Getty Images Cubs manager Dale Sveum told Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune Sunday in camp that right-hander Jeff Samardzija is a “near lock” for a spot in the team’s regular-season starting rotation.
Samardzija finally found major league success last year in the Chicago bullpen, posting a 2.97 ERA and tallying 87 strikeouts in 88 innings of work. He was especially sharp after the All-Star break, and the Cubs’ decision-makers will hope that he can ride that momentum into positive results in his new gig.
Samardzija was drafted as a starter out of Notre Dame and served mostly as a starter in the minor leagues, so the transition isn’t going to be a complete adventure. But the 27-year-old former wide receiver has walked 100 batters in 169 2/3 career major-league innings, and it’s safe to wonder whether those control issues will haunt him.
For what it’s worth, Samardzija hasn’t walked a single batter this spring in three Cactus League starts.
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- astrosfan75956 - Mar 18, 2012 at 6:14 PM
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Should have went to the NFL, he could have been a 1st or 2nd round selection.
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- Baseball Beer Burritos In That Order - Mar 18, 2012 at 6:28 PM
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Hmmm, why didn’t he play football?
Baseball: Average Salary $3.31m, minimum salary $441k, average career 5.6 years, guaranteed contracts
Football: Average Salary $1.9m, minimum salary $375k, average career 3.5 years, non-guaranteed contracts
Yeah, that’s a real head-scratcher.
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- rooney24 - Mar 18, 2012 at 8:15 PM
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Plus, much lower chance of concussions and all the other long term medical issues that NFL players have later in life (with the lower life expectancy).
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- 18thstreet - Mar 19, 2012 at 10:44 AM
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Also, football sucks and baseball is awesome.
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- dexterismyhero - Mar 19, 2012 at 9:13 AM
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No wonder. It was an Astro’s fan who asked the question. Nice try though.
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- storebrandcookies - Mar 18, 2012 at 8:48 PM
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Wow, just did a bit of research and this guy was an All-American receiver in 2005. Same year as Megatron!
Note: I’m not trying to compare the two.
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- firstandonlywarning - Mar 18, 2012 at 11:23 PM
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He made Brady Quinn millions
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- 18thstreet - Mar 19, 2012 at 10:45 AM
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[Insert Darrin Erstad joke.]
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- tmohr - Mar 18, 2012 at 10:46 PM
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Maybe he’ll be able to afford a better haircut on a starter’s salary.
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- firstandonlywarning - Mar 18, 2012 at 11:25 PM
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9 K’s zero walks in 10 spring innings
What control issues?You’re living in the past man
Is what a Cubs fan would say
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- paperlions - Mar 19, 2012 at 7:59 AM
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No, Cubs fans expect it all to fall apart. Deep down, they will harbor hopes that this move works, but they fully expect it to blow up in their face.
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- wlschneider09 - Mar 19, 2012 at 11:30 AM
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This.
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- purnellmeagrejr - Mar 19, 2012 at 8:01 AM
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Why would a Cubs fan live in the past? Masochism?
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- dexterismyhero - Mar 19, 2012 at 9:14 AM
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Stevie Goodman would be flabbergasted!!!!!
