2009 Mexican Pacific League

[Keener98]

SHARK! SUCKS!

 

And obviously can never improve from his struggles last season.

 

He could improve, but I highly doubt he will.

 

Gut instinct, or do you actually have reasons?

 

I guess you could call it gut instinct if you want, but from everything Ive seen of him, and taking his minor league numbers into account, I dont think he will ever be a servicable ML starting pitcher. I think he could possibly be a decent/good bullpen arm, but as a starter, I dont think he will ever be good enough.

[Rob]

SHARK! SUCKS!

 

And obviously can never improve from his struggles last season.

 

He could improve, but I highly doubt he will.

 

Gut instinct, or do you actually have reasons?

 

I guess you could call it gut instinct if you want, but from everything Ive seen of him, and taking his minor league numbers into account, I dont think he will ever be a servicable ML starting pitcher. I think he could possibly be a decent/good bullpen arm, but as a starter, I dont think he will ever be good enough.

 

With Samardzija more than most, his numbers don't do a very good job of describing him. He's had very specific instructions as to what he was supposed to be working on most of the time, and wasn't left to his own devices of just burning fastballs by the hitters to get out of a jam.

[jersey cubs fan]

With Samardzija more than most, his numbers don't do a very good job of describing him. He's had very specific instructions as to what he was supposed to be working on most of the time, and wasn't left to his own devices of just burning fastballs by the hitters to get out of a jam.

 

That's been the excuse since his first pro season. But the bottom line is he's been ineffective. He's not young either. I think his numbers do a fine job of describing him. Occasionally solid, but usually not good.

[Keener98]

With Samardzija more than most, his numbers don't do a very good job of describing him. He's had very specific instructions as to what he was supposed to be working on most of the time, and wasn't left to his own devices of just burning fastballs by the hitters to get out of a jam.

 

That's been the excuse since his first pro season. But the bottom line is he's been ineffective. He's not young either. I think his numbers do a fine job of describing him. Occasionally solid, but usually not good.

 

Exactly its always been "hes working on this" or "hes working on that" and "hes still raw" etc... Well hes been in the Cubs system now for a few years, and he hasnt done much to warrant any positive expectations of him. Id love for him to come in and be the number 5 starter and be effective, I just don't have much hope.

[Guest]

SHARK! SUCKS!

 

And obviously can never improve from his struggles last season.

 

He could improve, but I highly doubt he will. The Cubs will probably have him in the rotation to start the season however with the money they have invested in him.

 

If it was about the money, he'd have been the one called up for the 5th spot in the rotation and not Randy Wells.

 

He needed (and needs) all the innings he could get and the Cubs kept yo-yoing him up and down from the Iowa rotation to the big league pen. It's not hard to imagine he'd have better success in a defined role. He did fine in Iowa's rotation each of the last two seasons.

[Guest]

10/27: Mexicali lost 12-5 Box Score

 

SS M. Camp 0/5, K

RF B. Snyder 1/4, R, K

 

OVERALL:

 

Matt Camp 25/68, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 7 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 8/9 SB, 2 E, 1 OF assist - .368/.434/.500/.934

Brad Snyder 19/58, 3 2B, 2 HR, 10 BB, 11 K, 3/4 SB, 1 E, 2 OF assists - .328/.420/.483/.903

Jeff Samardzija 18 IP, 18 H, 6 ER, 7 BB, 15 K, 3 HBP, 23-13 GO-FO, 3.00 ERA

Brian Schlitter 10 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 5 BB, 7 K, 14-10 GO-FO, 5.40 ERA, 3/5 saves

[jersey cubs fan]

 

He needed (and needs) all the innings he could get and the Cubs kept yo-yoing him up and down from the Iowa rotation to the big league pen. It's not hard to imagine he'd have better success in a defined role. He did fine in Iowa's rotation each of the last two seasons.

 

He was fine, but not emerging top prospect good. He had a nice stint in Iowa in 2008, but he wasn't as good the next year, very hittable, and the strikeout rate fell off his career high. He's got well over 400 professional innings now, and despite all the talk about how raw he was, he did have 240 college innings under his belt before turning pro. And he's been an absolute disaster in the majors. Sure, it would have been nice if the Cubs didn't foolishly call him up to relieve and then yo-yo him, but he's been around a while now and they aren't going to get that developmental time back. He has had a couple nice stints at higher levels when first called up, but then declined the more the opposition sees him. This isn't people being skeptical of a prospect who has been a good minor league pitcher, it's people disappointed in a guy who has not been good.

[Guest]

10/28: Mexicali lost 3-1 Box Score

 

SS M. Camp 1/4

RP B. Schlitter 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 0-1 GO-FO

 

OVERALL:

 

Matt Camp 26/72, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 7 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 8/9 SB, 2 E, 1 OF assist - .361/.425/.486/.911

Brad Snyder 19/58, 3 2B, 2 HR, 10 BB, 11 K, 3/4 SB, 1 E, 2 OF assists - .328/.420/.483/.903

Jeff Samardzija 18 IP, 18 H, 6 ER, 7 BB, 15 K, 3 HBP, 23-13 GO-FO, 3.00 ERA

Brian Schlitter 10.2 IP, 11 H, 7 ER, 6 BB, 7 K, 14-11 GO-FO, 5.91 ERA, 3/5 saves

[Guest]

10/29: Mexicali won 6-4 Box Score

 

SS M. Camp 1/4, 2B (5)

RF B. Snyder 2/3, 2 R, 2B (4), HR (3), 3 RBI, BB, K, SB (4)

RP B. Schlitter 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2-0 GO-FO, save

 

OVERALL:

 

Matt Camp 27/76, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 7 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 8/9 SB, 2 E, 1 OF assist - .355/.417/.487/.904

Brad Snyder 22/61, 4 2B, 3 HR, 11 BB, 12 K, 4/5 SB, 1 E, 2 OF assists - .344/.438/.557/.996

Jeff Samardzija 18 IP, 18 H, 6 ER, 7 BB, 15 K, 3 HBP, 23-13 GO-FO, 3.00 ERA

Brian Schlitter 11.2 IP, 11 H, 7 ER, 6 BB, 8 K, 16-11 GO-FO, 4/6 saves, 5.40 ERA

[Guest]

10/30: Mexicali won 8-1 Box Score

 

CF M. Camp 0/3, RBI, K

LF B. Snyder 1/4, 2B (5), RBI, BB, OF assist at third base

SP J. Samardzija 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K, WP, 5-6 GO-FO

 

OVERALL:

 

Matt Camp 27/79, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 7 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP, 8/9 SB, 2 E, 1 OF assist - .342/.398/.468/.866

Brad Snyder 23/65, 5 2B, 3 HR, 12 BB, 12 K, 4/5 SB, 1 E, 3 OF assists - .338/.436/.554/.990

Jeff Samardzija 24 IP, 22 H, 6 ER, 8 BB, 22 K, 3 HBP, 1 WP, 28-19 GO-FO, 2.25 ERA

Brian Schlitter 11.2 IP, 11 H, 7 ER, 6 BB, 8 K, 16-11 GO-FO, 4/6 saves, 5.40 ERA

[davell]

Looks like a very solid outing from Shark. I'm sure that they will give him every chance to start next year. So, it's probably make or break time for him. I don't see him as the answer myself and expect Jay Jackson to be in our big league rotation by August, assuming we don't add a starter over the offseason.

[Guest]

10/31: Mexicali won 8-4 Box Score

 

SS M. Camp 2/4, 2 R, 2B (6), 2 BB

RF B. Snyder 2/3, R, RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB (6)

 

OVERALL:

 

Matt Camp 29/83, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 9 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP, 8/9 SB, 2 E, 1 OF assist - .349/.415/.482/.897

Brad Snyder 24/68, 5 2B, 3 HR, 14 BB, 12 K, 6/7 SB, 1 E, 3 OF assists - .353/.463/.559/1.022

Jeff Samardzija 24 IP, 22 H, 6 ER, 8 BB, 22 K, 3 HBP, 1 WP, 28-19 GO-FO, 2.25 ERA

Brian Schlitter 11.2 IP, 11 H, 7 ER, 6 BB, 8 K, 16-11 GO-FO, 4/6 saves, 5.40 ERA

[Guest]

11/1: Mexicali lost 4-3 Box Score

 

SS M. Camp 2/4, RBI

RF B. Snyder 0/4, 2 K, OF assist at third base

 

OVERALL:

 

Matt Camp 31/87, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 9 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP, 8/9 SB, 2 E, 1 OF assist - .356/.418/.483/.901

Brad Snyder 24/72, 5 2B, 3 HR, 14 BB, 14 K, 6/7 SB, 1 E, 4 OF assists - .333/.437/.528/.965

Jeff Samardzija 24 IP, 22 H, 6 ER, 8 BB, 22 K, 3 HBP, 1 WP, 28-19 GO-FO, 2.25 ERA

Brian Schlitter 11.2 IP, 11 H, 7 ER, 6 BB, 8 K, 16-11 GO-FO, 4/6 saves, 5.40 ERA

[Guest]

11/3: Mexicali won 6-2 Box Score

 

SS M. Camp 2/5, 2 R, 2 RBI

RF B. Snyder 1/5, R, K

 

OVERALL:

 

Matt Camp 33/92, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 9 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP, 8/9 SB, 2 E, 1 OF assist - .359/.417/.478/.896

Brad Snyder 25/77, 5 2B, 3 HR, 14 BB, 15 K, 6/7 SB, 1 E, 4 OF assists - .325/.424/.506/.930

Jeff Samardzija 24 IP, 22 H, 6 ER, 8 BB, 22 K, 3 HBP, 1 WP, 28-19 GO-FO, 2.25 ERA

Brian Schlitter 11.2 IP, 11 H, 7 ER, 6 BB, 8 K, 16-11 GO-FO, 4/6 saves, 5.40 ERA

[Guest]

Carrie Muskat story on Thomas Diamond. He'll be replacing Jeff Samardzija on Mexicali's roster:

 

Carrie Muskat[/url]"]On Friday, Diamond, 26, heads to Mexico to join the Mexicali team and take pitcher Jeff Samardzija's spot on the roster. He's hoping a strong showing will earn him an invitation to the Cubs' camp this spring.

 

...

 

The same can be said of Diamond. In his last outing in the final instructional league game, he struck out five and gave up one hit over three innings.

 

"I felt really good because I didn't walk anybody," said Diamond, sitting in the shade near the Cubs' Fitch Park facility. "If I can do that, I'll be tough to beat."

 

Pitching is his focus. He's been working on a curve, which he used to throw with the Rangers until they put more emphasis on power. Riggins has stressed the need for more variety in velocity, and he wanted Diamond to add something slower with a break to get hitters to back off his fastball. In Mexico, he would like to pitch five or six innings per start to build up his arm for Spring Training. Diamond can't wait for February.

 

"I want to show [the Cubs] exactly what they have," he said.

[TruffleShuffle]

Pitching is his focus.

 

well that's good to hear.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Carrie Muskat story on Thomas Diamond. He'll be replacing Jeff Samardzija on Mexicali's roster:

 

Carrie Muskat[/url]"]On Friday, Diamond, 26, heads to Mexico to join the Mexicali team and take pitcher Jeff Samardzija's spot on the roster. He's hoping a strong showing will earn him an invitation to the Cubs' camp this spring.

 

...

 

The same can be said of Diamond. In his last outing in the final instructional league game, he struck out five and gave up one hit over three innings.

 

"I felt really good because I didn't walk anybody," said Diamond, sitting in the shade near the Cubs' Fitch Park facility. "If I can do that, I'll be tough to beat."

 

Pitching is his focus. He's been working on a curve, which he used to throw with the Rangers until they put more emphasis on power. Riggins has stressed the need for more variety in velocity, and he wanted Diamond to add something slower with a break to get hitters to back off his fastball. In Mexico, he would like to pitch five or six innings per start to build up his arm for Spring Training. Diamond can't wait for February.

 

"I want to show [the Cubs] exactly what they have," he said.

 

I really hope that we can make Diamond work. Its about time we got one of those former top prospect reclamation project success stories.

[Guest]

11/4: Mexicali lost 6-3 Box Score

 

SS M. Camp 1/5, K, CS (2)

RF B. Snyder 2/4, R, HR (4), RBI, BB, K

 

OVERALL:

 

Matt Camp 34/97, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 9 BB, 6 K, 1 HBP, 8/10 SB, 2 E, 1 OF assist - .351/.407/.464/.871

Brad Snyder 27/81, 5 2B, 4 HR, 15 BB, 16 K, 6/7 SB, 1 E, 4 OF assists - .333/.427/.543/.970

Jeff Samardzija 24 IP, 22 H, 6 ER, 8 BB, 22 K, 3 HBP, 1 WP, 28-19 GO-FO, 2.25 ERA

Brian Schlitter 11.2 IP, 11 H, 7 ER, 6 BB, 8 K, 16-11 GO-FO, 4/6 saves, 5.40 ERA

[Guest]

11/5: Mexicali lost 2-1 Box Score

 

SS M. Camp 1/4, E (3, throw)

RF B. Snyder 2/4

 

OVERALL:

 

Matt Camp 35/101, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 9 BB, 6 K, 1 HBP, 8/10 SB, 2 E, 1 OF assist - .347/.402/.455/.857

Brad Snyder 29/85, 5 2B, 4 HR, 15 BB, 16 K, 6/7 SB, 1 E, 4 OF assists - .341/.436/.541/.977

Jeff Samardzija 24 IP, 22 H, 6 ER, 8 BB, 22 K, 3 HBP, 1 WP, 28-19 GO-FO, 2.25 ERA

Brian Schlitter 11.2 IP, 11 H, 7 ER, 6 BB, 8 K, 16-11 GO-FO, 4/6 saves, 5.40 ERA

[Guest]

Carrie Muskat story on Thomas Diamond. He'll be replacing Jeff Samardzija on Mexicali's roster:

 

Carrie Muskat[/url]"]On Friday, Diamond, 26, heads to Mexico to join the Mexicali team and take pitcher Jeff Samardzija's spot on the roster. He's hoping a strong showing will earn him an invitation to the Cubs' camp this spring.

 

...

 

The same can be said of Diamond. In his last outing in the final instructional league game, he struck out five and gave up one hit over three innings.

 

"I felt really good because I didn't walk anybody," said Diamond, sitting in the shade near the Cubs' Fitch Park facility. "If I can do that, I'll be tough to beat."

 

Pitching is his focus. He's been working on a curve, which he used to throw with the Rangers until they put more emphasis on power. Riggins has stressed the need for more variety in velocity, and he wanted Diamond to add something slower with a break to get hitters to back off his fastball. In Mexico, he would like to pitch five or six innings per start to build up his arm for Spring Training. Diamond can't wait for February.

 

"I want to show [the Cubs] exactly what they have," he said.

I'm pretty interested in this kid. However my question is, if the Cubs don't put him on the 40-man roster will he become a free agent?

[Guest]

11/6: Mexicali won 5-4 Box Score

 

SS M. Camp 0/5, K

RF B. Snyder 2/4, 2 R, 2 RBI, HBP, SB (7)

SP T. Diamond 3+ IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1-5 GO-FO

RP B. Schlitter 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0-2 GO-FO, save

 

OVERALL:

 

Matt Camp 35/106, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 9 BB, 7 K, 1 HBP, 8/10 SB, 2 E, 1 OF assist - .330/.385/.434/.819

Brad Snyder 31/89, 5 2B, 4 HR, 15 BB, 16 K, 1 HBP, 7/8 SB, 1 E, 4 OF assists - .348/.443/.539/.982

Thomas Diamond 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1-5 GO-FO, 0.00 ERA

Jeff Samardzija 24 IP, 22 H, 6 ER, 8 BB, 22 K, 3 HBP, 1 WP, 28-19 GO-FO, 2.25 ERA

Brian Schlitter 12.2 IP, 11 H, 7 ER, 6 BB, 9 K, 16-13 GO-FO, 5/7 saves, 4.61 ERA

[Guest]

11/7: Mexicali won 6-3 Box Score

 

SS M. Camp 2/4, R, 2 2B (8), BB, CS (3)

CF B. Snyder 2/4, R, 2B (6), RBI, 2 K, SB (8)

 

OVERALL:

 

Matt Camp 37/110, 8 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 10 BB, 7 K, 1 HBP, 8/11 SB, 2 E, 1 OF assist - .336/.393/.455/.848

Brad Snyder 33/93, 6 2B, 4 HR, 15 BB, 18 K, 1 HBP, 8/9 SB, 1 E, 4 OF assists - .355/.445/.548/.993

Thomas Diamond 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1-5 GO-FO, 0.00 ERA

Jeff Samardzija 24 IP, 22 H, 6 ER, 8 BB, 22 K, 3 HBP, 1 WP, 28-19 GO-FO, 2.25 ERA

Brian Schlitter 12.2 IP, 11 H, 7 ER, 6 BB, 9 K, 16-13 GO-FO, 5/7 saves, 4.61 ERA

[Guest]

11/8: Mexicali lost 3-2 Box Score

 

SS M. Camp 1/5, RBI

RF B. Snyder 0/4, K

RP B. Schlitter 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2-1 GO-FO

 

OVERALL:

 

Matt Camp 38/115, 8 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 10 BB, 7 K, 1 HBP, 8/11 SB, 2 E, 1 OF assist - .330/.386/.443/.829

Brad Snyder 33/97, 6 2B, 4 HR, 15 BB, 19 K, 1 HBP, 8/9 SB, 1 E, 4 OF assists - .340/.430/.526/.956

Thomas Diamond 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1-5 GO-FO, 0.00 ERA

Jeff Samardzija 24 IP, 22 H, 6 ER, 8 BB, 22 K, 3 HBP, 1 WP, 28-19 GO-FO, 2.25 ERA

Brian Schlitter 13.2 IP, 12 H, 7 ER, 6 BB, 9 K, 18-14 GO-FO, 5/7 saves, 4.30 ERA

[SouthSideRyan]

I'm pretty interested in this kid. However my question is, if the Cubs don't put him on the 40-man roster will he become a free agent?

 

He was outrighted at the end of the year, if I'm remembering the rules correctly, the only way they lose him this offseason is via rule 5.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Thomas Diamond 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1-5 GO-FO, 0.00 ERA

 

Off to a good start. Assuming we dont trade for or sign a starter, any chance that he'll be in the mix for that 5th starter job?