The Jeff Samardzija Thread

[TruffleShuffle]

maybe next time we dump millions on a draftee, we should make sure he knows how to throw more than one pitch

[rabidawg900]

Jeff had a really good game yesterday.

[CubinNY]

why no Billy Petrick, argh, it would make our trip to visit him so much easier and cheaper.

 

Meh, happy that he is pitching well this year!

 

Hopefully he'll replace Samardzija in Peoria when it's time for Jeff to go back to ND.

 

Haha, these posts were from July 16 and 17 of last year on the first page of this thread - and in less than a year, Billy Petrick is in the big leagues.

 

Even funnier, I thought you were making a joke about Samardzija going back to ND to play football.

 

If that makes any sense.

 

-------

 

Edit: Not paying attention makes me look foolish

Edited July 7, 2007 by CubinNY

[B]

why no Billy Petrick, argh, it would make our trip to visit him so much easier and cheaper.

 

Meh, happy that he is pitching well this year!

 

Hopefully he'll replace Samardzija in Peoria when it's time for Jeff to go back to ND.

 

Haha, these posts were from July 16 and 17 of last year on the first page of this thread - and in less than a year, Billy Petrick is in the big leagues.

 

Even funnier, I thought you were making a joke about Samardzija going back to ND to play football.

 

If that makes any sense.

 

-------

 

Unrelated, I don't see how it is possible for the Cubs are calling Samardzija's pitches. Anyway, what does it really matter? He's in the bullpen now.

 

I thought he was starting again. Hasn't he won his last 2 starts?

[CubinNY]

why no Billy Petrick, argh, it would make our trip to visit him so much easier and cheaper.

 

Meh, happy that he is pitching well this year!

 

Hopefully he'll replace Samardzija in Peoria when it's time for Jeff to go back to ND.

 

Haha, these posts were from July 16 and 17 of last year on the first page of this thread - and in less than a year, Billy Petrick is in the big leagues.

 

Even funnier, I thought you were making a joke about Samardzija going back to ND to play football.

 

If that makes any sense.

 

-------

 

Unrelated, I don't see how it is possible for the Cubs are calling Samardzija's pitches. Anyway, what does it really matter? He's in the bullpen now.

 

I thought he was starting again. Hasn't he won his last 2 starts?

You are correct. I haven't been paying close enough attention.

[CubColtPacer]

why no Billy Petrick, argh, it would make our trip to visit him so much easier and cheaper.

 

Meh, happy that he is pitching well this year!

 

Hopefully he'll replace Samardzija in Peoria when it's time for Jeff to go back to ND.

 

Haha, these posts were from July 16 and 17 of last year on the first page of this thread - and in less than a year, Billy Petrick is in the big leagues.

 

Even funnier, I thought you were making a joke about Samardzija going back to ND to play football.

 

If that makes any sense.

 

-------

 

Unrelated, I don't see how it is possible for the Cubs are calling Samardzija's pitches. Anyway, what does it really matter? He's in the bullpen now.

 

Samardzija has been starting for a couple of weeks now.

 

Edit: A little late. As far as calling his pitches, the Cubs minor league coordinator is probably telling the coaching staff of Daytona the ratio of pitches and type of pitches in certain counts, and then they call the pitches from the dugout.

Edited July 7, 2007 by CubColtPacer

[NCCubFan]

why no Billy Petrick, argh, it would make our trip to visit him so much easier and cheaper.

 

Meh, happy that he is pitching well this year!

 

Hopefully he'll replace Samardzija in Peoria when it's time for Jeff to go back to ND.

 

Haha, these posts were from July 16 and 17 of last year on the first page of this thread - and in less than a year, Billy Petrick is in the big leagues.

 

Even funnier, I thought you were making a joke about Samardzija going back to ND to play football.

 

If that makes any sense.

 

-------

 

Unrelated, I don't see how it is possible for the Cubs are calling Samardzija's pitches. Anyway, what does it really matter? He's in the bullpen now.

 

I thought he was starting again. Hasn't he won his last 2 starts?

Yes; his bullpen stint was just temporary.

[Guest]

BP's Ten Pack: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=6584

 

Coming into the season will a lot of pressure after signing one of the largest deals in draft history, Samardzija was nothing short of awful in the Florida State League. His 4.95 ERA was probably his most impressive statistic in 24 games for Daytona, as the ex-wide receiver allowed 142 hits in 107 1/3 innings while striking out 45. The logical move? A promotion to Double-A, of course! Laugh all you want (I know I did), but Samardzija has actually been surprisingly effective in two starts since the promotion, getting the win in both, including an outing on Sunday in which he allowed two runs (one earned) over 6 1/3 innings. He’s still not recording a lot of strikeouts (five in 12 1/3 innings overall), but scouts still respect his stuff, and while they still have a very, very long way to go, the numbers are catching up a little bit as well.

[mhuber92211]

anyone hear this one?

 

the Cubs are considering bringing up Jeff Samardzija when rosters expand Sept. 1. Samardzija, who's best known as a Notre Dame wide receiver, is now a pitcher in the Cubs' system and has impressed since being promoted from Class-A Daytona to Double-A Tennessee.

 

--From the Star Ledger

[NCCubFan]

anyone hear this one?

 

the Cubs are considering bringing up Jeff Samardzija when rosters expand Sept. 1. Samardzija, who's best known as a Notre Dame wide receiver, is now a pitcher in the Cubs' system and has impressed since being promoted from Class-A Daytona to Double-A Tennessee.

 

--From the Star Ledger

Maybe they just want him to get exposure to the major league environment. He's already on the 40-man roster and the option clock has already started, so there's nothing to lose by bringing him up when rosters expand. In fact, he's the only player currently on the 40-man who has not yet appeared in the majors.

[BDWeav71]

anyone hear this one?

 

the Cubs are considering bringing up Jeff Samardzija when rosters expand Sept. 1. Samardzija, who's best known as a Notre Dame wide receiver, is now a pitcher in the Cubs' system and has impressed since being promoted from Class-A Daytona to Double-A Tennessee.

 

--From the Star Ledger

Maybe they just want him to get exposure to the major league environment. He's already on the 40-man roster and the option clock has already started, so there's nothing to lose by bringing him up when rosters expand. In fact, he's the only player currently on the 40-man who has not yet appeared in the majors.

 

 

You know, except for those pesky ballgames we gotta play. I hope we don't bring Samardzija up, lets let him continue to gain confidence in his game in AA instead of getting roughed up in the majors.

[Electron Blue]

anyone hear this one?

 

the Cubs are considering bringing up Jeff Samardzija when rosters expand Sept. 1. Samardzija, who's best known as a Notre Dame wide receiver, is now a pitcher in the Cubs' system and has impressed since being promoted from Class-A Daytona to Double-A Tennessee.

 

--From the Star Ledger

Maybe they just want him to get exposure to the major league environment. He's already on the 40-man roster and the option clock has already started, so there's nothing to lose by bringing him up when rosters expand. In fact, he's the only player currently on the 40-man who has not yet appeared in the majors.

 

As long as he's only used in blowouts, I agree, the move makes some sense. He doesn't seem "big league ready," but roster wise, little is lost by the callup. Could be interesting, if it happens.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

anyone hear this one?

 

the Cubs are considering bringing up Jeff Samardzija when rosters expand Sept. 1. Samardzija, who's best known as a Notre Dame wide receiver, is now a pitcher in the Cubs' system and has impressed since being promoted from Class-A Daytona to Double-A Tennessee.

 

--From the Star Ledger

Maybe they just want him to get exposure to the major league environment. He's already on the 40-man roster and the option clock has already started, so there's nothing to lose by bringing him up when rosters expand. In fact, he's the only player currently on the 40-man who has not yet appeared in the majors.

 

 

You know, except for those pesky ballgames we gotta play. I hope we don't bring Samardzija up, lets let him continue to gain confidence in his game in AA instead of getting roughed up in the majors.

 

The minor league seasons are over when the rosters expand. There's not much harm in letting him be with the big league team for the last month, with the bullpen depth we'll have in quality and in sheer numbers b/c of the call-ups, he won't be needed for anything crucial unless he shows he can handle it.

[SouthSideRyan]

anyone hear this one?

 

the Cubs are considering bringing up Jeff Samardzija when rosters expand Sept. 1. Samardzija, who's best known as a Notre Dame wide receiver, is now a pitcher in the Cubs' system and has impressed since being promoted from Class-A Daytona to Double-A Tennessee.

 

--From the Star Ledger

Maybe they just want him to get exposure to the major league environment. He's already on the 40-man roster and the option clock has already started, so there's nothing to lose by bringing him up when rosters expand. In fact, he's the only player currently on the 40-man who has not yet appeared in the majors.

 

Nitpick; Coats, Mateo, Novoa(though he's been hurt all year)

[Transmogrified Tiger]

anyone hear this one?

 

the Cubs are considering bringing up Jeff Samardzija when rosters expand Sept. 1. Samardzija, who's best known as a Notre Dame wide receiver, is now a pitcher in the Cubs' system and has impressed since being promoted from Class-A Daytona to Double-A Tennessee.

 

--From the Star Ledger

Maybe they just want him to get exposure to the major league environment. He's already on the 40-man roster and the option clock has already started, so there's nothing to lose by bringing him up when rosters expand. In fact, he's the only player currently on the 40-man who has not yet appeared in the majors.

 

Nitpick; Coats, Mateo, Novoa(though he's been hurt all year)

 

I think he means ever, not just 2007, hence the option clock reference.

[SouthSideRyan]

anyone hear this one?

 

the Cubs are considering bringing up Jeff Samardzija when rosters expand Sept. 1. Samardzija, who's best known as a Notre Dame wide receiver, is now a pitcher in the Cubs' system and has impressed since being promoted from Class-A Daytona to Double-A Tennessee.

 

--From the Star Ledger

Maybe they just want him to get exposure to the major league environment. He's already on the 40-man roster and the option clock has already started, so there's nothing to lose by bringing him up when rosters expand. In fact, he's the only player currently on the 40-man who has not yet appeared in the majors.

 

Nitpick; Coats, Mateo, Novoa(though he's been hurt all year)

 

I think he means ever, not just 2007, hence the option clock reference.

 

Reading is fun.

 

Re: Samardzija, seems like a non-issue as long as every other pitcher on the 40 man is coming up. Samardzija as the 15th guy out of the pen isn't going to bother me. But there's no reason to have him up over any of the others.

[NCCubFan]

anyone hear this one?

 

the Cubs are considering bringing up Jeff Samardzija when rosters expand Sept. 1. Samardzija, who's best known as a Notre Dame wide receiver, is now a pitcher in the Cubs' system and has impressed since being promoted from Class-A Daytona to Double-A Tennessee.

 

--From the Star Ledger

Maybe they just want him to get exposure to the major league environment. He's already on the 40-man roster and the option clock has already started, so there's nothing to lose by bringing him up when rosters expand. In fact, he's the only player currently on the 40-man who has not yet appeared in the majors.

 

Nitpick; Coats, Mateo, Novoa(though he's been hurt all year)

 

I think he means ever, not just 2007, hence the option clock reference.

 

Reading is fun.

 

Re: Samardzija, seems like a non-issue as long as every other pitcher on the 40 man is coming up. Samardzija as the 15th guy out of the pen isn't going to bother me. But there's no reason to have him up over any of the others.

TT is correct; I wasn't referring specifically to this year. Coats and Mateo were both up last year.

 

Also, nitpicking your nitpick, Novoa isn't on the 40-man since he's on the 60-day DL. He is listed on the 40-man on cubs.com, but with a footnote saying he isn't on the 40-man.

[NCCubFan]

As long as he's only used in blowouts, I agree, the move makes some sense.

Better still, give him a start after the Cubs clinch the division so they can rest the regular starters and set the rotation for the playoffs. :D

[Athletics36]

Just to add it has already been mentioned by Piniella that he won't be adding many players once the rosters expand. Thought I saw this mentioned on Cubs.com and you would think with the number of innings he has thrown that they might just shut him down.

[SouthSideRyan]

Forgot to point out earlier, but important to keep in mind. The tidbit is from the Newark Star Ledger. I can't remember them ever being right about anything. Though I do recall lots and lots of wrongness.

[NCCubFan]

Forgot to point out earlier, but important to keep in mind. The tidbit is from the Newark Star Ledger. I can't remember them ever being right about anything. Though I do recall lots and lots of wrongness.

Is that the paper that reported Maddux signing with the Yankees shortly before he actually signed with the Cubs?

[Guest]

Forgot to point out earlier, but important to keep in mind. The tidbit is from the Newark Star Ledger. I can't remember them ever being right about anything. Though I do recall lots and lots of wrongness.

Is that the paper that reported Maddux signing with the Yankees shortly before he actually signed with the Cubs?

 

And that Prior was about to have TJS midseason in 2004.

[NCCubFan]

Forgot to point out earlier, but important to keep in mind. The tidbit is from the Newark Star Ledger. I can't remember them ever being right about anything. Though I do recall lots and lots of wrongness.

Is that the paper that reported Maddux signing with the Yankees shortly before he actually signed with the Cubs?

 

And that Prior was about to have TJS midseason in 2004.

I'd forgotten about that one.

[Quakers]

From BA (Manuel's Chat:

 

Sean from Spencerport, NY asks:

Is there any reason for Jeff Samardzija suddenly allowing so many Home Run in Double-A? His Homer total in Daytona was one of the few aspects of his game which was actually positive. Now while the rest of his game has improved he's suddenly averaging a Homer allowed per game.

 

A: John Manuel: I don't really see how Samardzija can be fairly judged on the numbers this year. What's his comp? When's the last time we had a 6-foot-5 wide receiver-slash-pitcher? He's already thrown 40 more innings than he did in any season at Notre Dame; you think maybe fatigue has something to do with it? He reached Double-A and has pitched fairly well there in his first season, he's taken every turn, he's stayed healthy. For me, that's a successful first year. It certainly would encourage me more if he had a better year statistically, but starting off in high Class A and finishing in Double-A is challenging for any starter right out of college. I just heaped praise on Heath Rollins for his year and he did that in low Class A, and he was a college pitcher last year. What could Samardzija do in the Sally League? Probably not as well as Rollins, because he's not a polished strike thrower, but what point would there be to Samardzija putting up good low Class A numbers? None, really. The Cubs gave him money to get big league hitters out, not minor league hitters. Keeping him healthy and getting him the experience they did this season is a good way toward getting him to that goal.

 

John Manuel: All that said . . . I'm not a fan of the Cubs' development system. The track record under Oneri Fleita for keeping pitchers healthy and developing them is just fair. The higher profile the pitcher, the greater their chance of failing for the Cubs, wheres lower-profile guys like Rich Hill and Sean Marshall and the like have worked out.

 

[CuseCubFan69]

From BA (Manuel's Chat:

 

Sean from Spencerport, NY asks:

Is there any reason for Jeff Samardzija suddenly allowing so many Home Run in Double-A? His Homer total in Daytona was one of the few aspects of his game which was actually positive. Now while the rest of his game has improved he's suddenly averaging a Homer allowed per game.

 

A: John Manuel: I don't really see how Samardzija can be fairly judged on the numbers this year. What's his comp? When's the last time we had a 6-foot-5 wide receiver-slash-pitcher? He's already thrown 40 more innings than he did in any season at Notre Dame; you think maybe fatigue has something to do with it? He reached Double-A and has pitched fairly well there in his first season, he's taken every turn, he's stayed healthy. For me, that's a successful first year. It certainly would encourage me more if he had a better year statistically, but starting off in high Class A and finishing in Double-A is challenging for any starter right out of college. I just heaped praise on Heath Rollins for his year and he did that in low Class A, and he was a college pitcher last year. What could Samardzija do in the Sally League? Probably not as well as Rollins, because he's not a polished strike thrower, but what point would there be to Samardzija putting up good low Class A numbers? None, really. The Cubs gave him money to get big league hitters out, not minor league hitters. Keeping him healthy and getting him the experience they did this season is a good way toward getting him to that goal.

 

John Manuel: All that said . . . I'm not a fan of the Cubs' development system. The track record under Oneri Fleita for keeping pitchers healthy and developing them is just fair. The higher profile the pitcher, the greater their chance of failing for the Cubs, wheres lower-profile guys like Rich Hill and Sean Marshall and the like have worked out.

 

 

Do the Cubs have a floating pitching coach that goes throughout the system? I don't know if I'd blame Fleita for this problem.