these "scouting services"

 

you do realize you couldn't be relying on more biased sources unless you asked the players' grandmothers, don't you? i mean, come on.

[Mephistopheles]

Chiefsvoice, give some of your past tirades on what it takes to win games I really don't know if you know what it takes to win in baseball, so no matter how wel you judge a player it just may not mean anything because you dont know how much he affects winning.

 

 

okay guys thats what went through my head, did it come out making sense?

[ChiefsVoice]

Chiefsvoice, give some of your past tirades on what it takes to win games I really don't know if you know what it takes to win in baseball, so no matter how wel you judge a player it just may not mean anything because you dont know how much he affects winning.

 

 

okay guys thats what went through my head, did it come out making sense?

 

You're right. I'm a moron and know nothing about baseball so I'll just stop posting...

[CUBZ99]

Chiefsvoice, give some of your past tirades on what it takes to win games I really don't know if you know what it takes to win in baseball, so no matter how wel you judge a player it just may not mean anything because you dont know how much he affects winning.

 

 

okay guys thats what went through my head, did it come out making sense?

 

You're right. I'm a moron and know nothing about baseball so I'll just stop posting...

 

I'm pretty sure that he wasn't sure what he was saying, as is evidenced by the incomprehensable nature of the statement. I think it would be a shame for you to stop posting on the board, due to other posters juvenile behavior. Many posters enjoy having your first hand perspective, even if we don't always agree with you.

[imb]

Chiefsvoice, give some of your past tirades on what it takes to win games I really don't know if you know what it takes to win in baseball, so no matter how wel you judge a player it just may not mean anything because you dont know how much he affects winning.

 

 

okay guys thats what went through my head, did it come out making sense?

 

You're right. I'm a moron and know nothing about baseball so I'll just stop posting...

 

What are you, four? Post whatever, whenever you want. This acting like a baby when someone disagrees with you is embarrassing.

[sethuel1]

The only people who put BA #1 are the people who arent "in the know."

 

And scouts are no better, just more arrogant....

 

so the scouts are the arrogant ones, eh?

 

 

I learn much much more about the players I watch from other broadcasters, college articles (for those who play college ball), die-hard fans and local newspaper articles than from any of these "scouting services"

 

you do realize you couldn't be relying on more biased sources unless you asked the players' grandmothers, don't you? i mean, come on.

I just ask the players themselves.

[treebird]

The only people who put BA #1 are the people who arent "in the know."

 

And scouts are no better, just more arrogant....

 

so the scouts are the arrogant ones, eh?

 

 

I learn much much more about the players I watch from other broadcasters, college articles (for those who play college ball), die-hard fans and local newspaper articles than from any of these "scouting services"

 

you do realize you couldn't be relying on more biased sources unless you asked the players' grandmothers, don't you? i mean, come on.

I just ask the players themselves.

 

bobby brownlie told me he's got his 95-mph curveball back

[CUBZ99]

The only people who put BA #1 are the people who arent "in the know."

 

And scouts are no better, just more arrogant....

 

so the scouts are the arrogant ones, eh?

 

 

I learn much much more about the players I watch from other broadcasters, college articles (for those who play college ball), die-hard fans and local newspaper articles than from any of these "scouting services"

 

you do realize you couldn't be relying on more biased sources unless you asked the players' grandmothers, don't you? i mean, come on.

I just ask the players themselves.

 

bobby brownlie told me he's got his 95-mph curveball back

 

I thought it was a 97 mph Outlaw curve? :lol:

[Chris]

Let's all breathe in and breathe out.

[CuseCubFan69]

Let's all breathe in and breathe out.

 

Machinehead!

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Let's all breathe in and breathe out.

 

Machinehead!

 

Fixed.

[craig]

We know Sam didn't actually signed this alleged (but unconfirmed) $7 contract. But we also know that the Cubs could offer him guaranteed money if he was willing to commit fulltime to baseball. The $7 offer was probably exaggerated even if there was something to it.

 

We do? How do we know this.

 

Well, I guess I was wrong, or may be wrong. Depends on how accurate or not BA may be.

 

But BA has now published that Sam and the Cubs did indeed agree to this $7.25 contract. The following is the opening paragraph from an article dated Jan 11.

 

=======

By Jim Callis

 

January 11, 2007

 

CHICAGO--In an effort to steer righthander Jeff Samardzija away from the NFL, the Cubs gave their 2006 fifth-round pick a draft-record $7.25 million bonus. He'll be paid in full if he stays with baseball through 2010.

========

 

Given the mixed opinions on BA's reliability, I suppose it's possible that they, too, have gotten it wrong. But it now appears fairly widely reported.

[Outshined_One]

Aaaaaaaaaaaand now BA is backtracking on that story.

 

Link

 

Baseball America reported last June that Samardzija had agreed to a deal with the Cubs that would pay him a $7.25 million bonus if he made baseball his sole focus. Sources familiar with the agreement now say it includes a $250,000 bonus, with the guarantee of another $250,000 if he reports to spring training. He still could receive a much more lucrative deal, however.

 

...

 

Sources said the Cubs attempted to sign Samardzija to a series of one-year option contracts, which would have allowed him to make $7.25 million had the team picked up each of the options. But Major League Baseball refused to approve a minor league deal structured in that fashion, and Chicago didn't want to give him a major league contract.

 

So, that clears a good deal of confusion up. It also explains why a ton of other sources were reporting the $7.25m deal.

[goonys evil twin]

Aaaaaaaaaaaand now BA is backtracking on that story.

 

Link

 

Baseball America reported last June that Samardzija had agreed to a deal with the Cubs that would pay him a $7.25 million bonus if he made baseball his sole focus. Sources familiar with the agreement now say it includes a $250,000 bonus, with the guarantee of another $250,000 if he reports to spring training. He still could receive a much more lucrative deal, however.

 

...

 

Sources said the Cubs attempted to sign Samardzija to a series of one-year option contracts, which would have allowed him to make $7.25 million had the team picked up each of the options. But Major League Baseball refused to approve a minor league deal structured in that fashion, and Chicago didn't want to give him a major league contract.

 

So, that clears a good deal of confusion up. It also explains why a ton of other sources were reporting the $7.25m deal.

 

 

I thought we heard almost right away that he never actually signed that big deal, and really only signed a one year contract. I'm guessing the Cubs told him that if he goes just to baseball, they'll give him a much bigger contract later. It would be interesting, however, if a new regime came in before he signs anything big, and he drops in the NFL draft. He'll basically have no leverage for a big deal.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Greg (Brooklyn, NY): So what's your take on Jeff Samardzija? It seems like if he wanted to make a league, the NFL would be the easier route, as the percentages seem a lot lower for pitching prospects to make the majors. He'd probably have a longer career (and life expectancy) if he made the big leagues, but short-term, do you think football would be his better bet?

 

Jim Callis: Samardzija is supposed to report to the Senior Bowl for a week of practice starting Sunday, but don't be surprised if he signs a baseball-only deal with the Cubs before then. Short-term, he'd immediately be playing in the NFL rather than pitching in Class A. Long-term, I think football would be the safer bet becuase he's ready to play at the highest level right now and has a lot of work to do as a pitcher. But I think he has a better chance to be a star in baseball than in football. In football, I see him as a Joe Jurevicius, a good player but not an all-pro wide receiver.

 

JB from CT: Last week I asked: Samardzija, MLB or NFL to which you replied "NFL". Then came your BA column about his NFL status slipping. Do you still feel he will play in the NFL or does it now look like he is MLB bound?

 

Jim Callis: When you asked that, I believe it was where I thought he'd have the chance for more success. And that's the NFL. But it sounds like he's going to wind up as a full-time Cub, and very soon.

 

Matt (Georgetown, KY): Any chance Samardzija will play both Baseball and Football? Deion and Bo did well with that, for awhile. Why is this considered unthinkable nowadays?

 

Jim Callis: Just not possible as a wide receiver and pitcher, no way he'd hold up. Sounds like he's beginning to realize this.

 

Samardzija is scheduled to report Sunday to Mobile, Ala., for a week of practice leading up to the Senior Bowl, an annual showcase for some of college football's best prospects. Sources say that the Cubs would like to sign him to a baseball-only deal in the near future--perhaps before the Senior Bowl--with the total payout exceeding $7.25 million.

[mg420]

Greg (Brooklyn, NY): So what's your take on Jeff Samardzija? It seems like if he wanted to make a league, the NFL would be the easier route, as the percentages seem a lot lower for pitching prospects to make the majors. He'd probably have a longer career (and life expectancy) if he made the big leagues, but short-term, do you think football would be his better bet?

 

Jim Callis: Samardzija is supposed to report to the Senior Bowl for a week of practice starting Sunday, but don't be surprised if he signs a baseball-only deal with the Cubs before then. Short-term, he'd immediately be playing in the NFL rather than pitching in Class A. Long-term, I think football would be the safer bet becuase he's ready to play at the highest level right now and has a lot of work to do as a pitcher. But I think he has a better chance to be a star in baseball than in football. In football, I see him as a Joe Jurevicius, a good player but not an all-pro wide receiver.

 

JB from CT: Last week I asked: Samardzija, MLB or NFL to which you replied "NFL". Then came your BA column about his NFL status slipping. Do you still feel he will play in the NFL or does it now look like he is MLB bound?

 

Jim Callis: When you asked that, I believe it was where I thought he'd have the chance for more success. And that's the NFL. But it sounds like he's going to wind up as a full-time Cub, and very soon.

 

Matt (Georgetown, KY): Any chance Samardzija will play both Baseball and Football? Deion and Bo did well with that, for awhile. Why is this considered unthinkable nowadays?

 

Jim Callis: Just not possible as a wide receiver and pitcher, no way he'd hold up. Sounds like he's beginning to realize this.

 

Samardzija is scheduled to report Sunday to Mobile, Ala., for a week of practice leading up to the Senior Bowl, an annual showcase for some of college football's best prospects. Sources say that the Cubs would like to sign him to a baseball-only deal in the near future--perhaps before the Senior Bowl--with the total payout exceeding $7.25 million.

 

great news! i hope he see's the light and sticks with only baseball. it would be a big risk financially to try to play both sports. take the 7.25 mil and pitch for the cubs jeff!

[Mephistopheles]

just for safety reasons im a bad person and hope he breaks his arm (clean break) in the senior bowl (non throwing, of course)

[goonys evil twin]

just for safety reasons im a bad person and hope he breaks his arm (clean break) in the senior bowl (non throwing, of course)

 

I think this would significantly decrease his chances to ever sniff the major leagues as a pitcher.

[Mephistopheles]

Breaking his nonthrowing arm wouldn't make a difference in baseball. It would heal by mid April or so. And it's likely he would lean more to baseball because of the physical wreck football can cause.

[the splendid splinter]

just for safety reasons im a bad person and hope he breaks his arm (clean break) in the senior bowl (non throwing, of course)

 

I think this would significantly decrease his chances to ever sniff the major leagues as a pitcher.

 

Bet you a thousand bucks youll drop that statement tomorrow after lunch^

[goonys evil twin]

just for safety reasons im a bad person and hope he breaks his arm (clean break) in the senior bowl (non throwing, of course)

 

I think this would significantly decrease his chances to ever sniff the major leagues as a pitcher.

 

Bet you a thousand bucks youll drop that statement tomorrow after lunch^

 

Why, is he going to break his arm and have it healed by then?

[CuseCubFan69]

Can this kid really be good? What does he have other than good size that grades him so high?

[goonys evil twin]

Can this kid really be good? What does he have other than good size that grades him so high?

 

Not much. He doesn't have much velocity, from what I've heard. Everything says he's extremely raw. It's all about the tools. He's going to be quite a project for the developmental people.

 

I should add, yes, he probably could be really good. It'll just take a ton of work, and luck.

[Guest]

Can this kid really be good? What does he have other than good size that grades him so high?

 

Not much. He doesn't have much velocity, from what I've heard. Everything says he's extremely raw. It's all about the tools. He's going to be quite a project for the developmental people.

 

I should add, yes, he probably could be really good. It'll just take a ton of work, and luck.

If 99 isn't good velocity, then we agree.

[CuseCubFan69]

Can this kid really be good? What does he have other than good size that grades him so high?

 

Not much. He doesn't have much velocity, from what I've heard. Everything says he's extremely raw. It's all about the tools. He's going to be quite a project for the developmental people.

 

I should add, yes, he probably could be really good. It'll just take a ton of work, and luck.

If 99 isn't good velocity, then we agree.

 

He can throw 99 right now? A real 99 would be a very good thing.