Jeff Samardzija of Notre Dame drafted by Cubs in 5th Round

by Julius on Jun 6, 2006 7:28 PM CDT

As Cubs expected, they took Jeff Samardzija with their second pick in the 5th round (149th overall). He is two-sport star at Notre Dame in football and baseball. He was named 1st team All-America team in college football last season in his position - Wide Receiver.

He has promised football coach Charlie Weis that he will be back for the football in the fall with Notre Dame for his senior season. He's a right-handed pitcher star for the Notre Dame baseball.

The Cubs might spend first-round money on Samardzija what could be a back-loaded deal that would allow him to play football this fall, a commitment he has desired.

Hopefully; the Chicago Bears would draft Samardzija in next year's NFL Draft in the first round, so it would be easier for him to stay in same city and become two-sport star with the Bears and Cubs.

Here's is Samardzija's profile at http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/samardzija_jeff00.html

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

Tweet Comment 14 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Two sport star? Uh, no.

Sorry, but Jeff needs to pick his sport and soon. I don't want my stud pitcher's golden arm getting pummelled by defensive backs and line backers when he should be resting. No thanks.

Bring me the head of Rafael Furcal.

by Ross on Jun 6, 2006 8:38 PM CDT reply actions

especially seeing

as how he's a pitcher. I can just see his shoulder going out now from a tackle.

...the artist formerly priorpwnz.

by Faith plus 1 on Jun 6, 2006 10:13 PM CDT up reply actions

"The Shark"

This made my day that cubs picked him. Hopefully everything will go smoothly and he'll pick baseball but that seems unlikely. I was even more surprised to see that he has a 99 M.P.H. heater!http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060606&content_id=1491735&vkey news_chc&fext.jsp&c_id=chc

To Bleed or Not to Bleed?

by TheRamZamDLEE on Jun 6, 2006 11:50 PM CDT reply actions

Typical Wasted Pick

This is another example of a stupid pick by the clueless front office running the Cubs. I hope I'm proven wrong by Samardzija becoming the next coming of Greg Maddux, but it isn't going to happen. They might just as well have thrown this pick in Lake Michigan.

This guy's a football star...sure-fire NFL pick. Yes, he's good at baseball, but the path to potentially making the majors is still long and hard for him, and who knows, even if he dedicated himself, maybe he tops out at double-A. The money in football is better. About the only thing better in baseball is not getting your body destroyed during your career.

At #149 there had to be somebody with a little potential out there to be picked. Take a flyer on a guy like this at #1149, not #149. Wasting picks in the draft like this has to contribute to the Cubs lack of talent in the farm system.

The Cubs management right now is too focused on buying a free agent here or there to "fill a hole". Look at the successful teams around the league and you'll find a common denominator; home grown talent. Even the Yankees are relying on Wang, Cabrera, and Philips, while Derek Jeter, their biggest star, is also home grown.

Sigh....unbelieveable.

by SiValleyCubFan on Jun 7, 2006 1:46 AM CDT reply actions

The money is not

better in football. When Jarrod Washburn gets $38 million over four years guaranteed (unlike NFL "we'll pay you if you don't get hurt" contracts) the money is clearly better in baseball.

A major league baseball player is paid and treated so much better than an NFL player it isn't even funny.

His initial bonus would be better in football if he goes in the first half of the first round. Otherwise his bonus from the Cubs would be equal or better. If he were a QB it might be different, but he isn't.

If he never makes it past Double A and is an all-star in the NFL, then sure, he'd make a lot more money in the NFL. But Baseball America has him rated in the top 20 talents in this year's draft, and no one rated that high ever thinks he's going to top out in Double A.

How many players who really had a choice between baseball and football choose football? Brian Jordan was an alternate to the pro bowl in the NFL and just a decent starter in MLB. Yet he chose baseball, despite liking football better.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_11_54/ai_55553256

But despite that love for the gridiron and the ability that made him an All-Pro in the National Football League, he gave it up because of the risk of injury and began a career in baseball, believing he could play longer and secure a better future for his family.

Such a decision was by no means an easy one to make, but it wasn't an agonizing one either. "I think about football," Jordan says, "and then I think about the pain you feel on Mondays and thoughts about [playing] football quickly go away."

Question--who was the last player who really had a choice between football and baseball who chose football? I'm not talking about Drew Henson/Quincy Carter--type guys who tried very hard to have a baseball career but simply couldn't hack it. I'm talking about players who were wanted in both leagues and chose football. Last I can think of was John Elway. Deion Sanders was a great football player and a lousy baseball player, but even he kept trying to make a baseball career.

Chris Weinke spent six years in the minors before finally giving up and went on to win a Heisman.

Joe Mauer, Kirk Gibson, Adam Dunn, Todd Helton and of course Bo Jackson, but he got restless. I'm sure there are some guys who quit baseball for football despite being good prospects, but I can't think of any since Elway. And there has never been a player who has made the majors who completely quit baseball for a different sport since Danny Ainge, and he was one really lousy baseball player.

He's going to at least give baseball a shot--I'll guarantee it. He'll be pitching in Boise next month.

by Josh Timmers on Jun 7, 2006 2:29 AM CDT up reply actions

agreed

The initial post is just plain wrong. Money is better in baseball. It's guaranteed and there's more of it for individual players at the top level. Unless he prove's himself next year and is a top 20 NFL pick, I'd say he's going to give the Cubs system a shot.

by slink on Jun 7, 2006 7:52 AM CDT up reply actions

Confirmed...

... in the Sun-Times today:

Yet he's expected to play later this month for the Cubs' Class A affiliate in Boise, Idaho. The Hawks' Northwest League season opens June 19 against Eugene (Ore.), and look for the 6-5, 215-pound Samardzija to be on the roster.

"This summer I'll be playing baseball for the Cubs and loving every second of it," Samardzija said.

by Al Yellon on Jun 7, 2006 8:09 AM CDT up reply actions

Short-term money is better

He's a hot football commodity, so barring an injury in South Bend this fall, he's a first round pick in the draft. So he gets paid in 2007. If he goes baseball, he's in A-AA in 2007, maybe AAA in 2008...you see where I'm going. Certainly if he makes the big leagues and is good he can play for 12-15 years and come out ahead. But that's a much harder road with a lot more competition. He's already proven he can play football and that door to money is open.

Drew Henson and Quincy Carter are two good reasons why he'll play football. Henson was the ultimate loser...he got something like a million bucks from the Yankees since Steinbrenner didn't want him playing for Michigan any more (George is an Ohio State alum...just another thing to hold against him). Once again, barring injury, he was going to be the first QB taken in the NFL draft his junior year. He would have had a signing bonus larger than his career earnings in the minors, Dallas, and NFL Europe combined.

by SiValleyCubFan on Jun 7, 2006 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions

It's a PR pick

that has a potential baseball upside.

Samardzija's your local boy story, football player, boxer, blue collar and an ND kid to boot. Local press eats this stuff up and it'll get more "earned media" than any of the other picks. So the Cubs essentially make money with the pick - potentially gaining marketshare through free news saturation.

Also realizing that the Cubs essentialy didn't have a pick past the 13th (I think their next pick was 132 or something) so they needed a double value pick to make up for the gap. Samardzija fit the bill.

Samardzija is an athlete and has a perky fastball topping out at 99 mph who supposedly is listed listed 94th in BA's MLB draft guide (can't verify). If he actually does end up playing baseball (he's listed as 19th in an NFL draft guide) he has the possibility of helping the Cubs in their other profession - baseball.

Go Cubbies! Pay Baseaball! - Liam, my 2 1/2 yr. old

by stelmodad on Jun 7, 2006 6:46 AM CDT up reply actions

Sort of Wrong

Zbikowski (sp?) is the boxer.

by MerigoldBowling on Jun 7, 2006 8:50 AM CDT up reply actions

Samardzija boxes as well, though Zbikowski is

the one who had a pro appearance.

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/14744151.htm

"Both Zbikowski and Samardzija have deep passions for boxing and baseball, respectively, possibly even more than football. They both have been playing those sports since childhood and both have escaped major injury which could have set them back."

Go Cubbies! Pay Baseaball! - Liam, my 2 1/2 yr. old

by stelmodad on Jun 7, 2006 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions