04-22-2009, 01:18 AM
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Hendry got to see Jeff Samardzija throw six innings of one-hit ball Saturday in his second straight strong start. The Cubs still have not indicated whether Samardzija will be a starter or a reliever when he eventually is recalled to the big leagues.
"Jeff is stretching out fine and working on his other pitches," Hendry said. "That was really encouraging. You can always go from starting back to the pen. We're just going to try to keep him really tuned up and get him a little better. Whenever we need him, in whichever role we need, we'll get him up here."
If Samardzija were brought up to start, that would mean Sean Marshall is back in the bullpen, leaving struggling left-hander Neal Cotts as the possible odd-man out. Marshall is scheduled to make his second start Saturday in St. Louis, and will be available in the bullpen through Wednesday.
Marshall said Tuesday he expects to stay in the rotation, but would "do whatever is best for the team," a mantra he has repeated the last two years as he has swung back-and-forth from starting to relieving.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
"Jeff is stretching out fine and working on his other pitches," Hendry said. "That was really encouraging. You can always go from starting back to the pen. We're just going to try to keep him really tuned up and get him a little better. Whenever we need him, in whichever role we need, we'll get him up here."
If Samardzija were brought up to start, that would mean Sean Marshall is back in the bullpen, leaving struggling left-hander Neal Cotts as the possible odd-man out. Marshall is scheduled to make his second start Saturday in St. Louis, and will be available in the bullpen through Wednesday.
Marshall said Tuesday he expects to stay in the rotation, but would "do whatever is best for the team," a mantra he has repeated the last two years as he has swung back-and-forth from starting to relieving.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
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