Samardzija sent down, but he's happy with his spring
MESA, Ariz. -- Jeff Samardzija saw one definite sign of progress this spring: There were fewer mentions of him being a former wide receiver at Notre Dame.
Samardzija was one of seven players cut Tuesday as he was optioned to Class AA Tennessee. The way he sees it, he's got baseball on a wide horizon and football in the rearview mirror.
"That's what I'm working toward," he said. "It gets a little tired after awhile, hearing 'the former Notre Dame football player.' Anytime we can start X'ing that out, it'll be nice. That's something I've got to do. You've got to be successful playing baseball for that to shut up. That's the plan. We'll see what happens."
Samardzija was 1-0 with a 6.00 ERA in two games in the Cactus League. Now, he will join the Tennessee club and get ready to start.
"He impressed in camp," manager Lou Piniella said. "More poised. More relaxed. Quality of his pitches. Last year he threw hard and overpowered hitters here in camp.
"But this year he pitched more. A little better sinker. A little tighter slider. Worked on a changeup. He's starting to develop a split-finger, which he didn't used in these games, but at the same time, he's getting better with."
Piniella liked one more thing about Samardzija.
"His hair got shorter, too," Piniella said. "I told him by August he'd be in a crew cut."
Samardzija was upbeat despite getting the news.
"It was good," he said. "It was kind of the same thing as last spring. I knew I was going to come in and get the innings I was going to get and try to make the most out of them. I was happy with the way it turned out. Obviously, you want to throw a little more, too, and get a shot, but it's good."
Neither Piniella nor Samardzija would speculate on an ETA for the right-hander, but both noted the Cubs dipped into their system for help often last year.
Other cuts: The Cubs gave former White Sox reliever Shingo Takatsu his unconditional release. They also optioned right-handed pitcher Juan Mateo and infielder-outfielder Jake Fox to Class AAA Iowa. Nonroster pitcher Ed Campusano was sent back to minor-league camp as was nonroster catcher J.D. Closser and nonroster infielder Luis Figueroa.
Takatsu worked in five games, going 0-1 with a 9.64 ERA. The former White Sox closer worked 4¿ innings, giving up 5 hits and 5 runs. He said he is not considering retirement.
Takatsu also stressed he was here to do more than help Kosuke Fukudome make the transition from Japan to the United States easier.
"Some of you might think that way, but I thought I had a good opportunity with the Chicago Cubs," he said. "That's the reason I came here."
Pie back: Center fielder Felix Pie reported for work briefly Tuesday morning, one day after undergoing outpatient surgery for "testicular torsion."
Wood workings: Lou Piniella was asked about the difference in reliever Kerry Wood this year from last.
"No comparison," Piniella said. "He's really, really throwing the ball well, to his credit. He looks like a totally different pitcher. He looks sure of himself. He's feeling healthy. The ball's really coming out of his hand. It's been one of our nice, positive developments here in camp so far."
Athletics 4, Cubs 4
Cubs' record: 5-9
At the plate: Sam Fuld, getting a shot in center field with Felix Pie out, tripled home the Cubs' first run. Alfonso Soriano was 2-for-4 with a double and a caught stealing.
On the mound: Carlos Zambrano (4 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 3 strikeouts) gave up a leadoff homer to Jack Cust in the second inning. Kerry Wood threw 7 strikes among his 10 pitches in the fifth, allowing 1 hit. Scott Eyre got rocked in two-thirds of an inning, giving up 2 hits and 3 runs (2 earned), including a 3-run homer to Bobby Crosby. Carlos Marmol (0.00 ERA) worked a scoreless ninth.
Next: The Cubs travel to Surprise to play the Texas Rangers. Ted Lilly pitches for the Cubs against Jason Jennings.
-- Bruce Miles