The Jeff Samardzija Thread

[YearofDaCubs]

Btw, he looked really good against Fielder but when he lost his command he didn't look that great and I think he was taking some off to get it over for strikes which were making his pitches more hittable.

[CubinNY]

No idea why. I see no reason to use him especially if we need to use him tomorrow. We should have used Marshall, Eyre or Cotts. GUys that Lou refuses to use whenever possible. You would think you would use your crappiest reliever when having a 7 run lead.

I think Lou thinks he only has three guys in the pen.

 

He constantly mismanages the bullpen. It's his biggest weakness. And its a big one.

[Jon]

I thought that this would be a different outing for him considering how he had been used. He wasn't getting as much movement on his fastball, though the velocity was still there:

 

http://brooksbaseball.net/pfx/horzspeed.php?xml=http://gd2.mlb.com/components/game/mlb/year_2008/month_07/day_29/gid_2008_07_29_chnmlb_milmlb_1//pbp/pitchers/502188.xml&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=1

 

Last time out:

 

http://brooksbaseball.net/pfx/horzspeed.php?xml=http://gd2.mlb.com/components/game/mlb/year_2008/month_07/day_27/gid_2008_07_27_flomlb_chnmlb_1//pbp/pitchers/502188.xml&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=1

[jiml60]

Why did Lou use Samardzija in the 9th?

 

Maybe to get him some work and have him ready for Thursday when Harden pitches. (Especially if Lou is not ready to use him on consecutive days yet)

[NCCubFan]

We should have used Marshall, Eyre or Cotts.

We should have used Eyre, period. Marshall is probably being saved to piggyback with Harden, and Cotts has seen recent action. Eyre, however, must be very rusty by now and could have used an inning in a blowout to shake off some rust.

[RedFlash]

No idea why. I see no reason to use him especially if we need to use him tomorrow. We should have used Marshall, Eyre or Cotts. GUys that Lou refuses to use whenever possible. You would think you would use your crappiest reliever when having a 7 run lead.

 

Personally, I think Lou wanted to get Shark into a road playoff atmosphere game as quickly as poosibility. He wasn't ready to trust him into a tight contest on the road in the first game, as the possibility of taking Game 1 prevented that. But with a good lead, and three outs, what better way to get Shark his first road appearance?

 

There's nothing to Lou using Shark in meaning innings.

[davell]

I think the reason Lou used Shark last night was to let him face Fielder and the heart of their order in a less pressured atmosphere. And yes, Shark took his foot off the pedal, but he can learn from that hopefully. Probably won't be the last time he's asked to do that this year.

[ctcf]

I think the reason Lou used Shark last night was to let him face Fielder and the heart of their order in a less pressured atmosphere. And yes, Shark took his foot off the pedal, but he can learn from that hopefully. Probably won't be the last time he's asked to do that this year.

 

That's how I looked at it, and although I'm not thrilled about it I do understand at least.

[CuseCubFan69]

I think the reason Lou used Shark last night was to let him face Fielder and the heart of their order in a less pressured atmosphere. And yes, Shark took his foot off the pedal, but he can learn from that hopefully. Probably won't be the last time he's asked to do that this year.

 

That's how I looked at it, and although I'm not thrilled about it I do understand at least.

 

Plus I think having him go in the 9th inning for the mental aspect of it might also be a reason why he was in. I have to believe Lou has a plan for him and is trying to develop him to fit it.

[jersey cubs fan]

I think the reason Lou used Shark last night was to let him face Fielder and the heart of their order in a less pressured atmosphere. And yes, Shark took his foot off the pedal, but he can learn from that hopefully. Probably won't be the last time he's asked to do that this year.

 

That's how I looked at it, and although I'm not thrilled about it I do understand at least.

 

I don't understand it and I don't think that's the case either. What value could their be in letting the hitters see the pitcher you've dubbed as your new late inning weapon? Lou used him because Lou locks into certain decisions and sticks with them, like using Marmol, Wood, and now Samardzija, in blowouts. The reasonable thing to do would be to save him for today, when you may actually need him.

[Guest]

Heaven forbid Scott Eyre pitch...ever.

[davell]

I think the reason Lou used Shark last night was to let him face Fielder and the heart of their order in a less pressured atmosphere. And yes, Shark took his foot off the pedal, but he can learn from that hopefully. Probably won't be the last time he's asked to do that this year.

 

That's how I looked at it, and although I'm not thrilled about it I do understand at least.

 

I don't understand it and I don't think that's the case either. What value could their be in letting the hitters see the pitcher you've dubbed as your new late inning weapon? Lou used him because Lou locks into certain decisions and sticks with them, like using Marmol, Wood, and now Samardzija, in blowouts. The reasonable thing to do would be to save him for today, when you may actually need him.

 

Without looking whatsoever(and honestly playing devil's advocate here, since while I said I figure this is what Lou was probably trying to accomplish, not necessarily agreeing with it either) how many times has he misused Wood this year? I can't seem to remember any personally at least. I'm sure he's pitched in a few non-save situations obviously, but I can't remember even once thinking "this is a misuse of him". Marmol? Yeah, he was overworked some for sure, but I'd also at least like to think that it was in ballgames where he was perceived to be needed, not just being pitched for the hell of it.......If him or Wood has been used in games where we're up or down more than 3 or so more than a few times, I'd be fairly surprised. I know Lou loves his pen and only has confidence in a very select few, but I'd be a little surprised if either of those two have been put in spots where you really question it at that exact time more than a handful.......Like I said though, playing devil's advocate more than anything here, mainly because I'm too lazt to look this stuff up and wouldn't mind seeing the stats for leads or deficits when they pitched. :D

[jersey cubs fan]

Without looking whatsoever(and honestly playing devil's advocate here, since while I said I figure this is what Lou was probably trying to accomplish, not necessarily agreeing with it either) how many times has he misused Wood this year? I can't seem to remember any personally at least.

 

Over the first two months, no closer appeared in more games or pitched more innings. At one point, he and Marmol had pitched in the same amount of 4+ run leads. He hasn't pitched in a very long time, so it's easy to forget, but Wood was being used quite a lot, especially for a guy that Piniella said would need to be monitored. By the time June and July rolled around, he appeared to be easing up on him a bit, but Lou did not do a good job of limiting Wood to the role he was assigned to early on.

[jersey cubs fan]

Marmol? Yeah, he was overworked some for sure, but I'd also at least like to think that it was in ballgames where he was perceived to be needed, not just being pitched for the hell of it.......

 

Unfortunately, that's not the case.

[twothousandfive]

At one point, he and Marmol had pitched in the same amount of 4+ run leads.

 

What was the Cubs record in those 4+ run lead games? Given that he was calling on those guys in the 7th or 8th as often as later, it might have been better than league average.

 

Usage patterns are great to worry about, right up until everyone is used perfectly, but game are lost. Clearly, no one has an answer on why Eyre seems to be buried. But (nothwithstanding some small criticism that Z went in the 8th and ended up with 118) everyone with the possible exception of Shark should be able to go two days in a row, in the right circumstances. That means all are available Thursday, and all but Samardija available today.

 

I think that's pretty good management, which weighs nicely against a pretty good w-l record.

[The Voice of Reason]

Nice couple of weeks for Shark, starts closing games for the Cubs and almost wins the British Open.