Samardzija steps up in class to AA
Pitching phenom Jeff Samardzija has earned himself a promotion. No, he's not coming to the Cubs, but he is going from Class A Daytona to Class AA Tennessee.
Samardzija, the former college football standout at Notre Dame, saw his record fall to 3-8 with a 4.95 ERA with a 2-0 loss Wednesday to Palm Beach. In 107ˆº innings pitched this year, he has given up 142 hits while walking 35 and striking out 45.
Cubs farm director Oneri Fleita said Thursday the promotion was about more than numbers.
"Samardzija threw well again last night," Fleita said. "We felt like he's progressing in every area. His percentage of strikes has gone up every month, his percentage of first-pitch strikes as well, and getting hitters out on less than 4 pitches. We really feel like he's throwing the ball much better than his numbers indicate."
The Cubs made a big splash at last January's fan convention by announcing they had agreed with Samardzija on a five-year major-league contract that would take him away from a career in professional football.
"It's going to be a nice challenge for Jeff," Fleita said. "We feel like he's ready for the challenge and that it would be a nice way to top off what we think has been a good year, for a guy who hadn't had a winter yet to prepare to pitch.
"This year will be the first year that he goes home and prepares as a normal pitcher. There won't be any football. There won't be any of the hoopla. It will be all about preparing for 2008."
Seeing was believing for Fleita.
"I've seen him in person four times," Fleita said. "I also had a chance to see him out of the bullpen. If you saw him from start to finish, he's a pitcher now. He's trying to pitch. He's talking about how to get hitters out. He's talking about reading hitters' swings. It's a whole different pitcher than what we saw in spring training."
The Tennessee club also placed outfielder Tyler Colvin on the disabled list with a sore left shoulder. Colvin, the Cubs' top draft pick last year, was promoted from Daytona to Tennessee this season.
In Double-A, he's batting .273 with 4 homers, 4 walks, 34 strikeouts and a .294 on-base percentage.
Eyre time: Left-handed reliever Scott Eyre turned in another good outing in Thursday's 10-6 loss the Phillies. He pitched 1 scoreless inning, striking out two.
Over his last 4 appearances, Eyre has worked 4 innings, giving up 1 hit and no runs. After a brutal start, Eyre was relegated to mop-up duty, but he again could see action in game situations.
"We have been working him in the scheme of things," manager Lou Piniella said. "You'll see him more. We're going to use him. We'll use him initially in this middle role and see if we can get him towards the latter part of the ballgame.
"It'll give us two left-handers. I use (Will) Ohman more as a specialty lefty. I'm more apt to bring Ohman into the game in the middle of an inning."
This and that: The Cubs optioned reliever Rocky Cherry to Class AAA Iowa in anticipation of activating Kerry Wood today. ... Carlos Zambrano was named National League pitcher of the month for July. Zambrano posted a 1.38 ERA to go with 5 wins. ... The four-game series drew 163,727, a Wrigley Field record for a four-game series. The previous four-game record came last month when Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants were in town.
Scouting report
Cubs vs. New York Mets at Wrigley Field
TV: Channel 9 today; Channel 32 Saturday; ESPN Sunday
Radio: WGN 720-AM
Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Carlos Zambrano (14-7) vs. Orlando Hernandez (7-4) today at 1:20 p.m.; Ted Lilly (11-5) vs. John Maine (12-5) Saturday at 2:55 p.m.; Jason Marquis (8-6) vs. Tom Glavine (9-6) Sunday at 7:05 p.m.
At a glance: The Cubs are 1-3 against the Mets this year. On May 17 at Shea Stadium, the Cubs gave up 5 runs in the bottom of the ninth to lose 6-5 in the series finale. Glavine goes for victory No. 300 Sunday night. The Mets entered Thursday ranked third in the NL in ERA at 3.86, one spot behind the Cubs at 3.81. Look for the Cubs to activate righty Kerry Wood (shoulder rehab) for today's game and put him in the bullpen.
Next: Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park, Monday-Wednesday
-- Bruce Miles