Rookie right-handed pitcher Jeff Samardzija could get the starting nod on Sunday for the Chicago Cubs. Samardzija is a possible starter due to a doubleheader during this week, which messes up the normal starting rotation.

The former Notre Dame football star has only made relief appearances in his eight outings with the Cubs at the Major League level, yet started 54 games in minors.

Samardzija has one save and a 1.54 earned run average in 11-and-two-thirds innings pitched in his rookie season. The only question? Will Charlie Weis show up again at Wrigley to sing during the seventh inning stretch as he did when Samardzija made his MLB debut on July 25? I would guess Weiss will sit this one out.

Photo: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Cubs could start Jeff Samardzija on Sunday

Mark Cuban is still interested in becoming the owner of the Chicago Cubs. Owning the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks is not enough for Cuban. He wants in on one of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball. But many wonder, would the other owners or Bud Selig put up with Cuban’s antics?

Just think about it – Cuban sitting in the right field bleachers, among the other fans, heckling that poor rightfielder. Sure, umpires would be almost out of earshot of Cuban’s taunts, but not that lonely rightfielder. I’m sure with Cuban’s help the entire bleacher bum parade would heckle the … well… heck out of that poor soul in right field. So bad, in fact, that there might be a recreation from that movie “Bleacher Bums,” where the right fielder gets so fed up with the heckler in the stands, he attempts to climb the wall to throw down. What you never saw it? That’s OK (I only picked it up because it was five bucks at Wal-Mart) – I don’t think many others did either.

Anyway, you get the picture. The fans would love Cuban at Wrigley Field. But MLB probably would not. And other owners definitely would not be able to put up with some of the antics he has shown off court side at Mavs games. But the Cubs deserve an owner that would care and would put up the money to bring a championship to the franchise (don’t worry – it won’t happen this year… I don’t care how far ahead of the NL Central they get). So why not Cuban? He’s shown that he can take care of his players and coaches.

And you can forget about quotes from Ozzie Guillen if Cuban becomes the owner. Fans in Chicago will only be watching WGN for those press conferences where Lou Piniella and Cuban fire off expletives about umpires and players on opposing teams.

This could be a match made in Wrigleyville, but for now we’ll have to wait to find out if it will ever happen.

Photo: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Mark Cuban and the Cubs