[討論] Shark getting teeth?
Jeff Samardzjia has yet to live up to his billing as a big league pitcher.
The former Notre Dame football standout is in his final guaranteed season
with the Cubs, and is out of minor league options.
This is Shark's sink-or-swim moment. If he falls flat in Mesa, it's the
waiver wire and uncertainty. If he makes the club (or clears waivers), he'll
have a chance at impressing the Cubs enough to pick-up his 2012 option.
The Cubs actually hold a second option year, so a swimming Shark could be a
Cub fixture though at least 2013. The sinking version would be a bad memory.
One that would be hung like an albatross on General Manager Jim Hendry's
neck, who recently signed his own contract extension through 2012.
The path Samardzija has taken to this point—from record-setting receiver to
struggling reliever—has been had numerous twists and turns. From starter to
reliever (at least once), two (or more) major changes to his repertoire, at
least one mechanical overhaul, and wanting nothing to do with Iowa to
preferring to stay in Iowa to develop his craft.
Role. Approach. Mechanics. Attitude.
Each has changed or morphed over the course of his professional career. All
fine and good, as long as they manifest properly.
Results
Results going forward. Not in the past. While his past is all we have to go
on, Samardzija can be cut some slack. First, he wasn't a full-time baseball
player. That's one thing for an outfielder, but another thing altogether for
a pitcher. Second, the Cubs share some of the burden for flip-flopping
Samardzija's role from time-to-time. Third, even when settled into the I-Cubs
rotation in 2010, it was still a development effort more than anything.
Here's a Shark timeline
02/22/07 in football shape, not pitching shape at his first camp
06/12/07 moved to bullpen to work on mechanics
09/14/07 asked to rest his arm and not play winter ball
02/06/08 slated for Double-A from the time he arrived in Mesa for
his second camp
03/11/08 made enough of an impression to be considered for a call-up
later in the season
05/06/08 having control problems in the Tennesse rotation
05/26/08 Hendry attributes Samardzija's struggles too 'trying to hard'
06/23/08 promoted to the Iowa rotation
07/03/08 after 10 days, the Cubs think he's pitching better in
Triple-A than Double-A
07/25/08 Major League debut in relief
08/14/08 considered for a start, but kept in the bullpen
11/06/08 in the mix for a 2009 rotation spot
02/26/09 targeted for the bullpen or Iowa
03/19/09 officially removed from the rotation race
03/25/09 slid out of consideration for a roster spot
04/23/09 called-up from Iowa to join the bullpen
06/30/09 back-up for another stint, with an improved "slider"
08/12/09 knocked around in first big league start
09/02/09 given consideration for a 2010 rotation spot
09/22/09 called-up from Iowa, into the late-season rotation
10/02/09 heads to winter ball with a modified delivery; more "on top
of the ball"
02/15/10 at camp early, happy with the curveball improvements made while
in Mexico
02/24/10 making a good impression early in camp
04/12/10 made the team, but was spending most of his time on the bench
09/13/10 after spending most of the year in Iowa, called-up to take Carlos
Silva's spot
03/05/11 another training camp, this time settled as a reliever
The improved slider mentioned in 2009 was really the beginnings of his
curveball. Samardzija also added a cutter in 2010. What we've seen of him
since his late-2010 call-up has been a different pitcher than the one we saw
back in 2008. For the PITCHf/x inclined, this animation shows the change in
mix from the slider days, to the baby curveball days, to the full curve and
cutter of today.
http://inspic.com/A8CC6597
Being focused on relieving with what I would call a more solid arsenal of
pitches should benefit Samardzija going into 2011. His delivery is more
compact and he is more on top of the ball. But will his control be sufficient
to make him a useful reliever?
Given the amount of money he's made, the Cubs ought to expect quite a lot
more. Alternatively, it's all a sunk cost and they'll take what they can get.
If anything, the amount of money he's due to make this season may make him
easier to pass through waivers, if it comes down to that.
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 118.160.24.131
Cubs 近期熱門文章
11
17
PTT體育區 即時熱門文章
