Jeff Samardzija

by bleacher bum on Jul 25, 2008 4:42 PM EDT

So I just turned on the Cubs game and much to my surprise I see Jeff Smaradzija warming up in the bullpen. He got into the game and he just struck out the first batter he faced. Hanley Ramirez was next and he singled up the middle. The next batter flied out. Then Jorge Cantu turned on a 97mph fastball up in his eyes and ripped it down the line scoring Ramirez. Mike Jacobs then flied out to center to end the inning.

My initial thoughts after watching him pitch are pretty much what the scouting report was on him in Spring Training. He showed a good fastball with movement hitting 97 on the radar gun. His secondary stuff needs work. Perhaps a lot of work. He only threw one offspeed pitch for a strike. He also uncorked a wild pitch on a pitch out that went to the backstop. The announcers noted that that particular pitch only registered 80 on the gun. He let up on his pitch and it cost him a wild pitch, although Ramirez might have scored on the double anyway.

Anyone else watch him pitch? What were your thoughts?

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impressed

by the movement on the fastball. with that type of movement I am surprised he wasn’t striking out more guys in the minors. Looked really impressive in the 8th throwing more offspeed pitches, mixing them in well, and everything for strikes. He was getting ahead of everyone as well. I thought he’d be a guy throwing 96 straight as an arrow with no offspeed. Consider me pretty impressed, but I am a Cubs fan so I am biased.

by uwbadger on Jul 25, 2008 5:02 PM EDT 0 recs

Re: the offspeed stuff

His slider is still below average, but his splitter (a relatively new pitch) already looks outstanding. The last pitch he threw (to fan Ross) was either a splitter or a changeup around 85mph, and it was absolutely filthy.

other thoughts:
He’s hiding the ball much more effectively than before, and there’s a lot to like about 94-97 mph with movement.

As Samardzija is the Cubs’ lone quality SP prospect above A ball (Veal may dominate out of the pen one day, but he’s a decent starting prospect at best), it’s really nice to see such positive development.

by Thelonious on Jul 25, 2008 7:43 PM EDT 0 recs

HMMM Dan Haren the 2nd

Haren mastered that Splitter and went from an okay starting pitching prospect into a very good MLB pitcher

by Bravesin07 on Jul 25, 2008 8:14 PM EDT 0 recs

lol

You so crazy…

Where the relative merits of Joe Paterson and Daniel Otero are hashed out over knife fights and tea.

by RougeGorrila on Jul 27, 2008 1:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

Actually

In defense of Braves, he could be right on this one. Sam-whatever is very projectable and nobody really knows what to make of him. If this splitter does turn into a dominant pitch, similar to Haren’s, that would be a fair comp.

Pretty sure Braves is assuming that the splitter is the reason Samardzija is doing so well.

by demondeaconsbaseball on Jul 27, 2008 1:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

His movement is sick

I’ve never seen a fastball that fast have that much of a screwball break on it. Now I see why they paid that much for that raw of a product.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Jul 26, 2008 2:54 PM EDT 0 recs

Threw again today

2 IP, 3K, plus the save

threw 25 pitches and 16 strikes

He got ahead of everyone and threw a nasty splitter to strike out Hanley. He wasn’t throwing as hard, fastball was in the low 90’s but he had the same movement. Helped out on the last play of the game with a great diving catch by Edmonds. Guys like Goldstein were really down on him but it seems he’s got the stuff to succeed.

by uwbadger on Jul 27, 2008 6:19 PM EDT 0 recs

Response

Looked like he might’ve been throwing 2 different fastballs out there. He threw a couple at 88-91 MPH and a little sinking action but for the most part the TV gun had him at 94-96 MPH. One thing is for sure . . .his stuff is absolutely filthy.

It’ll be interesting to see what the Cubs do with him long-term. As a reliever he looks like closer material between his fastball/splitter mix and his poise on the mound. As a starter I’m not quite sure just yet . . .but I’d have to think that the Cubs are going to give him a chance to push for a rotation spot next spring.

by mrkupe on Jul 28, 2008 2:07 AM EDT up 0 recs

video of his first save (6 outs)

right here

by Thelonious on Jul 28, 2008 6:22 AM EDT 0 recs

That Pitch to Hanley

was disgusting.

Baseball Instructor - www.frozenropes.com

by HuskerBob on Jul 28, 2008 10:48 AM EDT up 0 recs

Well

It was Hanley’s fault. If he didn’t want to strike out, he shouldn’t have gone to bat.

He'll never be half the man I was.

by kerry'sotherwife'sotherhusband on Jul 28, 2008 1:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

Still skeptical

He’s done this at every level so far – looked incredibly impressive at first, but after he makes it around the league once, the batters start figuring him out.

His stuff looks to be tailor-made for a closer role though, so maybe he has found his calling in the Cubs’ bullpen.

by guru4u on Jul 28, 2008 7:05 AM EDT 0 recs

While he was in the minors, there were constant rumors...

...that the Cubs were having him working on adding movement to his fastball and developing his secondary pitches. (His scouting report prior to the draft was that he threw hard but straight and had below-average pitches.) This theory would coincide w/ the Cubs constantly promoting him despite weak numbers—they must have determined he “figured something out.”

This isn’t a part of fitting the explanation to the situation after the fact, either. This was said (both in speculation and by people who “know”) that this is what was happening. Seeing him promoted so aggressively, and maybe now “getting it”, it does make sense.

Of course, probably only the Cubs and Samardzija know for sure. I’m guessing we’ll get some explanation down the road. And, of course, he could still suck long-term. (but that straight-as-an-arrow fastball and complete lack of secondary stuff are gone)

by tyger1147 on Jul 28, 2008 9:49 AM EDT up 0 recs

Lou mentioned...

that Samardzija “might never see the minor leagues again”, but I do think he still needs some seasoning. He definitely needs to tighten up his breaking ball to turn it into a legitimate third option, and he needs a bit of work maintaining a consistent delivery and arm slot.

I think you’re right, though. Samardzija’s strikeout numbers essentially jumped over night. The simplest explanation is that the Cubs have finally begun to turn him loose.

by Thelonious on Jul 28, 2008 11:20 AM EDT up 0 recs

So...

“I do think he still needs some seasoning.”

You think he needs a little more thyme…in the minors?

AAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHA

He'll never be half the man I was.

by kerry'sotherwife'sotherhusband on Jul 28, 2008 1:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

recycling jokes is good for the environment?

I can’t believed you’d cumin here, and make such an un-oregano joke. you’re not going to curry favor here with such basil humor.

by Thelonious on Jul 28, 2008 8:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

Listen, Rosemary!

Be ginger! You don’t need to pepper me with proof you’re worth your salt! Dill seed!

He'll never be half the man I was.

by kerry'sotherwife'sotherhusband on Jul 29, 2008 9:09 AM EDT up 0 recs

hold on...

while I go grab my Simon and Garfunkel albums. I’ve run out of spices.

by Thelonious on Jul 29, 2008 6:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

MF Doom

Check him out too for a list of spices. His Special Herbs albums (volumes 1-10) are full of tracks named after spices. Pretty good songs too… nice mixes of jazzy songs.

"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile

by Boxkutter on Jul 29, 2008 8:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

funny, I almost mentioned that

I figured the simon and garfunkel reference would play for more people.

His collaboration with madlib was particularly good.

by Thelonious on Jul 30, 2008 12:07 AM EDT up 0 recs

as a general rule

when a guy who has always had plus tools starts to put it together and show you he can play the game it isn’t probable that what hes doing is a mirage

by nms on Jul 28, 2008 11:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

furthermore

This isn’t a finesse pitcher.
The league “figuring it out” doesn’t have a whole lot to do with it. It does make sense that the league will adjust to some extent and he’ll hit a rough patch at somepoint, because this is a game of adjustments and everyone struggles sometimes, but it isn’t like being difficult to figure out is part of his game.

Hes got super, super stuff.. he isn’t getting outs by trickery

by nms on Jul 28, 2008 11:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

hmm

Carlos Marmol is the closer of the future, correct? I would try to push Samardzija as a starter in the future, though, clearly he’s ready to contribute in the majors as a reliever.
I still love Marmol, though.

Talkin' Sports

by BlackOps on Jul 28, 2008 6:07 PM EDT 0 recs

Not if Lou burns off his arm

by demondeaconsbaseball on Jul 29, 2008 1:47 PM EDT up 0 recs

which he is

"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball

by flipgatey3 on Jul 29, 2008 5:18 PM EDT up 0 recs