02-26-2009, 02:11 AM
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->MESA, Ariz. — Despite starting Wednesday's opener, Jeff Samardzija is likely to begin the season in the Cubs bullpen, assuming he pitches well and Sean Marshall holds onto the fifth rotation spot that is all but promised to him.
The possibility Samardzija will start the season in the rotation at Triple-A Iowa is also an option, and it's one that clearly doesn't appeal to the former Notre Dame star.
"Patience probably isn't one of my virtues," Samardzija said. "But I'm working on it."
Now in his third spring training, and with some major-league experience under his belt, Samardzija finally is feeling at home. All the hype is gone, and he no longer is confronted with daily questions on whether he regrets giving up a possible career as a wide receiver in the NFL.
Competing for a job in the majors is the only focus of Samardzija this spring, and the comfort level after last year's success is definitely making things easier.
"It's nice," Samardzija said. "You can go out there and take a deep breath and instead of feeling you need to impress the world, you work on the things you need to work on."
Samardzija allowed two runs in his two-inning stint Wednesday in a 5-3 victory over Los Angeles. He almost got out of a bases-loaded jam in the second with a comebacker that resulted in a 1-2-3 double play. But Samardzija then walked the next hitter and gave up a two-run single.
"Actually, I felt a little bit better the second inning," he said. "It's kind of funny how that works. You make some decent pitches and get out of an inning 1-2-3, and then you make some good pitches and give up a couple of runs."
Manager Lou Piniella was concerned only about building up arm strength and throwing strikes.
"What I've seen of Jeff, when his split-finger is good and he's throwing it over the plate and the hitter is aware of that pitch, he's much more effective," he said. "But that's a pitch that sometimes comes a little later in the spring. You need some good arm strength to throw that pitch, so we're going to have to be patient with it.
"But he competes. That's one thing you like about the kid. He competes and he comes at you."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Despite what Sullivan says, I think Shark's going to be in Iowa as a starter out of Spring Training.
The possibility Samardzija will start the season in the rotation at Triple-A Iowa is also an option, and it's one that clearly doesn't appeal to the former Notre Dame star.
"Patience probably isn't one of my virtues," Samardzija said. "But I'm working on it."
Now in his third spring training, and with some major-league experience under his belt, Samardzija finally is feeling at home. All the hype is gone, and he no longer is confronted with daily questions on whether he regrets giving up a possible career as a wide receiver in the NFL.
Competing for a job in the majors is the only focus of Samardzija this spring, and the comfort level after last year's success is definitely making things easier.
"It's nice," Samardzija said. "You can go out there and take a deep breath and instead of feeling you need to impress the world, you work on the things you need to work on."
Samardzija allowed two runs in his two-inning stint Wednesday in a 5-3 victory over Los Angeles. He almost got out of a bases-loaded jam in the second with a comebacker that resulted in a 1-2-3 double play. But Samardzija then walked the next hitter and gave up a two-run single.
"Actually, I felt a little bit better the second inning," he said. "It's kind of funny how that works. You make some decent pitches and get out of an inning 1-2-3, and then you make some good pitches and give up a couple of runs."
Manager Lou Piniella was concerned only about building up arm strength and throwing strikes.
"What I've seen of Jeff, when his split-finger is good and he's throwing it over the plate and the hitter is aware of that pitch, he's much more effective," he said. "But that's a pitch that sometimes comes a little later in the spring. You need some good arm strength to throw that pitch, so we're going to have to be patient with it.
"But he competes. That's one thing you like about the kid. He competes and he comes at you."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Despite what Sullivan says, I think Shark's going to be in Iowa as a starter out of Spring Training.
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