Hot off the presses: Vine Line May issue featuring Jeff Samardzija
Baseball has always been about reinvention. Even at the major league level, players change positions all the time.
But few have done so with the regularity, and consistent success, of Cubs No. 3 starter Jeff Samardzija. After an outstanding career on the gridiron at Notre Dame—and the promise of an NFL career as a wide receiver—Samardzija changed course when he was drafted in the fifth round by the Chicago Cubs.
After a few up-and-down years, the 6’5″, 225-pound flamethrower arrived as a major league pitcher in 2011, posting a 2.97 ERA in 75 appearances out of the bullpen. But there was one problem—Samardzija saw himself as a starter. So when the 2012 offseason rolled around, he headed to Arizona and dedicated himself to securing a spot in the Cubs rotation.
Five months later, Samardzija joined Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster as stalwarts in the Cubs biggest area of strength—their starting rotation. In the May issue of Vine Line, we look at Samardzija’s long road to the Cubs rotation, his mile-long competitive streak and how be became a more complete pitcher.
We also have an exclusive Q&A with the man who is reinventing what it means to play baseball the “Cubs Way,” General Manager Jed Hoyer. We go in depth about why he wanted the Cubs job (which he calls “the best in sports”) and his expectations for 2012 and beyond.
“If you acquire players who play hard—and we have a manager who is going to stress that—if you do the little things well, you always have that chance to catch lightning in a bottle,” Hoyer said.
Finally, we go inside the numbers with four key players—and the advanced metrics that explain why they are so important to the Cubs success.
This season, reinvent the way you get news from your favorite team by subscribing to vineline.mlblogs.com. If you live in the Chicago area, pick up the May issue at select Barnes and Noble, Jewel, Walgreens and Meier locations. Or subscribe to Vine Line today.
Now Playing: Cubs Clinic with Paul Maholm
The stolen base is returning to prominence in the major leagues. But nothing kills a rally faster than picking off a runner or keeping him firmly rooted to the first base bag. For the May issue of Vine Line, Cubs left-hander Paul Maholm shows Cubs fans how big league pitchers hold runners on first with a variety of pickoff moves. For more insider access to the Cubs, subscribe to Vine Line. And read the complete story in the May issue, available at Chicago-area newsstands now.
1000 Words: Walk-off win
Cubs players celebrate following Joe Mather’s two-run walk-off single against the Cardinals Monday night. The Cubs trailed 2-1 heading into the bottom of the 9th inning before pinch-hitter Bryan LaHair and Geovany Soto both drew walks from Cardinals closer Jason Motte, setting up Mather’s game-winning hit (Photo by Stephen Green).
Cubs get reliever Bowden from Red Sox for Byrd
The Chicago Cubs today acquired right-handed pitcher Michael Bowden and a player to be named from the Boston Red Sox for outfielder Marlon Byrd and cash considerations.
Bowden, 25, began the 2012 season on Boston’s Opening Day roster, posting no record and a 3.00 ERA (1 ER/3.0 IP) in two relief appearances before being designated for assignment on April 15. He has a 3.91 ERA (10 ER/23.0 IP) in 16 major league appearances since the start of the 2011 season. Bowden is a 2005 graduate of Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, Ill.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound right-hander split the last three seasons between Boston and Triple-A Pawtucket, where he spent the majority of the 2011 season as Pawtucket’s closer. Bowden went 3-3 with 16 saves and a 2.73 ERA (16 ER/52.2 IP) in 41 relief outings in Triple-A last year, striking out 61 and walking only 18 in 52.2 innings. He converted 16-of-17 save chances and limited opponents to a .218 batting average (43-for-197).
Originally selected by the Red Sox in the supplemental round (47th overall) of the 2005 Draft, Bowden has pitched parts of the last five seasons in the majors with the Red Sox, going 2-2 with a 5.61 ERA (37 ER/59.1 IP) in 39 appearances, all but two in relief.
Byrd, 34, is batting .075 (3-for-43) with two RBI in 13 games with the Cubs this season, his third since signing a three-year contract with the club prior to the 2010 campaign. Byrd was named a National League All-Star in his first season with the Cubs, batting .293 (170-for-580) in 152 games in 2010. He hit .276 (123-for-446) in 119 games with the Cubs last year.
Cubs place Wood on DL, recall Maine from Triple-A Iowa
Chicago – The Cubs placed right-handed pitcher Kerry Wood on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to April 14) with right shoulder fatigue and recalled left-handed pitcher Scott Maine from Triple-A Iowa.
Maine, 27, is 1-0 with one save and a 1.42 ERA (1 ER/6.1 IP) in five relief appearances at Iowa this season. He made his major league debut in 2010 and has a 4.95 ERA (11 ER/20.0 IP) in 20 major league relief appearances over the last two seasons with the Cubs.
At Triple-A Iowa last year, Maine went 3-4 with 12 saves and a 3.68 ERA in 38 relief outings (51.1 innings). He struck out 72 batters and walked only 25.
Wood is 0-1 with an 11.57 ERA (3 ER/2.1 IP) in four relief appearances this season. He last pitched on April 13 in St. Louis, retiring the lone batter he faced.
Minors tracker: Week one prospect report
We’re only a week into the minor league season, but some young stars already are starting to blossom. A few of the Cubs affiliates are playing better than others, but there’s no denying some individuals left Spring Training ready to go.
High-profile corner infielders Josh Vitters and Anthony Rizzo have powered Triple-A Iowa to a 5-3 start. Vitters (.458/.500/.500) has racked up 11 hits in 24 at-bats, driving in six runs. Rizzo, who the Cubs acquired from the Padres for Andrew Cashner, has been just as impressive (.387/.424/.677), smacking three home runs and driving in 10.
Welington Castillo, a backstop who narrowly missed a spot on the Cubs Opening Day roster, is hitting .357 with a 1.214 OPS in 14 at-bats.
Top prospect Brett Jackson has recorded a .276 average with four RBI.
Ace Randy Wells is 1-0 in two starts, posting a 5.25 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP and seven strikeouts.
Double-A Tennessee, resting at .500 with a 4-4 record, has plenty of bright spots in both the lineup and on the bump. Shortstop Elliot Soto has a .476 OBP and is slugging .500. Michael Burgess (.333/.417/.524) has a home run and 11 total bases.
Nicholas Struck (1-1, 2.25 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 15 K, 12 IP), Dallas Beeler (1.64 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 11 IP) and Trey McNutt (0.00 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 8 K, 7.2 IP) have all been consistent members of the rotation early on.
Despite Daytona’s 1-6 record, a few individuals still have something to smile about. First-round pick Hayden Simpson has a 3.60 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP in two starts, and outfielder John Andreoli has a .429 average with a .600 OBP, drawing six walks in 20 total at-bats.
Pitching has been the key for Class-A affiliate Peoria. The Chiefs, who sit at 3-4, have gotten two solid outings each from Michael Jensen (2-0, 2.45 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 11 IP) and Patrick Francescon (0-1, 3.48 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 12 K, 10.1 IP).
Wrigley Cubscast: Marlon Byrd’s Muay Thai Workout
Baseball players must rely on mental strength just as much as physical prowess to make it through the 162-game grind. For that reason, Cubs center fielder Marlon Byrd incorporated Muay Thai, a form of martial arts developed in Thailand, into his offseason workout program.
“If I can go five rounds in here training and sparring, then when I’m going out for baseball, nothing’s going to slow me down,” he said.
Vine Line sat down with Byrd to discuss his Muay Thai training, goals for the upcoming season and his relationship with the up-and-coming outfield prospects in the Cubs organization.
Cubs Trivia: Milwaukee’s Best?
By now, many are aware of Cubs Manager Dale Sveum’s ties to the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He spent 1986-91 as a player with the franchise to the north. Then from 2006-11, he acted at various times as the team’s bench coach, third base coach, hitting coach and interim manager. But he isn’t the only Cubs skipper in the last decade to have ties to the Brew Crew.
Rene, who went 0-1 as the Cubs’ interim manager in 2002, also spent time at the helm of the Brewers. Lachemann was an assistant to Don Baylor from 2000-02 with the Cubs, but he managed the team on July 5, 2002, against the Braves–the night Baylor was fired and before Bruce Kimm relieved him of his duties. Matt Clement picked up the loss in a 4-3 defeat.
Lachemann managed the Brewers during the 1984 season. There were high hopes for the squad, which was only two years removed from losing the World Series in seven games. But Lachemann’s team finished a disappointing 67-94, and he was fired with three games remaining in the season.
Wrigley Cubscast: Opening Day
CHICAGO—Win or lose, nothing beats Opening Day at Wrigley Field. Though the Cubs were unable to finish off Ryan Dempster’s 10-strikeout Opening Day gem, falling 2-1 to the Nationals, the excitement over the 2012 team was palpable. The Wrigley faithful packed the streets by 8 a.m. to check out the new offerings at the Friendly Confines, including the LED scoreboard in right field, the Budweiser Patio, and the Cubs Store on the corner of Clark and Addison. Vine Line was there along with Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts, Hall of Famer Billy Williams and Manager Dale Sveum to kick off the baseball season in style.
Cubs sign Valbuena off waivers
Chicago — The Cubs claimed infielder Luis Valbuena off waivers from the Blue Jays Wednesday and outrighted right-hander Frankie De La Cruz to Triple-A Iowa.
Valbuena, 26, is a versatile infielder who has spent time at second base, shortstop and third base. He has recorded 13 home runs and compiled a .226 Major League average in four seasons (Seattle in 2008, Cleveland 2009-11). In 2009 he recorded 25 doubles and 10 home runs.
With Triple-A Columbus last season, Valbuena batted .302 (127-for-420) with 22 doubles, 17 home runs and 75 RBI in 113 games. He posted a .372 on-base percentage and a .476 slugging percentage, good for an .848 OPS. He was a mid-season and International League All-Star.
Valbuena will be on the Opening Day roster.
De La Cruz, who was claimed off waivers by the Cubs from Milwaukee on March 16, pitched 11 games for the Brewers last season, posting a 2.77 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP.
Vine Line
