The Giants have activated right-hander Jeff Samardzija from the injured list. He’ll start the second game of their doubleheader against the Padres on Friday. This could be the final Giants outing for Samardzija, who’s a pending free agent.
Samardzija hasn’t made an appearance since Aug. 7, after which he went on the IL with a shoulder impingement. The 35-year-old posted disastrous production in three starts and 13 2/3 innings prior to his IL placement, as he recorded a 9.88 ERA/9.48 FIP with a career-worst 3.29 K/9 against 2.63 BB/9, and a personal-low 20.8 percent groundball rate. That’s not exactly the type of production which will endear Samardzija to other teams as he prepares for a trip to the open market during the offseason.
For the most part, Samardzija has been an effective hurler in the majors, where the former Notre Dame wide receiver has accrued 1,624 1/3 innings of 4.14 ERA/3.98 FIP pitching with the Cubs, Athletics, White Sox and Giants. Samardzija was good enough for the two Chicago clubs and Oakland that the Giants gave him a five-year, $90MM guarantee before 2016. While he hasn’t offered front-line numbers during his run with the Giants, Samardzija has logged 650 2/3 innings and a respectable 4.22 ERA/4.21 FIP since he joined the team.
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/story/2020-09-25/mlb-awards-padres-manny-machado-fernando-tatis-jake-cronenworth-jayce-tingler
Padres > Giants.
The Giants. LOL
27bitches…Your back!! I missed you. Bois at the Glory Hole ignoring you.
As of 910 this morning, I activated myself.
Typical Sabean-Evans deal, paying HOF money for a slightly above average MLB talent.
You couldn’t be more wrong. 5/$90 is HoF money? That’s a ridiculous statement. It’s not even close.
What SF gave Samardzija was the going rate for mid-rotation arms at the time. The other two mid-rotation guys who signed the same year were Mike leake and Jordan Zimmermann. Leake got 5/$80, and Zimmermann got 5/$110.
Over the 5 seasons (4 for Leake because he opted out), Leake posted a 97 ERA+. The Tigers got an 80 ERA+ for their money. And Samardzija also posted a 97 ERA+.
Leake was the better deal since his teams got more IPs than what the Giants got. Zimmermann was the worst by far. But clearly Samardzija was not overpaid, let alone got HoF dollars.
Max Scherzer signed for 7/$210 the same year. That is HoF money. The Cubs gave Jon Lester 6/$155. That might be HoF money for a guy not going to the Hall. For Samardzija, not a HoFer, nor paid like one.
Man, talk about one of the worst contracts ever. Imagine if that 90 million dollars had went toward feeding hungry kids in Bogota. That much money could literally feed every person for a year in many countries. And this guy flat out sucked except for one okay year. But seriously, these owners need to get a grip and stop paying these insane contracts to mediocre players. Trout and Acuna and Machado (iffy) and Altuve all deserve it, but this guy doesnt deserve squat. There should be a clause in these guys contracts that says half of it will go toward feeding the hungry of people of a specific third world country if they dont meet certain statistics.
“Imagine if that 90 million dollars had went toward feeding hungry kids in Bogota.”
Yeah, but that’s not how it goes, and you know it. This is MLB and not a Colombian non-profit.
Yeah that money would have just further enriched a billionaire if it didn’t go to players. Be mad that someone has that much money to throw around for a game while people starve all around the world, if you’re going to be mad
I mean, you make a great point a point. Imagine if Bill Gates was like f it, I’m going to donate 2 billion to feed people in Mexico for however long it lasts. Us gov would take 40% in taxes tho
IvanDuque:
While I admire your concern for social issues, to say Samardzija’s deal was “…one of the worst contracts ever”, clearly indicates a lack of both baseball knowledge and history. Try googling worst MLB contracts in history and maybe you’ll see the error of your gross exaggeration. I don’t agree with some of the names listed, but you’ll notice the absence of Samardzija’s name.
Pretty sure the Shark gets released right after the game as the Giants are allowed 1 extra player for the 2nd game of the Double Header. I hope he comes out throwing his hardest for 3 innings or 1 turn through the order then go to the pen.
So far so good. The Velo on his Four Seam FB is sitting at 93.
The Shark Also Rises…..well, he knows better than anyone, a good start tonight, good starts if the Giants make the playoffs, he moves into a different level of Free Agency.
If he bombs? Can’t see anything more than a minor deal in the dessert that this winter’s going to be, for free agents.
Ummmm, dessert!
Good… just in time for the playoffs ………. lol
Why, exactly?
I have never liked Samardzida as a starter. I always thought he’d be better as an Andrew Miller short relief/long closer from the right side. He’s still a thrower and not a pitcher. That can work out of the bullpen. But the second time through the lineup hitters light you up.
While I agree that he might be better coming out of the pen, his splits don’t support your assertion of struggles the second time through the lineup.. Over his career his second highest ERA, and the most runs, were scored on him in the first inning, His lowest ERA is in the 7th inning. He’s kind of an enigma. Good stuff, but the best way to use him is beyond my pay grade.
Fascinating career, when results are matched to expected performance. Never had a WAR of higher than 3.1–and that was last year.
Marginal talent on a bad team. this is really a non story
Yet you read it *and* left a comment.
So.
It is amazing that the “bad” team Giants are sniffing at a playoff berth while many of ESPN hyped teams are not in the picture. Whether they make it or not on Sunday……they had a pretty decent season…..surprising many of the “so called talking heads” on the other coast.
Aaaaaaaaand he’s just been released. Check and mate.
Lol
Proving *what*?
Home & run.
😉
Which of the “many” teams that ESPN hyped aren’t getting in?
This isn’t ESPN goofball.
The Yankees winning being contingent on two chronically injured giants. LOL.
What do the Yankees have to do with the Shark? Talk about chronically injured.
Giants won’t go anywhere with Kapler at the helm. One of his biggest flaws in Philly was his inability to manage the bullpen. Very evident using Coonrod in the closer role in the second game of the double header. The pressure was too much and it bit them tonight, Big Time! Grisham with a three run walk-off blast. They’ll be lucky to sneak in now!!!
Amen..Kapler stinks…period
Of the three teams (SF, Milw. & Phila.) vying for the last wild-card slot, the Giants appear to have the best shot at grabbing it.
Phils, after blowing another three-run or greater lead last night for the ninth time this year, need to win their final two games to finish 30-30. If the Cards beat Milwaukee just once this weekend (Good possibility.), the Brewers are toast.
Giants need to win two unless Philly loses tonight. Phils will start Wheeler and Nola today and tomorrow.
Not sure how the tie breakers work if more than one team finishes at 30-30 since none of the three contenders played one another this year.
But the Giants have to go ala Al Davis and, “Just win, baby. Just win!”.
Butts will be hot in Philly if it’s the Giants who get into the playoffs. Ran Gabe Kapler out of town. Tough pill for Philly fans to swallow if Gabe gets in and Joe Girardi is making a tee time on Monday.
Lastly, I’m a forever and ever Phillies fan. Didn’t like Kapler at all when he was here. But gotta tip my hat to him for getting the Giants into playoff contention. Before the season began, most of the baseball mags I read predicted the Giants to finish last in the NL West.
Thank you, great insight. I am also unsure of the tie breaker. I am assuming it will be a one game, winner in loser go home. It will get real confusing should the Giants, Phil’s, and Brewers end up in a tie! I am still not a fan of Kapler, could be I was a huge Bochy supporter!!!
Phils win tie breaker over Giants because of better intradivision record. Read that in today’s Philly Inquirer.
I have no clue what happens if all three (Milw., SF and Phila.) each finish tied. Maybe divine intervention?
Lol, could be! Or maybe another lockdown and blame the pandemic!
There isn’t a tiebreaker play-in game. It’s all determined by head to head, then within the division, etc.
The Giants really need to avoid any ties, they don’t hold any tiebreakers over the other teams vying for the final spots.
The shark is a workhorse. I don’t care whether they overpaid some of these athletes. You get paid what you deserved period.