Cubs Announcement: Samardzija Forgoes the NFL for the Cubs

[Outshined_One]

The list of pitchers who have been as highly rated as smardzija, hill, and veal. That is all. How likely is it we'll have 2 that pan out, out of this list. . Hill, Smardzija, Veal, Gallagher, Palewek.

 

Kudos to Raisin for the list:

 

Made it to the majors but never lived up to the hype: Juan Cruz, Andy Sisco, Jae-Kuk Ryu

 

Never made it to the majors: Bobby Brownlie, Luke Hagerty, Chadd Blasko, Matt Clanton, Justin Jones, Ben Christiensen

 

Wild Card: Angel Guzman, Billy Petrick

[nilodnayr]

 

I haven't really been paying much attention to the cubs the last several years. I've only been back full time, full die-hard the last couple of years. So I can't compare to before. Who did we have other than zambrano, prior, and wood who looked like top prospects?

 

Oh God, this is going to open up a can of worms, but I'll get the ball rolling...

 

Sisco, Hagerty, Blasko, Petrick, Brownlie, Koronka, Wellemeyer, Pinto, Nolasco, Mitre, Dontrelle, Juan Cruz, Justin Jones, Christensen, Leicester, Rohlicek, Geremi (or however he wants to spell it) Gonzalez, Szuminski, Felix Sanchez, Wilton Chavez.

[nilodnayr]

 

I haven't really been paying much attention to the cubs the last several years. I've only been back full time, full die-hard the last couple of years. So I can't compare to before. Who did we have other than zambrano, prior, and wood who looked like top prospects?

 

Oh God, this is going to open up a can of worms, but I'll get the ball rolling...

 

Sisco, Hagerty, Blasko, Petrick, Brownlie, Koronka, Wellemeyer, Pinto, Nolasco, Mitre, Dontrelle, Juan Cruz, Justin Jones, Christensen, Leicester, Rohlicek, Geremi (or however he wants to spell it) Gonzalez, Szuminski, Felix Sanchez, Wilton Chavez.

 

Some of those towards the bottom werent thought of as highly as those 5 your mentioned, but there was definite hope that they would contribute to the major league team.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The list of pitchers who have been as highly rated as smardzija, hill, and veal. That is all. How likely is it we'll have 2 that pan out, out of this list. . Hill, Smardzija, Veal, Gallagher, Palewek.

 

Kudos to Raisin for the list:

 

Made it to the majors but never lived up to the hype: Juan Cruz, Andy Sisco, Jae-Kuk Ryu

 

Never made it to the majors: Bobby Brownlie, Luke Hagerty, Chadd Blasko, Matt Clanton, Justin Jones, Ben Christiensen

 

Wild Card: Angel Guzman, Billy Petrick

 

Sweet, I get kudos!

 

From nilo's list, you can add Dontrelle to the success stories. I don't think the rest were ever thought of as highly as the ones I mentioned or the ones GilesBros mentions (maybe Pinto).

[Outshined_One]

Kyle Farnsworth can always be thrown onto this list if we want to play this game.

[nilodnayr]

The list of pitchers who have been as highly rated as smardzija, hill, and veal. That is all. How likely is it we'll have 2 that pan out, out of this list. . Hill, Smardzija, Veal, Gallagher, Palewek.

 

Kudos to Raisin for the list:

 

Made it to the majors but never lived up to the hype: Juan Cruz, Andy Sisco, Jae-Kuk Ryu

 

Never made it to the majors: Bobby Brownlie, Luke Hagerty, Chadd Blasko, Matt Clanton, Justin Jones, Ben Christiensen

 

Wild Card: Angel Guzman, Billy Petrick

 

Ohh God, I forgot about Clanton...sad. The 2002 draft was so wonderful at the time and horrible in retrospect (save Rich Hill). The only other player to make it to the majors in that draft has the most unique batting line ever.

 

I didn't count JK because he still could do something for us. Piggy would fall into that category too. Hell so could Guzman.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I didn't count JK because he still could do something for us. Piggy would fall into that category too. Hell so could Guzman.

 

Ryu is a shell of himself, he was a potential top-100 in baseball prospect who's lucky if he cracks top 10 Cubs lists. Guzman is still a potential front of the rotation starter despite the injuries.

 

Piggy shouldn't be in the same group.

[A New Era]

Samardzija press conf now on cubs.com.

 

Thanks for the list of players BTW. How many in the last 5 years do you honestly think were up there in talent in the Wood/Hill/Willis/Garland pool. 10, 20, 30? I don't think it's that high, is it?

[Outshined_One]

Samardzija press conf now on cubs.com.

 

Thanks for the list of players BTW. How many in the last 5 years do you honestly think were up there in talent in the Wood/Hill/Willis/Garland pool. 10, 20, 30? I don't think it's that high, is it?

 

Here's a list of all of the Cubs pitchers who've been on BA's Top 100 Prospects list since 2000:

 

Mark Pawelek (#85, 2006)

Angel Guzman (#88, 2005)

Angel Guzman (#24, 2004)

Justin Jones (#56, 2004)

Andy Sisco (#77, 2004)

Bobby Brownlie (#92, 2004)

Angel Guzman (#47, 2003)

Andy Sisco (#53, 2003)

Mark Prior (#2, 2002)

Juan Cruz (#6, 2002)

Carlos Zambrano (#80, 2002)

Juan Cruz (#18, 2001)

Ben Christensen (#37, 2001)

Carlos Zambrano (#68, 2001)

 

Note that Hill was never on any of these lists. Believe me, the Cubs have had plenty of really good pitching prospects who never lived up to the hype.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Dontrelle cracked their top-100 list once, in 2003 at #43. Garland also only cracked the list once, at #32 in 2000. Neither made it as Cubs.

[Coach C]

Good signing.

 

Also a good thing to restock the minors with some arms, that they sorely lacked, what 2-3 years ago? *shrugs*

[Jazz]

man, im watching some tape of samardzija pitch, im so excited about him right now.

[nilodnayr]

Samardzija press conf now on cubs.com.

 

Thanks for the list of players BTW. How many in the last 5 years do you honestly think were up there in talent in the Wood/Hill/Willis/Garland pool. 10, 20, 30? I don't think it's that high, is it?

 

Here's a list of all of the Cubs pitchers who've been on BA's Top 100 Prospects list since 2000:

 

Mark Pawelek (#85, 2006)

Angel Guzman (#88, 2005)

Angel Guzman (#24, 2004)

Justin Jones (#56, 2004)

Andy Sisco (#77, 2004)

Bobby Brownlie (#92, 2004)

Angel Guzman (#47, 2003)

Andy Sisco (#53, 2003)

Mark Prior (#2, 2002)

Juan Cruz (#6, 2002)

Carlos Zambrano (#80, 2002)

Juan Cruz (#18, 2001)

Ben Christensen (#37, 2001)

Carlos Zambrano (#68, 2001)

 

Note that Hill was never on any of these lists. Believe me, the Cubs have had plenty of really good pitching prospects who never lived up to the hype.

 

I think this list is exactly what we are talking about... in each of 2001, 2002 and 2003 3 of our pitchers were on the list (although in 2003, one of them was on the marlins). In 2004 we had 4...then it all dried up and in 2005 and 2006 we only had one sneak in each year.

[J.R.]

Kiper is supposed to talk about the signing on ESPN Radio this hour.

[Guest]

 

I haven't really been paying much attention to the cubs the last several years. I've only been back full time, full die-hard the last couple of years. So I can't compare to before. Who did we have other than zambrano, prior, and wood who looked like top prospects?

 

Oh God, this is going to open up a can of worms, but I'll get the ball rolling...

 

Sisco, Hagerty, Blasko, Petrick, Brownlie, Koronka, Wellemeyer, Pinto, Nolasco, Mitre, Dontrelle, Juan Cruz, Justin Jones, Christensen, Leicester, Rohlicek, Geremi (or however he wants to spell it) Gonzalez, Szuminski, Felix Sanchez, Wilton Chavez.

 

Let's open a new can of worms. On Nilo's list, which pitcher was the biggest disappointment? To me....it has to be Sisco. I know he's at the major league level,now, but in his case it is ability minus intelligence, equals journeyman reliever.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

 

I haven't really been paying much attention to the cubs the last several years. I've only been back full time, full die-hard the last couple of years. So I can't compare to before. Who did we have other than zambrano, prior, and wood who looked like top prospects?

 

Oh God, this is going to open up a can of worms, but I'll get the ball rolling...

 

Sisco, Hagerty, Blasko, Petrick, Brownlie, Koronka, Wellemeyer, Pinto, Nolasco, Mitre, Dontrelle, Juan Cruz, Justin Jones, Christensen, Leicester, Rohlicek, Geremi (or however he wants to spell it) Gonzalez, Szuminski, Felix Sanchez, Wilton Chavez.

 

Let's open a new can of worms. On Nilo's list, which pitcher was the biggest disappointment? To me....it has to be Sisco. I know he's at the major league level,now, but in his case it is ability minus intelligence, equals journeyman reliever.

 

Sisco did have at least one amazing season as a reliever though. I think it's got to be someone who didn't even make the bigs, Brownlie or Christensen for me.

[Guest]

For me, it is Juan Cruz. By far. I was a huge believer.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2007-01/27466168.jpg

[Guest]

$10+M contract, but still can't afford a haircut.

[treebird]

cut that hair hippie

 

EDIT in the future i will read all the posts in a thread in an effort to avoid making comments that are basically the same as the posters preceding me

Edited January 20, 2007 by treebird

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Is that an Under Armour logo?

[nilodnayr]

$10+M contract, but still can't afford a haircut.

 

Hes just lucky the Yanks didnt draft him.

[nilodnayr]

Is that an Under Armour logo?

 

Bud light bleachers

 

Under Armor Arms

 

Ben Gay bench?

[Chocolate Milk]

Is that an Under Armour logo?

 

I think it is... UnderArmor Lapel Pins?

[wvcbxl]

$10+M contract, but still can't afford a haircut.

 

If he effectively pitches his way in to the Cubs rotation in the coming years, he can have hair down to his knees as far as I'm concerned.