The Cubs will likely make a decision on Kerry Wood later today according to a report from Bruce Miles. Wood will see a hand specialist in Chicago on Thursday and Miles thought the Cubs would put Wood on the DL on Wednesday. If Wood ends up making his 12th trip to the disabled list, the Cubs could call-up Jeff Samardzija to take his place in the pen according to Miles.
Miles asked Randy Bush about the possibility of Samardzija making his big league debut out of the Cubs' pen and Bush said it was "conceivable". The Cubs would use Samardzija as a reliever, but not as a closer.
After a questionable promotion to the Iowa Cubs earlier this season (3-5 with a 4.86 ERA in 76 innings for Double-A Tennessee), Samardzija has been very good at the Triple-A level. In 6 starts for the I-Cubs, Samardzija is 4-1 with a 3.13 ERA in 37 1/3 innings with 40 strikeouts and 16 walks....he also recorded a 7-inning complete game.
Jeff Samardzija is on the Cubs 40-man roster after he signed a Major League contract on the first day of the Cubs Convention in January of 2007.
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It's about time.
And with all the latest medicines and treatments and specialized trainers and physicians, how long does it take to mend a blister? Geez!
I feel like sharing:
Kevin Hart - It may be a moot point now, but I've seen enough for '08.
Fukudome - I think he's on the verge of busting out of his slump, but I see no harm in batting him 7th and 8th until then. As for his wail and bail, I don't mind it. That's his swing. No one criticized Derrek for the open then closed approach he uses while he was slumping. We just aren't accustomed to his swing, it's foreign to us and that frightens us. What I am tired of seeing is Fukudome looking incredulously at the plate after called strikes. Made me feel as though he was looking for walks rather than pitches to hit.
Marquis - I can deal with his inconsistancy in the 5 spot until a suitable replacement is found. I just don't want to hear out-of-town announcers saying that he is a good hitting pitcher anymore. He may have been in the past, but I haven't seen it in 1 1/2 seasons. (I'm an out of market fan from NJ, watching games on MLB ExtraInnings)
The Shark - He may not have deserved his promotions at times, but he appears to respond well to the challenge and pitch better the higher he goes. Could make Howry expendable when looking for bench help.
Howry - I don't want to see him in the 7th or later in close games. Unless he can turn it around, and I hope he does becasue we may need him back there. But when Wood is healthy, Gaudin and Marmol should pitch 7th and 8th respectively, and Cotts and Eyre can be the lefty specialists.
The lineup - This wasn't supposed to be a downer of a post, but I guess it's unnatural to blabber about the things that are going well. So this is what i think is heading in the right direction: Despite this past week, I like the offense and I expect to see then turn it around very soon. I've resigned to having Soriano at the top, I think Edmonds should be moved to batting 3rd or 4th during DLee's and ARam's slumps. It's fun to have a problem like finding at bats for Fontenot and Reed now that Soriano is back. Although Edmonds's leg may allow Reed more playing time.
CC - My first CCO prediction: CC will tire or wear down, down the stretch. I know he is a workhorse, but those CGs have to take a toll.
Bold Prediction - Ryan Theriot wins batting crown!!! Jones won't qualify because of injuries, and Berkman and Pujols will take a slide. Meanwhile, the Riot will continue to get better. I've seen him drive more balls to gaps this past week, something he did more of when he came up in '06. Maybe making this prediction 2/3 of the way through the season diminshes the boldness, but looking at the hitters ahead of him evens that out.
GO CUBS!!!!!
Howry shouldn't pitch PERIOD. He did excel as a closer last year when he was in that spot and suck the rest of the time, but this year, I can't see him being a good closer, since he's sucking way more than he did last year. He just needs to be dealt or DFA'd, end of story. He's the last bit of the Dusty era that needs to go away.
Also, I think Samardzja will excel in the majors. I always saw Billy Petrick (where's he been BTW) as a poor man's Samardzja, so I can't wait to see what the real thing can do. Heck, he could be a key component to solving the bullpen, which would be great.
Finally, Howry just needs to go away. I know I already said it, but it bears repeating.