Samardzija Called Up

[fromthestretch]

Hopefully Samardzija pitches well enough to take Marquis' rotation spot.

 

Not any chance that he would pitch better than Marquis this year.

and this is based on?

 

It's most likely the fact that Marquis has been about a league-average pitcher this season. While it's possible Samardzija could pitch better than that, it's not something I would bet on at this stage in his career.

 

For all the grief that Marquis gets from people, he's been a solid #5 starter. His WHIP for the season might not be all that impressive, but he's managed to limit the damage by keeping the ball in the ballpark.

 

Since May 18

11 starts, 5-3 record, 3.95 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 6 IP/start

 

He may have started slowly, but he certainly hasn't been hurting this team over the past couple months.

[jersey cubs fan]

Just get Chad Fox off the 40-man.

Agreed. It bugs the heck out of me that he's still on the 40 man. Get someone else on there for once!

 

He's not taking a space from anybody, there is already an open slot available. It would be better to put him on the 60-day DL.

That's consistent with what they both said, since putting him on the 60-day DL would take him off the 40-man roster.

 

Actually 60-day DL keeps him on the 40-man but allows the team an extra spot. Taking him off the 40-man means releaseing him entirely. While that may be fun, it really doesn't help the Cubs.

[Derwood]

I'm glad Samardzija's coming up.

 

Since Chad Fox got hurt again and Michael Wuertz was demoted, the big league squad has been woefully short of ugly dudes.

 

Lieber counts as like 2 1/2 ugly dudes

[Soul]

Hopefully Samardzija pitches well enough to take Marquis' rotation spot.

 

Not any chance that he would pitch better than Marquis this year.

and this is based on?

 

It's most likely the fact that Marquis has been about a league-average pitcher this season. While it's possible Samardzija could pitch better than that, it's not something I would bet on at this stage in his career.

 

For all the grief that Marquis gets from people, he's been a solid #5 starter. His WHIP for the season might not be all that impressive, but he's managed to limit the damage by keeping the ball in the ballpark.

 

Since May 18

11 starts, 5-3 record, 3.95 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 6 IP/start

 

He may have started slowly, but he certainly hasn't been hurting this team over the past couple months.

 

I've been mildly pleased with Marquis' continued league-average starts. Lord knows we need it with this bullpen. Trouble is, you never know when he'll decide it's the 2nd half of the season and therefore time to start sucking again.

 

As for Samardz, does this seem like "too much too soon" to anyone else? He really hasn't been pitching well for very long, from what I understand. I find it likely he'll struggle up here, especially on the control front. Someone talk me down.

[biittner77]

The only bad part of this call up is that after pitvhing today or maybe tomorrow he will assume the Wuertz/ Lieber role of guy that doesn't pitch unless there's extra innings or somebody dies. Which means that the already overworked guys will be overworked that much more.

 

Of course that's probably true of whoever they brought up.

[RynoRules]

If Gordon Wittenmeyer is right with his Samardzija might start Saturday prediction, I would be devastated. Harden needs to pitch against the Brewers and moving him back to Sunday eliminates that leaving either Samardzija or Marquis to start that 4th game.

 

I'm going to that 4th game. I want to see Harden in person, dangit!

 

Likewise - its my son's first Cubs game and I don't need him thinking Marquis is a model for the big league picther.

[YearofDaCubs]

I'm glad to see the Shark called up because I want to see him pitch but you have to wonder if this is the best move for the Cubs. Is the organization sold on him now that he seems to have figured it out albeit a small sample size in AAA? We have Wuertz, Ascanio, and Lieber in the minors. right now, and all with MLB experience some have actually been pretty good :)

[Fro]

And the last piece of the puzzle slides in...

[italianocubsfan7]

.... for now

[bukie]

I'd enjoy nothing more than seeing him pitch the 8th and 9th of an 10-2 game today.

 

Preferably one that the Cubs were winning.

[Bull]

no way Samardzija starts.

Z

Demps

Lilly

Harden

Shark?

 

really? That would have to mean Marquis is out of the rotation. Does this really happen?

[Derwood]

no way Samardzija starts.

Z

Demps

Lilly

Harden

Shark?

 

really? That would have to mean Marquis is out of the rotation. Does this really happen?

 

no, it's not happening

[Jehrico]

I don't think you can realistically expect a guy who wasn't lights out at high A and struggled at AA but has had some success in a small sample size at AAA to get better with the jump to MLB, especially when moving from the rotation to the pen without any time to readjust to the role first.

 

He's moved to and from the bullpen on multiple occasions over the past two years.

I understand that. However, that should in no way provoke expectations that he'll magically improve by going to the pen for the big league club. He shouldn't be expected to do better at this level than he did at AAA just because he improved from AA to AAA (ignoring that he got worse from High A to AA).

[CubColtPacer]

I don't think you can realistically expect a guy who wasn't lights out at high A and struggled at AA but has had some success in a small sample size at AAA to get better with the jump to MLB, especially when moving from the rotation to the pen without any time to readjust to the role first.

 

He's moved to and from the bullpen on multiple occasions over the past two years.

I understand that. However, that should in no way provoke expectations that he'll magically improve by going to the pen for the big league club. He shouldn't be expected to do better at this level than he did at AAA just because he improved from AA to AAA (ignoring that he got worse from High A to AA).

 

His AA numbers were better than his High A numbers. Less hits per 9, more strikeouts per 9, better ERA, better WHIP. His walk rate was quite a bit worse (due to one month this year where he walked the world) and his HR rate is rising, but overall he was a better pitcher in AA.

[Roast]

an observation from seeing him live today:

 

He throws really freaking hard.

 

 

 

 

I'm so going to be a scout one day.

[NCCubFan]

Just get Chad Fox off the 40-man.

Agreed. It bugs the heck out of me that he's still on the 40 man. Get someone else on there for once!

 

He's not taking a space from anybody, there is already an open slot available. It would be better to put him on the 60-day DL.

That's consistent with what they both said, since putting him on the 60-day DL would take him off the 40-man roster.

 

Actually 60-day DL keeps him on the 40-man but allows the team an extra spot. Taking him off the 40-man means releaseing him entirely. While that may be fun, it really doesn't help the Cubs.

I think we're thinking the same thing but debating semantics. The main point, which we're both saying, is that it allows another player to be added to the 40-man roster. If you look at any of the mlb.com affiliated team sites, their 40-man rosters show players on the 60-day, but along with a footnote that says "not on 40-man roster."

[Hall7810]

I see no use for Fox on the 40-man. There's been no time-line disclosed for his return, no rehabbing on his part. Sure, his return was a feelgood story, but now all he's doing is wasting a spot for a useful arm like Ceda. If Gooz is really eyeing a mid-August return, I'm sure the Cubs' hand will be forced as to what to do with Fox, but with the bullpen being expended like it is, at the very least he should go on the 60-day DL.

[NCCubFan]

I think he'll go on the 60-day DL as soon as they need a spot on the 40-man roster for somebody else. No need to do it until then; he's not really wasting a spot on the 40-man roster when it's currently one under the limit anyway.

[Jehrico]

Just get Chad Fox off the 40-man.

Agreed. It bugs the heck out of me that he's still on the 40 man. Get someone else on there for once!

 

He's not taking a space from anybody, there is already an open slot available. It would be better to put him on the 60-day DL.

That's consistent with what they both said, since putting him on the 60-day DL would take him off the 40-man roster.

 

Actually 60-day DL keeps him on the 40-man but allows the team an extra spot. Taking him off the 40-man means releaseing him entirely. While that may be fun, it really doesn't help the Cubs.

I think we're thinking the same thing but debating semantics. The main point, which we're both saying, is that it allows another player to be added to the 40-man roster. If you look at any of the mlb.com affiliated team sites, their 40-man rosters show players on the 60-day, but along with a footnote that says "not on 40-man roster."

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if they keep Fox on the 40 man, then move him to the 60 day on 1 Sep or later, whoever they move onto the roster at that point to take his place is eligible to be put on a postseason roster, right? And if they made the corresponding move before 1 Sep, that player wouldn't be unless they were on the 25 man roster? Or was this the old rule before they set it so that you can change your 25 man roster before the LCS or WS if there's an injury?

[SouthSideRyan]

Just get Chad Fox off the 40-man.

Agreed. It bugs the heck out of me that he's still on the 40 man. Get someone else on there for once!

 

He's not taking a space from anybody, there is already an open slot available. It would be better to put him on the 60-day DL.

That's consistent with what they both said, since putting him on the 60-day DL would take him off the 40-man roster.

 

Actually 60-day DL keeps him on the 40-man but allows the team an extra spot. Taking him off the 40-man means releaseing him entirely. While that may be fun, it really doesn't help the Cubs.

I think we're thinking the same thing but debating semantics. The main point, which we're both saying, is that it allows another player to be added to the 40-man roster. If you look at any of the mlb.com affiliated team sites, their 40-man rosters show players on the 60-day, but along with a footnote that says "not on 40-man roster."

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if they keep Fox on the 40 man, then move him to the 60 day on 1 Sep or later, whoever they move onto the roster at that point to take his place is eligible to be put on a postseason roster, right? And if they made the corresponding move before 1 Sep, that player wouldn't be unless they were on the 25 man roster? Or was this the old rule before they set it so that you can change your 25 man roster before the LCS or WS if there's an injury?

 

It doesn't matter when the player is moved to the 60 day DL. When K-Rod made the Angles playoff roster despite not being in the big leagues til September, he replaced a guy who was on the 60 day DL starting in March.

[Jehrico]

It's only two appearances, but it appears that there may be some tasty crow warming up in the oven for me. Time will tell, I still think it was the wrong move. I'll gladly take a bite out of that crow though if it's ready in a couple of weeks. Edited July 29, 2008 by Jehrico

[shnsajax]

no way Samardzija starts.

Z

Demps

Lilly

Harden

Shark?

 

really? That would have to mean Marquis is out of the rotation. Does this really happen?

 

no, it's not happening

 

I would much rather start Marshall and keep Samarzija in the bullpen.