Will Samardzija end up in the Cubs' bullpen?

PHOENIX - What to do with Jeff Samardzija?

That's the question the Cubs have to be asking themselves now in light of several recent developments.

First, with left-hander Sean Marshall the runaway leader in the derby for the fifth-starter's job, the also-rans appear to be headed for the bullpen.

Manager Lou Piniella left that possibility open for Samardzija before the pitcher's rough outing Monday in a 9-6 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

"We'll let you all know by Thursday or Friday of this week exactly what we have in mind as far as starting spots," Piniella said. "There will be a clear indication by Friday. We just want to pitch everybody through the rotation one more time, get one last look, and then we'll go from there.

"Samardzija, if he doesn't win a starting spot here, he'll be seriously considered for a bullpen spot in the middle or shorter roles."

Samardzija threw 50 pitches (26 strikes) over 2 innings as he gave up 5 hits and 5 runs. His spring record fell to 0-1 with a 9.90 ERA and a WHIP (walks plus hits per 1 inning pitched) of 1.90.

Although Samardzija missed high with many of his pitches (especially the fastball), he could have been out of his 36-pitch first inning after only 14 pitches if not for right fielder Micah Hoffpauir having problems with Arizona's notorious "high skies."

With two outs and a man on second, Prince Fielder lifted a high fly to right. Hoffpauir originally broke in before drifting back and failing to catch the ball at the wall. The play went for a triple, and the Brewers wound up batting around.

"It's pretty much the story that sums it up right there," Samardzija said. "When you got a long inning or something's kind of starting to turn for the worse, you've got to cut it off and get back in the dugout. It's just unfortunate we couldn't get that next guy out and get back in the dugout."

The Cubs could go a couple of different ways with Samardzija. They could put him in the bullpen and let him work the seventh inning. He pitched creditably in that role after coming up from the minor leagues last season.

For most of his short minor-league career, Samardzija was a starting pitcher. The organization could have him open the season at Class AAA Iowa to work on his entire repertoire of pitches, which the Cubs feel is developing well.

"I really don't have a preference," he said. "With my pitches and where they're at, I'm pretty happy with them, so I feel like I'll just kind of leave it up to the upstairs to make a decision they feel is best for the team.

"If they want me to do whatever, I'll be ready to do it."

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