Today the Cubs are calling up P Jeff Samardzija and intend on pitching him out of the bullpen. In Triple-A, Samardzija had been pitching as a starter. The Cubs however want to use him in the 6th and 7th innings, a place where he was successful after being called up last season. The odd man out is apparently Luis Vizcaino who has made only 4 appearances and has allowed no runs in 3.2 IP. Vizcaino is set to make around $4M this season, if the Cubs release him, it is likely they will have to pay him that money. Vizcaino no longer possesses the velocity he once had and can really only pitch one inning per game. It has become clear that Lou Piniella prefers relievers who can give him more than one inning if needed and Samardzija is that kind of pitcher. If Vizcaino is not released, the only other player who would logically be demoted would be P David Patton. However, since Patton was a Rule-5 selection, if the Cubs were to send him down, the team who lost him over the off-season (Colorado Rockies) would have the rights to re-acquire him.
I have mixed feelings on Samardzija being called up. He has stated in the past that he would like to be a starter at the major league level and has been a starter in the minors. Making him a reliever in the big leagues will not allow him to build up enough arm strength to become a starter. He was extremely effective as a set-up man last season, but is that the role the Cubs want him to be in forever? Piniella is very short-sighted with Samardzija and is clearly trying to win now with this team, even if it means stunting the growth and development of the Cubs top prospects i.e. Samardzija and Micah Hoffpauir. Another reason Samardzija was likely called up, is that he has a major league contract, meaning the Cubs want to see results from him at the major league level, NOW.
Being a big Notre Dame Football Fan, Samardzija is one of my favorite domers of all-time. I wish him the best of luck as a Cubs reliever this season and hope that he stays healthy. I just wish that he would change his number to #83, if only to piss off my roomate.
One last thing on Samardzija: has anyone ever noticed that he looks like the mom from the movie, Uncle Buck?
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