When Theo Epstein became the Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations in 2011, he knew that he had a chore on his hands as would have to find a way to make this team a contender. Epstein was going to have to to rebuild the organization brick by brick, but it appears that one building block is already in place in the form of starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija.
Before the Cubs selected Samardzija in the fifth round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft, he had a stellar college football career at the University of Notre Dame. In 2006, Samardzija was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top wide receiver. Samardzija was looked at as a potential first round pick in the National Football League Draft, but instead he opted for baseball.
In his first four seasons with the Cubs, Samardzija was a relief pitcher as he finished 18 games in 2011. By 2012 with Epstein, Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer, and Cubs manager Dale Sveum leading the way, Samardzija found himself in the starting rotation.
The Cubs would lose 101 games in 2012 for the first time since 1966, but they were able to see improvement in Samardzija who led the team in earned run average (3.81), strikeouts (180), and innings pitched (174.2).
50 games into the 2013 season, the Cubs are already 13 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for first place in the National League Central Division, but that hasn’t deterred Samardzija. Samardzija only has a record of 3-6, but his 2.85 earned run average is currently 14th in the NL. Samardzija’s 80 strikeouts so far on the season are second in the National League trailing only A.J. Burnett of the Pittsburgh Pirates who has 85.
In Samardzija’s 11 starts this season, he has gone at least 7 innings on 5 occasions. Samardzija has been a hard luck loser on multiple trips to the mound this season which was highlighted by a 7 inning, 8 strikeout performance last Wednesday against the Pirates. Samardzija only surrendered one run, but the Cub bats were silenced as they fell 1-0.
Samardzija hasn’t let the lack of offense in his starts slow him down. Last night against the Cubs crosstown rival the Chicago White Sox, Samardzija went the distance as the Cubs prevailed 7-0. Samardzija struck out 8 White Sox batters as it only took him 108 pitches to get rid of the South Siders.
Epstein is trying to make the Cubs a winner with young players such as Samardzija who is 28-years old. Along with infielders Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo, this is the present and future of Cubs baseball. Samardzija is making a name for himself in the NL with an array of pitches that includes a four-seam fastball along with a slider.
Maybe not for this season, but not too far down the road Samardzija could be representing the Cubs at the MLB All-Star Game as he is beginning to garner respect. Before over 100,000 fans would cheer as Samardzija would catch touchdown passes from former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Samardzija traded in the golden helmet of Notre Dame for the blue and red of the Cubs and the move appears to be paying off for him.
Source:Baseball-reference.com
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