Chicago Cubs' Jeff Samardzija may become a starter – MLB News
The Chicago Cubs’ manager Dale Sveum hinted on Thursday, March 1, that the club will make a decision on Jeff Samardzija’s pitching as a starter later this month. The assertion comes at a time when Jeff Samardzija has substantiated his credentials as a reliable
relief pitcher.
But the question arises: Will he, or can he, be a starting pitcher?
"That's going to be the million-dollar question in Spring Training," Cubs’ manager Dale Sveum said on Thursday. "Against live hitters [on Thursday], he threw the heck out of the ball and had great command, which he has every time. It's going to be an interesting
decision later this month."
On Sunday the Chicago Cubs will have their first game in Cactus League against the Oakland Athletics. To better prepare themselves for one of the initial tests for the season, the Cubs will have the first of two intra-squad games on Friday, March 2.
But before Jeff Samardzija gets his name listed as the starting pitcher, he needs to surpass some challenges that are indeed huge. Take for example the illustrious list of pitchers that includes the names of Ryan Dempster, Matt Garza and Paul Maholm.
However, on Thursday he threw off dirt mounds to find out if he is all set for the upcoming games.
"I wanted to carry that momentum I had at the end of the year last year into this year," he said. "I think I've done that. I'm very happy with how I threw today. I'm really champing at the bit to get these games going."
He has played a total of 128 games in the career ever since his debut back in 2008. Maintaining 4.40 ERA with 12 wins to his credit, Jeff Samardzija indeed has a long way to go to improve the stats.
But the past season was one of the best that he had. In 75 games that he played, he had eight wins to his credit with a 2.97 ERA, pitching 88 games throughout the season. It remains to be seen how he proves his worth as the starting pitcher, provided he
is given a chance.
Tags: