Let’s face it. We’re all jealous of his long, flowing locks. There’s no longer any reason to hate Jeff Samardzija now that he’s a super duper pitcher. After three scoreless innings yesterday, Spellcheck talked about what it is that drives him to be great.

“That’s 100 percent correct,” Samardzija said. “I hold a lot of stuff inside, I don’t say too much stuff. I have a big chip on my shoulder, especially the older I get and I slowly see my football skills diminishing. I’ve got to understand I need to start pitching good. It means something to me. I want to come out here and pitch good. I’m close to home, I’ve been here for five, six years and it does mean something to me.”

Jeff would also like you to know that he could’ve been better if the previous regime hadn’t screwed around with him so much.

“Lou [Piniella] and all those guys who were here, and Jim [Hendry, former GM], you have to win to keep your job,” Samardzija said. “In ’08 and ’09, we were trying to win and if they thought that me being in the bullpen in the big leagues was the best way to win, then that was the way to go. People tend to forget, we’re just pawns here. We’re just the guys on the chessboard. Everyone else is making the moves. You have to take it for what it’s worth. I got to come up and pitch as a young guy, maybe not ready to do it, against a lot of great hitters. It gives me a lot of confidence now to know that I have my mechanics in line and have the pitches I want to throw and am still facing those guys.”

Cy Young! Cy Young!

» Continue reading “Cubs Thursday Headlines: Shark In The Hunt”

Well, it’s come to this. The Cubs and Red Sox haven’t, over the course of the last three months, been able to determine compensation for the Cubs offering refuge to Theo Epstein. Bud Selig threatened to get involved way back when, and now the two teams are hoping that he’ll get it done.

The compensation headache over Theo Epstein’s move from the Boston Red Sox to the Cubs is officially Bud Selig’s problem, turning a minor embarrassment for the Cubs into a potential precedent-setting action for Major League Baseball.

Multiple sources told the Sun-Times that the Cubs and Red Sox have requested that their nearly three-month stalemate be resolved by the commissioner, a move apparently initiated by Red Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino late last month, one source said.

Can we somehow trick him into making Soriano the compensation for Theo? Let’s start brainstorming. In news of new Cubs that we knew about awhile back, Jason Jaramillo was officially signed by the Cubs.

The Cubs have signed catcher Jason Jaramillo to a Minor League deal. He has batted .235 in 366 big league plate appearances over the last three seasons with the Pirates. A second-round pick of the Phillies, Jaramillo, 29, was bothered last season by an elbow injury. He’ll compete with Welington Castillo and Steve Clevenger for the backup catcher’s job on the Cubs.

Remember when we talked about what this meant for Geo Soto? Do the Cubs trade him and put Jaramillo in as Castillo’s backup?

» Continue reading “Cubs Thursday Headlines: Selig To Determine Theo Compensation”

Are you ready for yesterday’s big news? I hope you’re all sitting down!

The Cubs are close to a deal with 29-year old Jason Jaramillo, a catcher who was DFAd by the Pirates. In three seasons with the Pirates, Jaramillo hit a stunning .235/.293/.327. And he’s no apparent relation to Rudy. This is somewhat sad, as it certainly would have explained the signing.

But wait! There’s even MORE big news! This news is so big, I’m going to let our friends at MLBTR tell you about it, because I won’t do it justice:

The Cubs have agreed to sign Andy Sonnanstine to a non-guaranteed split contract for the 2012 season, the team announced. The Rays non-tendered the Beverly Hills Sports Council client earlier this month rather than give him a raise his second time through arbitration.

Sonnanstine, 29 in March, has worked mostly in relief over the last two seasons, pitching to a 4.78 ERA in 116 2/3 innings. He’s made 80 starts and 52 relief appearances during his five seasons with Tampa, though his career strikeout (5.7 K/9) and walk (2.3 BB/9) rates are identical in the two roles. Sonnanstine is a fly ball pitcher and is very homer prone (career 1.3 HR/9), though his ERA is a full run lower when coming out of the bullpen (5.43 vs. 4.40).

Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein recently said the team’s goal is to “build more depth on the starting pitching front, both in the big leagues and minor leagues,” and Sonnanstine helps them accomplish that. He becomes the second pitcher the Cubbies have acquired in the last week, joining Travis Wood (acquired in the Sean Marshall trade). Chicago can retain Sonnanstine as an arbitration-eligible player in 2013.

Are you excited? I knew you would be!

» Continue reading “Tuesday Cubs Headlines: Get Ready To Be Amazed”