Samardzija ready this year?

[bahua]

Didn't see this anywhere:

 

Jeff Samardzija threw a bullpen session Thursday. Piniella said: "I wouldn't be surprised if sometime this summer, he'll be ready for the big leagues."

 

Seriously....Seriously?

 

He has been nearly impossible to figure out, but it would be nice to believe this.

[Sammy Sofa]

No way. Please don't rush this, Cobs.

[SouthSideRyan]

Thanks to his major league contract, Jeff better be ready by next year.

[Guest]

I'm guessing Lou meant up with the big league team when he said ready. Not ready ready.

[killthegoat06]

I'd be happy if he was ready by the beginning of 2009.

[CUBZ99]

Didn't see this anywhere:

 

Jeff Samardzija threw a bullpen session Thursday. Piniella said: "I wouldn't be surprised if sometime this summer, he'll be ready for the big leagues."

 

Seriously....Seriously?

 

He has been nearly impossible to figure out, but it would be nice to believe this.

 

Good news :D

[Guest]

Thanks to his major league contract, Jeff better be ready by next year.

 

Actually, by 2010.

 

To clarify, Jeff Samardzija will have 4 option years as long as he uses the 4th before his 5th full season in professional baseball. Last season was his first option year, meaning 2010 would be his 4th option year (if, of course, he's optioned in 2009 and 2010).

[Roast]

Well, Normally i'd be mad if they rushed him. But, if it means kicking Dempster out of the rotation - sign me up!

[killthegoat06]

Well, Normally i'd be mad if they rushed him. But, if it means kicking Dempster out of the rotation - sign me up!

Haha there's a good way to look at it.

[UK1679666180]

Hopefully Lou is right, but (I say this w/out ever seeing him pitch) Samardzija seems like the type that would amaze those watching him throw a bullpen session and then disappoint in game action.

[seanimal]

Hopefully Lou is right, but (I say this w/out ever seeing him pitch) Samardzija seems like the type that would amaze those watching him throw a bullpen session and then disappoint in game action.

 

I thought that's pretty much exactly what he's proven to be so far.

[UK1679666180]

No doubt, which is why I think Lou seen him throw in the pen rather than facing live hitters.

[Guest]

Lou saw him face live hitters last spring and Samardzija looked really impressive.

[David]

Yea, I still don't understand why he was so underwhelming in the minors and had such a low strikeout rate considering how good his stuff is supposed to be.

[Guest]

His mechanics are bad, his slider isn't that good and is worse with poor mechanics.

 

At least that's what Wilken was saying on a Smokies broadcast last year (he used kinder words).

[UK1679666180]

He's definitely hard to figure out, I have no idea where he'll be at the end of this year let alone '10.

[David]

How much hope is there for him to work those things out now that he's got a year of being a full-time baseball player under his belt?

[Guest]

Wilken (obviously) was pretty optimistic. Seems like correctable problems if it's just improving his secondary pitches and mechanics. He supposedly is very coachable. Also, the slider is pretty new to his arsenal...he only started using it his last year at ND (plus the whole devoting all his time to baseball now as you said). He's also trying to add a split this year.

[SouthSideRyan]

Thanks to his major league contract, Jeff better be ready by next year.

 

Actually, by 2010.

 

To clarify, Jeff Samardzija will have 4 option years as long as he uses the 4th before his 5th full season in professional baseball. Last season was his first option year, meaning 2010 would be his 4th option year (if, of course, he's optioned in 2009 and 2010).

 

My mistake, I didn't realize he could be optioned in '10.

[Guest]

Thanks to his major league contract, Jeff better be ready by next year.

 

Actually, by 2010.

 

To clarify, Jeff Samardzija will have 4 option years as long as he uses the 4th before his 5th full season in professional baseball. Last season was his first option year, meaning 2010 would be his 4th option year (if, of course, he's optioned in 2009 and 2010).

 

My mistake, I didn't realize he could be optioned in '10.

 

This rule applies to all the guys who sign major league contracts straight out of the draft.

[TruffleShuffle]

yeah i think he's ready... to start playing the slot in the nfl.

[Mephistopheles]

Jeff Samardzija will have four option years. He won't have to make the team until 2011. Then again we have four years until Marquis 2.0!

[craig]

Wilken (obviously) was pretty optimistic. Seems like correctable problems if it's just improving his secondary pitches and mechanics. He supposedly is very coachable. Also, the slider is pretty new to his arsenal...he only started using it his last year at ND (plus the whole devoting all his time to baseball now as you said). He's also trying to add a split this year.

 

I don't have it with me, but I bought a copy of the February Vineline, which every February is dedicated to prospect stuff. They survey all the Cub farm coaches and managers. I was surprised that among the pitchers, not only did Samardz score among the two highest for competitiveness/toughness/work ethic kind of stuff. But he was listed as one of the two (I think) who had the best deliveries.

 

That was totally contrary to what I expected.

 

The following comment is multi-hand, but my friend is friends with a Baltimore scout. that scout has been very high on Samardzija, but said that to date his fastball and slider have different deliveries so that there is no deception, that hitters can tell which pitch is coming. It was his view that if Samardz could adjust so that both were thrown indistinguishably with the same arm slot and arm speed, that he'd become effective. But that until that happens, not so much.

[Guest]

Ahh, I think what I heard last year might have to do with arm slot too (in terms of mechanics). That makes sense, craig.

[Outshined_One]

yeah i think he's ready... to start playing the slot in the nfl.

 

I'll be honest, this coming season, I'd rather see him playing WR for the Bears rather than SP/RP for the Cubs.