UPDATE As some of you may know, Jeff wanted to take some time off from the Blog and focus on making the adjustment to the big leagues. As always www.Jeff-Samardzija.com is the only place to find up to date information on Jeff and his day to day activities. He'll be back soon...
-The Jeff-Samardzija.com Staff
7/21/08 Karma Police. So my buddy Berg threw the day before me on Saturday against Nashville. As usual he threw a great game. However in typical dugout fashion, myself and some of the guys enjoyed putting him through the ringer on choosing the hottest day of the year to pitch. Obviously it wasn't his choice, but it was still in the 90's and humid as heck. Needless to say he had the last laugh...96 degrees, 70% humidity, and zero breeze. That was my day yesterday.
One good thing about throwing in that kind of heat is that your arm is ready to go once you wake up. We got on the board early with a solo shot, and I just tried to cruise from there. Feel like my command is there on all my pitches, and I'm setting up my strikeout pitch pretty well. Got to give some credit as well to the pen for holding on to the 1 run lead we had going. The family made the trip out, so it's always good when they can get the chance to see me throw in person.
We fly out today for AZ, then a quick buzz over to Vegas for a series. Thanks again to everyone for writing in on the Mailbag page.
Listening To: "Broken Boy Soldiers"
7/18/08 Heading back to Iowa. Great little recharge to get back home and relax with family and friends. Always brings a fresh outlook to why you play the game you love so much.
7/17/08 Round 2 How many guys does it take to launch a small fishing boat?! On a side note I believe I'll be throwing in game 3 this weekend. Should be a Sunday day game...
Listening to: "From Nowhere The Troggs"
7/16/08 A little fishing time with the gang...
7/14/08 Thanks for the support lately from everyone. Really feels great to be performing like I know I can, and getting myself into a position of where I want to be. Getting ready to jump on a plane heading back to Chicago, while sitting here typing on my iphone. Ready for a little RR. Talk to you guys soon so stay tuned...
Listening to: "Houses Of The Holy"
7/10/08 For any of you who know me or read the blog on a regular basis, know that I'm not a numbers guy. However being locked in and now with a record of 3-1 feels pretty good. I've been working pretty hard since TN to become more consistent and cut down on the walks. Last night was was evidence of that with no walks and 7 K's. I will say one important thing that a lot of this is a result of a nasty Iowa team. It's easy to be a pitcher when you know your offense is going to go out every night and but up big numbers. I'm just doing my best to not disrupt their rhythm and do whatever to help them win. On that topic, I get the regular text message from my older bro immediately after every outing. Usually it's him critiquing my game, or something I need to improve on. However there is always one exception to this, and thats if I produce at the plate. I could throw a no no or give up 10 runs, but if I produce at the plate he gets all fired up for some reason. Last night was the same...and I quote: "Good game from the bump, and I'll take that hit my man! Why didn't you take second?!" Classic, considering it was one of my best outings of the year. Guess that's what older brothers are for...
Listening to: "Easy Tiger"
7/3/08 Quick check-in before my outing tomorrow. Seems as though the Streem Team page has been a hit lately. Excited and honored so many people are helping spread the word about our little website we have going. Pretty cool how much popularity the Merchandise page has been getting since the money raised goes to a cause close to home. If you need more info check the poster details...
Staying on the Street Team topic, check out the first fan submitted photos we've received back. Now we don't promote sticking these babies in high risk areas, but this picture is pretty rad.
Also for anyone wanting to listen to the games live, or even now watch them live per a video feed on the net, checkout http://www.Iowacubs.com
Listening to: "Pinkerton"
6/30/08 Reliving old memories. Funny thing about this ball park is that years ago I played here in a 13 year old All Star tourney. Turns out we won the thing I believe, and the rest is history. Well maybe Little League All Stars and AAA pro ball are a tiny bit different...both still fun nonetheless.
Yesterday felt great. Had a little ripping from the team earlier with a 83 football jersey in my locker, but I enjoy a good practical joke. Game wise I couldn't of asked for anything else. The defense was nasty making plays behind me, and the bats were putting up runs. All I had to do was go out and do my job and give the team a chance to win. I'll take it.
One of my favorite holidays is coming up this week, and I think I'm actually throwing that day as well. I'll keep you guys posted, but it looks like the 4th is the day. Any one get their Street Team stickers yet? Haven't seen them in person, but I wanted to hear your guys thoughts on everything...
Also quick little interview after the game yesterday.
Listening to: "In Rainbows"
6/26/08 First update from Iowa. First things first, man it felt great to get out there for a AAA game and start writing a new chapter. Other than a couple bad pitches, I felt like the night went exactly how I wanted it to. 6 innings, 2 BB's, 5 K's, and 3 runs. I'll take that line especially in a ballpark where the ball tends to grow wings once it gets up in the air. Missed putting it all together for the W, but Sunday will be a new opportunity for round 2. Nice to get up to Iowa for a lengthy home series and get into this beautiful park. Word is that the home games pull a lot of people, so I'm definitely pumped for that.
Website wise it looks like we have the new Street Team page up and running. Pretty cool idea if you ask me, especially those shirts. Guess there's a limited amount of them, but I was told everyone will get stickers and a couple special items. Off to my first home game, I'll check back in soon... Stay tuned.
Listening to: "Apologies To The Queen Mary"
6/21/08 Bags are packed. I'll see you guys in Iowa...
Listening to: "The Weight Is A Gift"
6/20/08 Just cruising. Felt great yesterday on the hill, and my arms feels like it can go 9 innings. 7 innings with giving up 2 runs, 5 hits, couple K's and a couple walks. Am I pumped about the no decision? Nah. But we did get the win and thats all that matters. This was the outing for me that really showed I have progressed significantly since the start of the season. Feel like I'm ready for anything they throw at me... It's hot down here in TN, but it's nice for those 7pm games. Yesterday was a noon start and you knew it was warm. Perfect for the arm though and staying dialed in.
So I'm going to start ending these Blogs with something a little different. A lot of kids have been writing in wondering what music I have been listening to lately. I'll start to list the album name that I'm listening to, and hopefully you young guns will track down the artist's name. Maybe some of you will be into the less "popular" music...
Currently listening to: "Cease To Begin"
6/16/08 Tiger is nasty. Anyone watch him just hang around yesterday with his bum knee, and eventually hit the show stopper to send it to a playoff?! Talk about huge, that guy is out of his mind. Pretty sweet to watch the whole thing develope yesterday. You knew he was going to make it... Plus you got to love the double fist-pump/highfive celebration. Only Tiger can pull that off.
So we have the day off and are traveling back up North for a home game series. Crazy to think it's already mid June. Had some roster movements lately trying to get everyones innings in. So the rotation is a little mixed up, but I will keep you guys posted as soon as I can.
Currently listening to: "Sad Sappy Sucker"
6/11/08 The great day off. Always nice to have a day off, but traveling countless hours down South isn't exactly vacation time. A lot of you write in asking what the bus trips are like for the players. Well I'll give you a quick summary of our road trip yesterday. Everyone hops on the bus in the morning and does their best to sleep the first part of the trip away. After the nap, the bus had the movie "Transformers" playing on the tube. Talk about brutal. Don't go out and rent that bad boy...trust me. Next up was "Blood Diamond" which I am a fan of. Even though I've seen it about 11 times over my days of traveling for baseball and football, I still dig it. After that I knocked out some website stuff with my bro and tried to sleep the rest of the trip. Then bingo, you're in Mississippi.
6/9/08 Second outing after settling down and everything felt great. Getting my mechanics back to where they were, and still feeling smooth. My line from last game wasn't earth shattering, but still right on line. One bad high fastball and the guy jumped on it. Was happy with my K's and game management. Looking to build on these last two starts and keep progressing... Big club is looking nasty. Always cool to see them on ESPN Sunday night baseball and envision yourself taking the hill. That's the goal.
So I have to give a Thank You plug to a new website that's out there in internet land. There's a fan made Blog called "SamardzijaPalooza" on the net that covers myself and the day to day events of Smokies baseball. I'm stoked on the name by the way. You can check it out here: http://samardzijapalooza.blogspot.com Thanks for the attention!
6/4/08 Tired of using the phrase "back on track" but it's definitely how I'm feeling. Probably one of my best outings of the season yet the other night. Threw 6 innings while giving up one run, no walks, three hits, and five K's. Really felt like putting things together over the past two weeks paid off. Had my movement back on my fastball, offspeed was hitting the spots, and finally getting ahead of hitters again. Not so much concerned with not getting the W, mainly pumped to get things dialed in again.
Anyone catch the Faber vs Pulver showdown over the weekend? Talk about insane, those guys got after it. Cool to see MMA events now on regular cable. That sport is getting huge lately...
6/2/08 Just a heads up that I'll be throwing tonight against West Tenn. Follow the usual drill at www.smokiesbaseball.com to listen live...
5/29/08 Overall pretty happy with my outing last night. Really getting my mechanics back to where they were, and focusing on making everything smooth. Felt great over the 6 innings. Gave up 2 hits, 1 walk, struckout 4, and 2 earned runs. Baseball is all about moving on from your last outing. You never want to lose at anything, but mentally this has been a great learning experience...
On to more fun things, I'm hearing some rumblings that there is going to be a Street Team for the website. I had to sign off on some ideas, so we'll see what takes form. Thanks for all the positive emails and sticking in there with me.
5/28/08 Throwing tonight guys against the Mudcats. Game is at 7pm for anyone listening online. You can listen live here: www.smokiesbaseball.com Also sorry for the lack of Blog updates so far this season. Really concentrating on getting things locked in because I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. All of my focus and energy has been geared towards getting better and making that trip up North. All of the travel and hotel stays aren't an excuse for the updates, as I knocked them out last season. Hang in there with me, and I'll bring you along for the ride...
5/25/08 Hey everybody, hope everyone is enjoying their holiday weekend. My brother came down for the week so I've been enjoying some family time. Nice to have them here. Smoltz threw last night against us which was pretty insane. Came in and threw an inning since we had an off day today. Tweaking my mechanics a bit and getting them back on track...
5/19/08 Received a call from my brother Sammy this morning that the new UA Valpo football uniforms are done and in! We'll have official pictures up soon once the big unveiling takes place. In the meantime you guys can get the first inside peek today on the site. Check out the sweet uniform mock-up below before we take it down... Talk about doing it right.
Oops. You missed it...
5/15/08 On the road and scheduled to throw tonight. Game starts at 8pm EST I believe. Checkout the Smokies website to listen live.
5/12/08 Checking in down here in TN. Things are really starting to warm-up temp wise here during the day, which is great for the arm. Without sugar coating it, was pretty ticked over my last outing. Went and did everything that I didn't want to due from a pitching standpoint. Really spent the last couple days flushing out my arm, pushing myself endurance wise, and getting things locked back in from the mound. You have to have a short memory in this game, but at the same time you have to learn from your mistakes and move on. I'm ready.
5/9/08 What year is it?! Sorry everyone, feels like forever since I updated this thing. With that being said,(Apple I hope you're listening) my battery died on my Apple notebook a couple weeks back. Did one of those things where your computer laughs at you and then totally shuts off. I had my brother order me a replacement and now we're rolling. So I apologize for not checking in with all that has been going on.
First things first, I'm up to 3-2 record wise. For all of you that read the blog on a regular basis, you know that I'm not a numbers guy. I like to win, and do what it takes to help my team win. Overall though I feel like I'm progressing right on target. Arm feels great, slider and splitty look good, and jumping ahead of hitters is back in form. Lost it there for a couple innings... I've been getting a huge amount of emails lately asking as to when I'm going to get called up. Well guys the answer is that I don't really know. I feel like I'm getting the point both mentally and physically that I think I can contribute. However I just want to do everything in my power to make that decision an easy one for management. Whenever they think I'm ready, then I'm ready. Getting this work down here in the minors is definitely a good thing though.
Taking a couple steps back, did all of you watch the 2008 NFL DRAFT?! What a trip seeing my boys go that early. Trev gets to hook back up with Vic in Philly, and Tommy heads East to the Ravens in the 3rd. Doesn't get any better than that. Looks like the NFL Network is going to get some use in my house this offseason. If you want to get a laugh, checkout Trev's page at www.Trevor-Laws.com and click on his draft party video. Think they were pumped?!
One last sweet piece of information, my new video game alias I'm hearing is Jake Sampson. I haven't played the game yet because we're on the road, but the new MLB 2K8 has me in it with the Cubs. My buddies are saying I'm in the minors, and have good quicks on the base paths. I like what I'm hearing. Though the hairstyle is up for debate at this point people are telling me. Guess the name Jeff Samardzija isn't too appealing these days to gamers. Jake Sampson does have a nice ring to it...
4/21/08 The road check-in. Just dropping a line tonight from the old lobby computer in the hotel. Things are off to a great start so far this season. Would of liked to have the 3rd win yesterday, but it'll come soon enough. Arm is still feeling good and quickly getting to midseason form. Finished watching the big squad tear it up late at Wrigley tonight. Talk about looking good. Can't wait to be a part of that.
Sounds like a lot of you caught the ESPN feature today. Was pretty funny, especially when they throw Jeff vs Tommy stuff in there. But seriously, he "maybe" fouls one off out of ten. Check the interview on ESPN for a good laugh. Believe I'll be throwing this Friday back at home. Stoked to get in front of the home crowd again and get things rolling. The kids have been coming out in gangs with their SAMARDZIJA Cubs shirt from the website. Can't beat that. Well back to the card game...I'll be sure to check-in after Friday's outing.
4/14/08 CONGRATS Scotty Schultz for winning the Shark Picks Your Playlist Contest!!
Scotty is from Stanford, IL and has a pretty insane taste in music for a 17 year old. Again all the entries were great, but the following picks ended up #1.
Smashing Pumpkins - "Siva" Modest Mouse - "Ocean Breathes Salty" Led Zeppelin - "Fool in the Rain"
Scotty, your gear is in the mail! Thanks to everyone who participated.
4/11/08 One game at a time. That's how I'm approaching things this season. I know where I want to be, and I feel like things are coming along great this season. Still early though... Threw last night against the Dodgers affiliate for my first home start. Crowd was great, and it was cool to see all the little kids show up in their SAMARDZIJA Cubs t-shirt. Threw 7 innings last night giving up 4 hits, 1 walk, and no runs. Good to get those 5 K's as well. Arm felt great, and really strong late in the game.
On to more fun things for you guys, I had the chance to look over the 500 entries for the Music Contest. Let me start off by saying all the entries were great! Each one had it's own style that I appreciate. However it is a contest so I had to get it down to 5 finalists. I'll be announcing the winner this weekend, so make sure you cruise back to see if it's you. Below are the Top 5 in no particular that hit home for me:
James Crow - Portland, OR David Alvarado - Carson, CA Peter Miller - Bloomfield Hills, MI Scotty Schultz - Stanford, IL Nathan Grim - Roanoke, VA
See NEWS page for more details...
4/7/08 Whats happening everybody. I see that the message board is firing after my first start. Thanks for keeping tabs everyone, really makes all of this worth while. Got some time today before our last game with the Barons in AL, so I wanted to check in after Saturday's game... 1st outing of the year and the arm felt great. Still working the early season rust off, but overall I was super happy with how it felt. Mainly stuck with my sinker all game, and went to the slider and splitter a few times. Gave up a couple hits, a bad timing walk, and one run over 5 innings. Got the W and starting the season off right. For anyone that doesn't know about our Smokies team, we brought back a bunch of guys from last season. Everyone can hit, and everyone makes big plays. Makes throwing in a game a lot easier when you know you have great guys behind you. Should be a great season in TN.
Keep on the lookout for pitching updates, and also an annoucement of the MUSIC CONTEST winner over the next couple days. I've read through most of them and it's been great to see your music choices!
4/2/08 The blog attack begins. Jumping on a bus today for our trip down South to AL. Just a heads up to everyone that I believe I'll be throwing on Saturday. Really ready to get my arm in mid-season form and show the club what I can do. Tune in.
3/31/08
It all starts now.
Caught a flight at 5am this morning from AZ to Knoxville, TN. Gear is packed up, apartment is now being moved into, and the new Smokies uniform is clean and ready to go. We have a little practice game tomorrow against a local college, and then it's off to Birmingham for a 5 game series against the Barons. I'm told I will be throwing one of those early games on Thursday or Friday. Feels good that it's finally here.
I wanted to send out a personal "Thank You" to everyone who participated in the Shark Music Contest this month. We had some sweet entries, and a couple of them actually turned me onto some new bands. Can't beat that. With that being said, I can tell I have a couple busy days of going through the hundreds of email entries. It's worth it though, the prizes are pretty insane. So thanks again to everyone and keep checking in for this seasons regular Blog on how things are going.
3/27/08 Wanted to give an update on things while I'm watching the WV Xavier game. Threw yesterday during a minor league spring training game. Right now the main focus is to get our innings up so we're ready to go for the start of the season. I came in as the starter and threw a solid 5 innings. Even at the end of the 5th my arm felt really good. I think when we ship off here soon for our minor league squad I'll be fully ready to go.
Some family has flown out for their Spring Break, so it's good to see everyone again. I think they're enjoying some 80 degree weather rather than the snow we're getting back home. Flying out soon for Knoxville...season can't get here fast enough.
3/17/08 Quick little update for everyone on the weekend outing. Great to start off a game as a starting pitcher like I did on Saturday. As a SP it's a little more of a routine to come in and start things off, rather than coming out of the pen. Overall I felt great, and threw 3 innings while giving up no runs and no hits. Actually brought back my splitter this spring which was a great out pitch for me in college. I'm pumped to work on that pitch and get it back to where I want it.
Unless you've been out of the country for the past week, we all know March Madness is right around the corner. Received a ton of emails about who my sleepers are and who I think will make a run. I'll post a couple thoughts once I fill out my bracket, but for the record I'm always the guy who picks all the underdogs in round 1 & 2...
3/13/08 What's up everybody, hope all is well. Figured it was about time to check back in with you guys. Everything is going great out here in AZ. The season is right around the corner and I think I've set myself up pretty good to get where I want to be. Couldn't of asked for a better camp.
Recently I was optioned to AA camp, or as some of the media calls it "Cut" down to AA ball. Does sound a little more interesting I guess... However this was totally in the plans and I'm happy to get down there and get my innings in. Great opportunity for me to get some work in warm weather, and get my arm where it needs to be. I think everyone who reads the blog knows what my goal is and where I want to end up. I think I'm on the right path and set up to make a good run at it.
On to another topic that has resulted in about 150 emails this week...my hair. No big deal for everyone who is concerned, just a good little trim to start off the season. It's what I usually do to start things off, and then let that baby go all season long. Thanks for all your concerned emails though!
Also it seems like anyone who has been surfing the net as of late will occasionally have my mug pop up and almost scare you off your chair. My sponsor and the cool people at Under Armour have a sweet ad campaign going on for the 2008 UA baseball gear. Pretty cool to see yourself randomly on the internet. Thanks UA, I'm happy to push the gear.
3/3/08 It feels great to get back on the diamond. Not really to just get on the field, but to get on the mound in a real game situation. I've caught TD passes in front of thousands of people, but honestly nothing compares to steping on the mound and going after a batter one on one. Can't beat it.
Today we traveled to play the Seattle Mariners in Peoria, AZ. A little windy today, but it was great to get the blood flowing in a live setting. Pitched two innings, walked the first guy unfortunately, but retired the next six. Really felt good out there, and made me feel like all the hard work is paying off. Granted it was only the first start of spring training, but overall I like where I'm at both physically and mentally. I'll have a day off or so, but I'm stoked to get back out there again.
On a side note, the golf has been great out here. Wanted to throw that in for all my buddies back home who are dealing with the 12" of snow. Thanks again for everyone who has submitted their music selections for the contest. I've seen a good amount of them and they look great. Some of them I had to actually download off of itunes for myself!
2/25/08 Hey everyone, a lot has been going on lately so I wanted to check in. We've been throwing live lately to hitters, so it's been a good opportunity to see where we stand. At this point everything feels great, and I'm actually a lot further along than I thought I would be at this point. All of the offspeed stuff is coming along nicely, the fastball is getting to where it needs to be, location is looking good in and around the plate, and physically I feel great on the mound. Slowly we're working our pitch count up to a good amount. We're only a couple days out of our first ST game, so Im stoked to be almost where I want to be. With that being said, all the guys on the bump look great. I think this season a major asset to our team will totally be our pitching lineup. Starting to warm up too out here, so you'll start to see a lot more "live" arms here soon.
On to things just as important, my guys are absolutely killing the NFL Combine! Trevor Laws finished up today and just worked everyone in the position drills. He threw up 225 lbs 35 times, ran a 5.0 fourty, sized in at 6' 3/4" and 305 lbs. Beast. To me, why isn't he the #1 DT right now? Rest of those guys weren't even on the same page as him. Check out a video of Trev destroying the NFL combine HERE. See www.Trevor-Laws.com for more info.
Staying on that topic, Tommy Zbikowski sized in today and starts his workouts tomorrow. Once again, look for Tommy to come in and blow people away. I've been training with him, so I know what he's going to bring to the table. Bottom line is he's ready to go. Check his interview out HERE.
Finally for everyone who has been keeping up on my sponsors and all that, Under Armour now has some sweet baseball stuff up on their website. The gear is amazing, and you'll be seeing me rock it in Wrigley. Next stop, Zoolander II...
2/19/08 What's up everybody. Today was the big day for our first full practice with the entire team. It was the typical first day with some good work, but mainly a lot of fun to see everyone again and get a fun day of practice in. Did our usual position drills, and went through some in-game situations. I'll be throwing off the mound tomorrow with some guys in the box. Should throw roughly 25 pitches and also get some good cardio work. Each day it gets better and better, and you can see it in our team. The chemistry is increasing daily, and the talent level we have is sick. Excited to get the season rolling.
Website wise, it looks as though we've fired up our second contest. Check out the NEWS page for more details, but we're looking for your Top 3 songs of all time. Have some pretty sweet product to give out to our winner. Compliments of our great sponsors.
Big night for my friends and family. IU vs Purdue on the tube at 7pm EST. As soon as us guys get off the links course we'll be checking that baby out. Sammy's the IU alum, so I got to keep it in the family...
2/14/08 It's report time. Day 1 couldn't have got here fast enough. Great to have everyone together and starting the 2008 season off right. Everyone came in looking good, and ready to work from the get go. Each of us got to throw a quick bullpen while coach watched closely. Great to finally get on the mound and throw 25. Couldn't of been a better way to start things off.
Stoked to start things off. Day 2 we'll start to pick things up.
2/12/08 What's happening everybody. Hope all is well. From what I'm hearing back home it sounds like it's been a little chilly as of late. Sunny days on the diamond in AZ sounds a little bit better than -15 degree windchill back in Valpo! Now thats cold.
Things have been going great out here in Mesa in preparation for spring training. To be honest, I can't wait until Thursday when the rest of guys get out here and we can really start this thing up. Arm feels great, body feels great, and mentally I'm ready to go. Haven't really felt this good and focused solely on baseball since Little League when we were playing in the game to go to the World Series. Sounds ridiculous, but it's the truth. It's going to be a big season for me and I want to have everything lined up to make it a success.
For all of you tv fanatics out there, maybe some of you caught the Under Armour commercial during the Super Bowl. Yep, did you catch the 1 second glimpse of my shaggy hair rock'n the UA baseball gear?! I had about 30 text messages saying "I think I saw you in the spot, but really just noticed your hair". Filming it was a great time, and really the best part are the new UA cross trainers. Got a shipment coming of the new Royal Blue & White ones so lookout for them during spring training.
Well we are set for the 2008 season, so please keep checking in on the site for updates and cool events that will be going on. I know there's a ton of new material scheduled to be released like videos, a commercial, pictures, articles, and free contest give-a-ways so don't miss out. Plus the Blogs will be updated on a day to day basis on how things are going...
1/29/08 Well I am finally out here in AZ doing my thing and getting ready. Can't beat this beautiful weather. One of these days I'm going to hit up the links and see how the game has held up over the winter. It'll probably be a little ugly... I really wanted to let everyone know that the MLB and Cubs.com just posted a little interview from the rookie convention. You can check it out below...
1/24/08 Hello everybody, and thank you for the birthday cards. Pretty funny that some of you actually know my birthday. Needless to say it was a fun and relaxing day with the family. Good to spend some time with them as I'm shipping off for Spring Training here soon. A lot of people have been writing in wondering how the offseason has been, and if I'm getting ready for season number two. Lets just say I've been getting after it pretty hard, and I'm ready to get out there on the field. Can't be more excited. As always once the season kicks off I'll be hitting up the Blog on a more regular basis. Should have some quality daily info to report, and I will be keeping you up to speed on other happenings.
On a side note, my man Trevor Laws and his older brother Drew just launched their official website this week. It's a pretty sick site that takes you in the life of Trev as he prepares for the NFL draft. They also have some pretty sweet merch you can purchase on there too. Check it out, and tell him I said whats up. www.Trevor-Laws.com
Well I will catch up with you guys out in Mesa once I get moved in. It's going to be an exciting season this year, and I'm going to do everything in my power to be a part of it.
1/14/08 A Day in the Life...
First off Happy New Year to everyone. Hopefully everyone is enjoying the snow like we are. Quick little note, if you're wondering what a day in the life of Jeff Samardzija and Tommy Zbikowski is like, tune into Comcast Sports tonight at 10pm CST. They followed Tommy and I around for three days while we were training in the city. Some pretty funny moments, but nonetheless just us being us. I think we actually showed the camera crew a pretty good time throughout the process. Should be a cool couple shows.
So tune in tonight to the Comcast channel, and if you can't catch it or your from out of town, we'll have the three seperate shows up on the website under the video section soon enough. Also I'm hearing the first ever Jeff-Samardzija.com commercial will be out soon. Some highlights with some quality music I'm expecting.
12/30/07 Happy Holidays to everyone. Nothing better than coming home and relaxing with friends and family while eating some home cooked meals. Had a ton of emails about what I wanted for Christmas, and what I actually got. Funny, but a majority of the people writing in really only wanted an ND National Championship and a Cubs World Series victory. Pretty good gift ideas if you ask me. For myself, I only really asked for some new CD's and fishing gear. I was lucky enough to get both! Overall Christmas was great, and we were lucky enough to even have some good snow.
Training has been going great lately. We're really on a tight training schedule making sure we'll be ready to go. Two meals a day professionally made, and two workout sessions each day. Even mixing in some weekly yoga to keep that flexibility and core body strength. The college football bowls have been crazy like usual. Great to see Hawaii getting their shot. I've stayed up many of late nights to catch their 7pm PST games. As a receiver, I don't think there's a more exciting team to watch. Also great to see IU get a shot in the Insight Bowl. I know the brother has the DVR ready to go for that one.
Time is winding down before I take off for Arizona and get season two rolling. One last trip out West to visit some sponsors, and then time to report early to spring training. Couldn't be more ready.
12/14/07 What's going on everybody. Figured it was about time that I checked in again with another Blog. That and I was getting heat from my manager/full-time brother to fill you in on what has been going on and whats planned. First things first, the 2007 ND season has just wrapped up. Sure I'm hearing all the groaning about how this was the "worst ND team ever" and how people are jumping off the bandwagon. Heck our plumber told me he hasn't seen a worse ND team in 46 year, so it has to be true. I say take it easy everyone. I'm not a history guy, but I dont think ND has ever had that many true freshman and soph on the field at one time. The o-line, which is probably the most important spot on the field, had all first and second year players. I remember back in high school when I started as a true freshman...We were a super young team with mainly soph and junior players. My good friend was the QB and also a freshman. We were the first true freshman to ever start on varsity at Valpo High. With that being said, we got destroyed all season. The papers were all over us as the worst Valpo team ever, and why would a team start so many young guys? We heard it all. Well what happend our junior and senior years? We made it to the State and Semi-State finals. Go figure. So just hang in there ND fans, you'll be impressed with these guys soon enough...
What's going on lately in my world? Well vacation is finally done. As most of you know, during the regular season I usually try to knock out a blog everyday. Looks like it will be back to that soon enough as days are flying bye. I just took off to Chicago this week to really start training hard with Tommy at a premier training facility. We each have our different training regiment, but we're in there 6 days a week. It's great to finally start throwing again. This is a very important time for the both of us, so we're going at it with everything we got. I'll be checking in a little more frequently when Jan. starts to roll around to keep all of you updated.
On a more exciting note lookout for a couple new ad's done by Jeff-Samardzija.com. I think there's one up on BlueandGold.com as we speak, as well as their December magazine. Also be looking for a Jeff-Samardzija.com commercial that will be floating around the net and website come Spring Training time. And if that wasn't enough, there's a Shark Contest Part 2 coming up soon. I think a good hint is that it involves music. Stay tuned...
11/27/07 Hey everyone. Hope the holidays went great and that all is well. It's been a little over a week since I checked in so I figured I was due. Getting ready to take off for a quick little vacation with some of my ND buddies, but before I do I wanted to get you guys up to speed with whats been going on. First and most importantly the Merchandise page has been going off! I want to thank all of you for your support and giving towards our mother's scholarship. It's really going to be an amazing thing when we can present it to a University of Notre Dame student. We have a raised a ton of money with all of the online sales and only look to improve on that. With that being said, a special "thank you" goes out to all of you who purchased some items when we first launched the store. We apologize for your wait due to the flood of requests, so we included a little something extra in your packages...enjoy.
For all of you tv fans, this is the big week for my Sports Action Team debut on NBC. Should be pretty funny to see me acting on tv, but fun nonetheless. The show airs this Sunday the 2nd on NBC after your local nightly news. I believe in Chicago it comes on right after the 10pm news. Either way if you're on the East or West coast, check NBC Sunday night. Here's a link to the listings: http://www.sportsactionteam.com/listings.php And let me know what you think!
Had some pretty interesting questions on the Mailbag page, so I took on some of those including the funny ESPN Brady Quinn article. I'll check back in soon...
11/16/07 What's happening everybody. Thought it was a good time to check back in and update you guys on what has been going on. Training has been going good and is really a main focus at the moment. Right now I'm doing a lot of core body stuff like squats, ab work, dumbbell press, lower back work, and running. Can't stress the core body strength enough. As a pitcher you really dont want to do the same style of workouts as a football player. But you can definitely go at it with the same type of mentality even though it's a different workout.
Staying on the training topic, Tommy and I will be heading into a training facility together in early December to really hit the training hard. I will be getting ready for Spring Training and Tommy will obviously be preparing for the Senior Bowl. Really helps to get into a training facility where they push you with a daily workout, and keep you on a quality meal regiment. This is going to be a big 2008 season for me, and I want to take full advantage and make sure I'm ready. It's going to be an intense 4 weeks of preparation.
I'm going to check back in early next week to tell you guys about my trip down South where I was invited to play in Ron Guidry's golf outing. Great time and met some pretty amazing people in the baseball world...
11/6/07 Hey everyone, hope all is well. Well as you all of you know, we launched the Merchandise page and it has been crazy. It's great to see all of the support from you guys along with the cool emails we have been receiving. Really makes us feel like we're doing the right thing by creating the ND scholarship in my mothers name. Thanks again to everyone for your contributions. And for an update to all my favorite fans regarding the Pink Cubs shirts...they'll be in soon so just keep hanging in there! For those of you who have been waiting for their blue Cubs shirt or pink one, we'll include something special in your package just to make up for your wait.
Moving on to a topic I've been receiving a ton of emails about...Notre Dame Football. I remember when I was a freshman we were going through the same sort of situation. We were young, a whole lot of inexperience, and a group of guys who needed to have a leader step up. When I watch these games from home I try to watch them both as a player and as a fan. The player in me can actually see a lot of promise from the young guys, and the fan in me still wants those guys to win every game. The fact is though these guys are playing hard, and doing everything they can to win. Trust me they want to win just as bad as you do, if not more. As the weeks move on you're really starting to see guys like Trevor and Tommy start to step up as leaders and role models for the younger guys. I know when I was there I tried to do the same thing for some of the guys like Robby. I think when you're coming down to your last couple games in the ND uniform you want to leave something behind that one of the guys will use to their advantage and take with them. In the Navy game I really noticed guys like Kyle McCarthy and Pat Kuntz starting to take after Zib and Trev. That's a pretty cool feeling and will only help them in the long run. Lookout for those guys to have strong upcoming seasons.
So for all you ND fans out there who are pulling your hair out, just try to stay onboard for a little while longer. I promise you'll see improvements that will get you fired up for the next week to come. Kind of like golf, when you always seem to hit that sweet shot on the 18th hole that brings you back next week. Same with this young ND team.
10/29/07 MERCHANDISE TIME! Alright everybody the big day is here! I know a lot of you have been writing in daily trying to find out when you can pick-up a signed picture or football. Well wait no more because the Merchandise page is up and firing! We wanted to create a place where you as a true fan, can log on and pick something up signed that no one else on the planet currently has. As a kid, that's exactly what I always wanted. Almost all of our items either have never been produced before, or are being rereleased like the limited edition poster... Cool thing about the Merchandise page is that you can pretty much have everything personalized anyway you want it. A simple email with how you want it signed after you place the order, and you're good to go! Tough to find that anywhere else on the net.
Needless to say we're pretty excited about the new store. From the sweet Cubs t-shirt, to the pretty special poster that goes towards my mother's Notre Dame scholarship fund. Remember to log back in from time to time because there will constantly be new items added to the Merchandise page. Later in the week lookout for a PINK Samardzija Cubs t-shirt for my favorite fans out there, take it easy everyone.
10/26/07 Quick update for everyone regarding the tv spot with The Sports Action Team. We got pushed back a little bit for our big debut to November 2nd on HDNet, and December 2nd on NBC. I guess when Coach Ditka has an episode getting ready to run, everyone else gets pushed back a bit! And rightfully so. Have you seen his episodes on the website with the porkchop?! Hilarious. Too be honest, having an episode with me in it run right after Coach Ditka's is pretty sweet...does it get any better than that?! Pretty big honor to be in the company of those guys.
Also check out the Mailbag page, took some time and answered your questions...
10/24/07 Well it's good to be back! Have some pretty cool info to update you guys with. The national tv piece with The Sports Action Team will be running this Friday at 8pm EST on the HD Net channel. If you don't get HD Net, the program will be ran again nationally on NBC on December 1st. I hear the final cut is pretty funny, so hopefully you guys enjoy it.
Also I'm hearing the Merchandise page is all ready to go! I'll give you guys some inside info even though I know management wants to keep it a surprise...I saw a couple of the items you can buy online and they are sweet. An official Samardzija Cubs jersey, some cool 8x10 photos, even a pink Samardzija Cubs t-shirt for the ladies! Keep checking that page because I know it will be launched any minute... I'm going to knock out some of your guy's questions on the Mail Bag page tomorrow. Been awhile since I've checked in.
10/17/07 What's happening everyone. Great to finally get back on here and check in. Things have been busy lately, but fun nonetheless. My brother and I just returned from Baltimore after a big visit with our sponsor Under Armour. For all you UA fans, wait until the 2008/2009 line comes out. Going to be insane. We had the opportunity to check out all the new product, say what we liked/disliked, and give our input on what we would like to see tweaked for the next season. Trust me kids when it comes to a mix of function and style, I wont let you down...
And for the big annoucement to all you Valpo High School Football fans, I will be donating Under Armour football uniforms to the High School varsity football team starting in 2008. Valpo will now be one of only six high schools in the country to have UA uniforms. Yep, the varsity football team is going to have sick UA uniforms that I get to help design. Lookout for a big formal annoucement in the near future. You heard it here first... Hopefully we get that big #3 jersey retired!
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Also for anyone surfing the net, Jeff-Samardzija.com was rated Top 10 Sports Blogs on the net by BuzzFeed.com. I guess people are reading...
Keep on the lookout for the release of the Merchandise page!
10/9/07 Alright everybody, Saturday was a monster one. I wrote on Friday that I really felt like we were going to see a new team on game day and we totally did. Like we've been seeing all year, big #98 and #9 played out of their minds. Credit that W to the defense. Also if you get a chance, check out a new interview the SBT filmed at our house last week. They just stuck it up on the net, and you can watch it here: http://www.wsbt.com/home/video/10320787.html?video=pop&t=a
And if you look close, you can see the lake out back where I relax...Easily top interview location to date.
10/5/07 Good morning everybody. Well I usually receive a good amount of emails every week, however this week the flood of UCLA emails were great. You guys sent in some pretty funny stories about the game, cool pictures, and a lot of "memories" that were really enjoyable to read. A little while back in the blog I did my top plays ever at ND. For me, this UCLA game was a big one. My brother actually read me an article this morning from some California newspaper about how I'm never allowed within 20 miles of the Rose Bowl in a joking manner. The story was actually pretty funny. Bummer because the Rose Bowl is a pretty sweet place! It was games like the UCLA game that made playing at ND such a great experience. Nothing like a crazy celebration on the field, in the locker room, then after the game with friends and family. Doesn't get any better than that...
Touching back on those emails I've been receiving this week, I think you're going to see a new team this week. You sort of saw the "change" start to take place late last week in the Purdue game. I'm not a big numbers guy, but I see this one being a close one. If anything, you might see a totally rejuvenated team pull out a big win. Stay tuned...and also check the Message Board for a BIG NEWS clue.
10/2/07 October already? But I'll tell you what, you can't beat 70 degrees and sunny in the Midwest. Just about perfect. So I just wanted to stop in and post a little note about whats been going on in the last couple days. Workouts are still going strong. Mainly focusing on core body strength at the moment, along with the usual cardio workout. On a more exciting side note, was fortunate enough to actually make the Flaming Lips concert last night up in Pontiac, Michigan. Talk about an amazing show. Could be one of the best live shows I've ever seen.
Like I mentioned last week, we were super stoked to be a part of the Burton store grand opening in Chicago. We had the opportunity to get to meet the founder Jake Burton, and all of the professional snowboarders like Keir Dillon and Hannah Teter. It was a great time and we are excited to have their sister company Anon as one of the companies onboard with us. As promised, below is a picture from the event of my brother, Jake Burton, and myself:
9/27/07 Quick check-in here. Things have been going great so far this offseason. Workouts just started, and those are going good. We did some fun appearances in Chicago for a sponsor, and the occasional phone interview from our fishing boat is always sweet. On a cool note, The Sports Action Team sent us a couple stills from the TV spot so I thought I'd share them with you guys. Also if you have time, check out the new pictures in the Photo Gallery on the home page. Some fun ones in there with friends and some new Tenn game pictures.
From the TV piece:
9/24/07 Hey everyone, hopefully everything is going well. Just wanted to check in this morning and give a quick update on my offseason. First off the down time has been great. Had a chance to relax with the family and friends, and to get out and play some golf. I've never really been much of a golfer, but now I can't stop playing. We shot the tv bit for The Action Sports Team last week. Was pretty hilarious while filming, so hopefully the final product is the same. A great company we work with called Burton, had a grand opening for their new store in downtown Chicago on Wednesday night. It was cool to be there with all the professional riders and Jake Burton himself. We have some pictures that we took, along with some other offseason ones that we will be posting soon... Quick note that I took on some of your questions from the Mailbag page. Check those out, and tune back in soon.
9/17/07 Thanks for checking in everybody. Spent part of weekend relaxing with some of my ND buddies. ND fans just hang in there, good things are to come. I promise. Today is actually a pretty cool day. The Sports Action team is cruising past the house today to film a bit for the second season. Should be pretty funny, and you can check them out at http://sportsactionteam.com/ . Ill let you guys know when its going to running on tv, and when its posted on their website. I heard the word on the street is that there's another CONTEST coming up for the site. Not sure exactly what it is yet, but it might have something to do with music I think...
9/14/07 Well it feels great to be back home... Just finished the trip back to Valparaiso for some relaxation and the start of my offseason workouts. I have to say though, I'm pretty stoked to finally get to sleep in my own bed again. I love Best Western and Super 8, but your spot back home is always pretty hard to top. I have some pretty interesting times ahead this offseason like visiting sponsors on the East and West coasts, tv spots, along with some good workout plans so there will be some good things to write about. I'm going to try to do 2-3 entries a week this offseason to keep everyone updated on whats going on in my world. Should be a pretty good time, and I am excited to get back after it to make next season an even better one. Stay tuned...
9/12/07 Hey everybody, we're getting everything packed and making the trip back up North. I'll post some updates this week after my trip and fill you guys in on whats going on. I also took some time to update the Mailbag page with some answers and give you some inside on whats going on in my world lately...
9/11/07 First off wanted to send a special message to those families who are grieving today due to 9/11. Still seems like yesterday... Well everyone the playoffs have unfortunately wrapped up. We lost in a thriller last night to get knocked out of the race. Both teams were battling, and I think there were actually 3 lead changes. Great game, though it's a bummer to lose. This first season was a great time and an amazing learning experience. Was lucky to have and meet some great teammates and coaches in the Cubs system. Its funny but people kept telling me that you will never forget your first year in the system, and now I understand what they meant. I think I learned a ton about the game, and more importantly how to really "pitch" from the great pitching coaches I had. There will be some updates over the next couple days so I'll be on here doing my best to keep you updated...
9/10/07 Playoffs press on. Our series is tied 2-2 heading into tonights deciding game with Huntsville. Game time is at 8pm and you can listen on the Smokies website. I've been receiving a ton of emails regarding ND football asking my thoughts on the team and the games. Well the team is young and getting better each game they play. I will tell you this, Jimmy C is flat out good. Just give the kid some time with a little help around him and he'll be tough. Anyone who has played the game knows when a player has "it", and Jimmy does. Once again though, #9 and #98 were all over the place making plays. And for everyone who is emailing in and asking about my eligibility, unfortunately guys I think I'm all used up!
9/7/07 Hey guys. Was great to have a couple days off before the big playoff run. Did some fishing, caught a few movies, and pretty much just relaxed. Wanted to stop in and let everyone know I'll be throwing on Saturday. It's game 3 of the series, and could end up being a huge part of the run. Like usual you can tune in online at: http://www.smokiesbaseball.com/ . Also the News page has been updated with a new article, and check out the Mailbag page with some new answers...
9/4/07 Hopefully everyone had a good holiday weekend. If you're a big ND fan, just hang in there. Tough one on Saturday, but with any young team there's going to be a nice little learning curve for everyone. Saw some big plays like I predicted from #98 and #9. Look for those guys to be a staple all year. Also liked what I saw out of my pupil Robby Parris. Expect some big things out of that guy in the future. Might take some time but we'll be fine this year. Should be a lot like my freshman year when a lot of young guys got some quality playing time. We have two days off here before the playoffs start so I'll do my best to get on here. Also as soon as I know the rotation for the post season I'll let you know...
8/31/07 Gameday. If there's something that ranks close to taking the ball on the mound for a start in baseball, it has to be gameday during football season. I have a lot of excited buddies back in South Bend that are ready to get the season rolling. I think at this point you are going to see a totally different offense from what you're use to seeing at ND. Look for a lot of misdirection and coach doing what he does best, confusing the opposing defense. I've caught bits and pieces of the ESPN stuff regarding ND's team this year, and basically it's the same stuff on how we are only going to win a couple games. I've said it all year, lookout for ND to have a couple big upsets. It's another tough schedule with some big road games, but I think we'll pull out a few close ones. I like ND in week one with some big plays out of #9 and #98...
8/30/07 Had a battle last night. Not too excited about picking up the "L", but again I felt great out there. Threw 7 innings, no walks, a couple strikeouts, 2 earned runs, and went 2 for 2 at the dish. Tell you what getting back in the box has been awesome. Feels like I havent skipped a beat since high school back when I use to play outfield. Season is really winding down quickly, and I just want to keep getting better on the mound. I feel like I have come a long way since Spring Training, and just want to stay on that path. Like I always say, stay tuned...
Big night tonight as College Football kicks off. I'll stop in tomorrow to post some of my thoughts on the big ND game this weekend. Should be an interesting one for all fans to check out.
8/28/07 Just wanted to post that I should be throwing tomorrow night. Tune in to: http://www.smokiesbaseball.com/ to listen live to the game. Only a couple more starts left...
8/27/07 Hey everyone. Hopefully some of you got the chance to listen to Friday's game. Funny how things work, but it was probably the best I've felt all year and unfortunately we came up a little short. 6 innings of work, four hits, 4 k's, and one run. So far I've done exactly what I wanted to do this season...work on some pitches during my first full year, and constantly get better. Still have a lot of work to do, but atleast I can see the ball is rolling in the right direction. On to some more exciting stuff rather than me talking about my pitching mechanics, High School football started last week. It seems as though my Valpo team is 1-1 with the big week 1 loss. For those of you that don't know, football in Northwest Indiana is huge. I know when everyone thinks of Indiana, they immediately think of corn and basketball. Maybe true for a majority of the state, but around Indianapolis and up North it's all football. Also if you're in the region, lookout for my brother to be doing some radio color commentary for the Valpo games. Guess he's the "special guest" from time to time. I need to tape those for blackmail purposes...
8/24/07 Throwing tonight for our last game of this series in Mobile. Game starts at 8pm and checkout: http://www.smokiesbaseball.com/ to listen live.... Ill be back with updates.
8/22/07 Alright everybody, I took some time this morning to answer some of your questions on the Mailbag page. Sorry I can't answer every single one, but I picked out some interesting questions. I also apologize for not answering the 100 questions regarding the playoffs. I'll do my best to keep you guys posted. Stay tuned...
8/21/07 Quick little update on the rotation...I'll be throwing this Friday night at Mobile. It's the last game of the series before we head back to Tenn. Cool little town down here too. On a side note, my brother would have a heart attack if I didnt mention the recent article about the site: http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/08/21/minor-league-spotlight/ I know he takes pride in the site so I have to give him the shoutout. AOL Sports had some cool things to say about the website and Sammy couldn't wipe the smile off of his face. Cracks me up.
8/20/07 Heading down to Mobile. We've got a nice little drive down to Alabama for a five game series starting tonight against the BayBears...Think this might be my first time to Alabama. Like I mentioned last week, lets just keep this rolling. Threw pretty well on Saturday, but gave up a couple more runs than I wanted to. Offense was on it again lighting up the scoreboard, and I made some pitches when I had to. Third in a row, and I'll take it. On to a more pressing topic...Did you see the Ohio vs Mass Little League game on Friday? Could be one of the best Little League games ever. Robbed homer that would have won the game?! What a play. If thats not enough of a reason to watch those games I dont know what is. I'll be tuned in like usual...
8/16/07 Wanted to drop an update that I will be throwing this Saturday. Along with getting to throw, the best part is that I'll finally get to bat again. Been 4 years since I've been in a batters box live during a game, and I'm just as stoked now as I was then. Obviously this is a way different level, but I can still get fired up about the opportunity it right?! Stay tuned...
8/15/07 We're on a nice little 10 game road trip at the moment stopping in Chattanooga and Mobile. I'll do my best to knock out some of these Blog entries, but look for me to be throwing on Saturday. It's crazy how the season is already winding down. Luckily for us we're in a good position to get into the playoffs and play a little longer. Still hot down here in Tenn, but it is starting to cool off a bit. Makes for some nice night games where its not 95 degrees anymore at 7pm! Got a couple phone calls from my buddies back at ND and it sounds like summer camp is rolling along well. Heck, the week 1 games are right around the corner...
8/14/07 Every August ESPN gives us baseball fans some of the best coverage of any event of the year. What event is this?...The Little League World Series. Bottom line is that there's nothing better than Little League baseball. I'm willing to bet if you ask any professional baseball player what the best baseball years of their life was, Little League has to be right up there. Getting the chance the play the game you love as a 11-12 year old against other kids across the country is unforgettable. I can remember the last little league game I played in, who it was against, and where it was. Funny enough for us, we were actually one series away from going to the LLWS to represent Indiana and the Midwest. Little League baseball is the time when all of your best friends got together and had the chance to travel and play the game you loved. Staying in hotels with an indoor swimming pool made your year, playing on a field with a short porch got everyone pumped up, and trading those Little League pins made you seem that much cooler. Does it get any better than Little League baseball?...
8/13/07 Lets just keep this rolling...Picked up my second win last night against a good West Tenn team. Went 6 1/3 innings with four hits, 3 k's, 1 BB, and with some great guys out of the pen I picked up the W. Offense was killing it and putting the ball in play all night. Once again had a great turn out with ND well represented down here in Tennessee. Signed a bunch of stuff for some pretty cool youngsters after the game. Thanks for waiting so long after the games guys. I know it seems like forever before I get out, but the media stuff takes awhile so I try to get out there as fast as I can. Sorry if I missed anyone. Has anyone been watching ESPN 2 lately? Best time of year for baseball players to watch the tube. Ill post more about that tomorrow...
8/10/07 Just a quick update because a lot of people have been asking about the new pitching rotation in Tennessee. Ill be throwing on Sunday and then pretty much every 5th day... Check the games out here: http://www.smokiesbaseball.com/ .
8/9/07 Hey everybody, got some quick updates for you. I took on your questions from the Mailbag page, and once again they were fun as always. Some of you have done your research on me... Secondly my brother and agent have been arranging a couple tv spots for this offseason. I wanted to make sure that all of the media and tv stuff we kept for after the season so I could concentrate on baseball, and luckily all of the my sponsors were cool with that. If you get the chance check out http://sportsactionteam.com/ . Its a sports news team who have a fun time interviewing and doing little bits with professional athletes. Should be a fun time, and I will keep you posted as the time gets closer...
8/8/07 Hey everybody. Wanted to share a quick little video that CSTV put up recently. It was a two piece interview that first discussed the transition from ND to pro baseball, and then went over the type of pitches I throw. Below is the second part of that interview where I fumble around trying to talk about my pitches to a camera. Pretty funny, but enjoy...
8/7/07 New location, new start to a season. Feels great to get that W last night. Had some great defense behind me, along with some big hits. Not sure if any of you were at the game but it was cool to see the place packed on a Monday night. Especially with all the ND fans out in full force! Couldn't of asked for a better night... Really went after some hitters tonight and mixed in my changeup. Honestly felt like I was in control of the game at all times. Couple strikeouts, six hits, a big double play, and I'm out of there in 6 doing my best to help this team win. I'm very excited to be up here in Tenn and I feel like this is only the beginning. Stay tuned...
8/6/07 Making my AA debut tonight at 7pm. Here's the new website to the team, and I think there's actually a link to where you can listen live: http://www.smokiesbaseball.com/ .
8/2/07 Overall just a great night last night. Felt really good with my outing, and starting to really feel like a big league pitcher. Had great command throughout the game and got ahead of a lot of guys 0-2 and 1-2. I believe I was sailing through 4 innings, then finally gave up a hit and a baserunner in the 4th. Slider was working even when I was behind in the count, and the two-seamer was diving away nicely. A pretty cool part of last night was that Coach Mainieri made the trip up to watch me throw. For those of you that dont know, Coach Mainieri was my baseball coach at ND. Coach is a great guy who I owe a lot of my baseball success to. Felt great to perform well in front of him and the rest of the ND fans last night. In the end I gave up 3 hits and 2 runs in my last appearance in A ball. Yep, Ill see you in Tennessee. My brother is flying down to pick up the car and drive that baby up to Tenn, while Im jumping a flight up this morning. Needless to say Im pretty excited about the promotion and ready to keep working towards my goal. Like I mentioned early this year...stay tuned.
8/1/07 Throwing tonight. Double header starting at 5pm EST due tot he rainouts. Check out http://www.wele1380.com/ to listen live...
7/27/07 Big road game stand against Jupiter. Im throwing, checkout http://www.wele1380.com/ to listen to the games live. Ill be back with updates...
7/25/07 I was going to write the usual blog today talking about what was going on, my plans for the day, and who we are playing tonight. Before I logged in, I checked out the Mailbag page and found a good question sent in by a reader named Will Foster / 16 / from Cumming, Ga. Here is his question:
With the NFL season getting ready to start up, are you beginning to miss putting on the pads again? -Fair enough question Will, because the season is right around the corner especially when ESPN just had their first college football show the other day. To be honest though, I really wont. Dont get me wrong, Ill miss playing ball with all my guys that are still at ND and competing at that level. But all in all Im in the right spot. For anyone who has played both sports at a high level know that they are two totally different monsters. I loved both, but baseball has a totally different pace that is really my style. I get questions almost daily wondering how I could choose baseball over football, or how I would be a starting WR in the NFL this year. Will I miss football this season? Sure, just the same as I still miss basketball when March Madness rolls around. But Ill be happy to sit back this season and root for my boys from my own couch...
7/24/07 Hello everyone. I took some time to answer your question over on the Mailbag page. Once again, some great questions that are cool to answer. Also, I received this link from my brother the other day and thought you all would enjoy it. Its some college pitching footage of me right before the MLB draft where some people put my mechanics next to some of the top pitchers around. Pretty sweet... http://www.pitchingclips.com/videos/jeff_samardzija.htm
7/23/07 Came out with the W yesterday, even though the 1st inning was a little hairy. Things happen though, and it was nice to get back into rhythm through the sixth. Some family has drove down for the week, so it was great to have a good outing in front of them. We're on the road for a bit, then we'll be back at the Jack for a couple home games. I'll keep everyone posted on the rotation, in the meantime its time to relax with the family.
7/20/07 Ill be throwing this weekend, possibly tomorrow depending on the weather. Check out http://www.wele1380.com/ to listen to the games live. Ill be back soon...
7/18/07 Hello everyone. If you get the chance, check out the NEWS page to see who won the latest contest. All the entries were great, and thanks for all the hard work each of you put in. Ejoy the prizes!
7/16/07 Throwing tonight. Check out http://www.wele1380.com/ to listen live. I believe its a 5pm EST start.
7/13/07 Hello everyone. Just wanted to let everyone know that Jeff has selected the Winner of the Submit Your Best Shark Contest! We will be posting the winner's name on Monday with their submitted artwork. All of the entries were great, and we just want to thank everyone for participating. Check back on Monday!!!
-The Jeff-Samardzija.com Team
7/12/07 Hey everyone. Was right where I wanted to be last night. Gave up a little more than I wanted to, but felt pretty solid the whole outing. Had a couple strikeouts, and a good groundball ratio. It was a pretty fun night for a game. Weather was great, crowd was into it, and each team wanted to walk out of there with the W. Consistency and just keep getting better is my goal...
7/10/07 Took some time this morning and answered your questions on the Mailbag page. I think it has been a couple weeks since I did that last, so it was great to see everyone writing in with their questions and comments. Like I mentioned yesterday, the pitching rotation is a little set back due to the rain cancellations so Ill keep you posted. Anthony from Columbus, OH wanted to know how the pitching rotation usually works...Well for us its every 5th or 6th day we get the start. Any of you watch the homerun derby last night?! Classic.
7/9/07 Hopefully everybody had a good weekend. Sounds like everyone had a couple 4th of July parties over the weekend with some good fireworks. We had the same down here in Daytona. Did a little saltwater fishing over the weekend which was a great time. Totally different than freshwater fishing like Im use to back home in Indiana. Either way both types of fishing is a blast and this weekend was no different. Quick update on pitching schedule, we had some cancellations over the weekend so our rotation is getting pushed back a bit. Ill keep you postd as to when Ill be throwing again.
7/6/07 Felt great last night and it was sweet to pick up number two in a row. Changed some things up and really feel like my time in the pen is paying off. Couple little tweaks here and there and I feel like Im getting to where I want to be. Took some time and hung out on the beach today with some buddies from the team. Cant beat the Daytona sun and sand! Nice to kick back a bit and take it easy. Think we'll be doing some saltwater fishing this weekend so Ill let you know how that goes.
7/5/07 Throwing tonight. Its a 6pm EST time start. Check out http://www.wele1380.com/ to listen live. Ill check back in after...
7/4/07 Happy 4th of July to everyone... Kids make sure you light off those firecrackers with your non-throwing hand!
7/3/07 Hey everybody. Took some time to knock out your questions on the Mailbag page. Once again some classic questions that I enjoy checking out and responding to. My answers are up, so when you get the chance go check it out. Had the great opportunity to meet with some local kids after the game the other day. It always takes you back and reminds you where you came from when a youngster just wants to see how you hold your fastball, or what kind of bubblegum I prefer. Those type of questions never get old, plus those kids will always keep you on your toes...one second it was "What seeds do you like to eat?" and the next it was "When you're ahead of the guy in the count what pitch do you like to throw?" I think I was the same way back then too...
Tomorrows the 4th, so you know what that means....Fireworks. Nothing like spending a bunch of money on things that last you about 10min. But those 10min totally seem worth it dont they?!
7/2/07 Does it get any better than the 4th of July week? Every year when it comes around it reminds me of being a kid. Fireworks and playing ball until it was so dark that you couldnt see your hand in front of your face. Any of you seen the movie The Sandlot? One of my favorites, and pretty close to my life as a kid. Quick note on Saturday's game. Really came out early and got on my pace. Felt the same as I did for my other starts, but things really just came together for me this time around. Now that the big W is taken care of, Im pushing to only get better. Stay tuned.
Thanks again to everyone for the artwork each of you submitted. We had over 300 entries and they all were sweet! Its going to take some time to go through and judge all of them, but we will post the winner on here in roughly a week. Thank you again for taking the time to create such cool pieces of artwork. Really means a lot, and keep an eye out for the next contest!
6/29/07 Things are going really well right now. Im throwing tonight, so if you get the chance tune in to: http://www.wele1380.com/ to listen. Its a 7pm EST start. Ill check back in on Monday with updates...
6/27/07 Another fan submitted video from Youtube that is pretty sweet...
6/26/07 16 Year old Bryan Victies from Omaha, Nebraska writes in wondering if I enjoyed my time at the College World Series as a kid, and if I will be doing any signings at Notre Dame any time soon. Great question Bryan. Our trip to Omaha was an amazing time. To be honest, I feel like that trip really made me want to be a college baseball player. The town of Omaha is pure baseball in the month of June, and getting all the fans there from other teams just adds to the hype. Its just as good as March Madness if not better. And theres nothing better than that. As far as the signing is concerned, Im not totally sure on a date. We did one in Valpo before I left for spring training, so Im sure something will come up in the future again. Ill keep all of you posted as to when. Probably not until the offseason though. Talk to you guys later...
6/25/07 Just a reminder that the contest deadline is this Saturday the 30th. We've had some great artwork submitted to us, so get creative! To give you an idea of what youre up against, below is a recent entry from 9 year old Jared Thompson in Seattle, WA.
-The Jeff-Samardzija.com Team
6/22/07 Another pretty cool fan submitted video. If you havent seen it already, check it out...
6/21/07 28 year old Elliott Gibbs from Denver, CO wrote in the other day asking about charity work. "Jeff, big fan here in CSU country. Wondering if you do any charity things outside of baseball?" Great question. We do as much as we can during the season, but usually all of the big events take place during the offseason. Back in Jan we did our first public signing back home in Valparaiso where the proceeds went to a local youth charity. This year we've assisted in a couple golf outings that went towards single family homes, and even contributed to a Harley Davidson benefit. Coming up we have the 3rd Annual Samardzija Cricket Tournament that my brother puts on, which a portion of the proceeds benefits different local charities every year. Its always great to give back, especially if you have the opportunity to help out...
6/20/07 Our game was cancelled due to rain yesterday so I took some time to knock out some of your questions on the Mailbag page. If you get a chance, check those out and feel free to write back in. Im told to remind everyone that the design contest ends here soon. I think you have about ten days to get your artwork in. Feel free to check out the News page for details on how and what to win...
6/19/07 Came out last night feeling really good. I just wanted to get back out there, get in a little work and get back in the rotation. I took a little hiatus there in the bullpen, so it's good to be back in the rotation. It's where I want to be. We'll see what happens from here on out...
6/18/07 Just a quick heads up that I will be starting tonight. 7pm start, and you can check it out online at: http://www.wele1380.com/ Talk to everyone soon...
6/15/07 Felt really good coming out of the pen last night. Went three innings giving up 3 hits, 1 run, 0 walks, and had 1 K. Worked on some off-speed stuff that was working decent, and just went after guys. We unfortunately lost, but it was great to have some things working. Fathers day this weekend. Nothing better than hanging out with the family and cooking some food on the grill. Thats the usual routine for our family during summer holidays. Also a little competitive golf round usually always takes place. Speaking of golf, how insane is the US Open? Five inch rough, and they're supposedly making the course tougher today? Thats one of those courses where I would probably take an 8 on some holes, and just pick my ball up. Great to watch on tv though. Talk to you guys later...
6/14/07 Doubleheader today to make up for yesterdays cancellation. Got a little bit of rain, so they had to move things back to today. Ill be coming in from the pen so check out the link if you have time to listen: http://www.wele1380.com/
/13/07 13 year old Kerry from Palos Verdes, CA wrote in wondering what kind of cleats I wear during each game, and wondering why I havent been in any commercials yet. Well pretty funny that you ask that Kerry, my guys at Under Armour just sent me some sweet new cleats. I currently wear UA's new BOMBER cleat in a low top. Check it out: Cant get any better than that blue right?! As far as the commercials are concerned, hopefully you'll see some soon. Probably in the offseason is when you might see something running. Ill keep you posted on that.
6/12/07 Another really cool fan submitted video...
6/11/07 On Friday night I felt great. Came in and retired four straight guys in an inning and a third. Not sure how many more bullpen showings Ill have, but Ill keep you guys posted. What a great time of year right now. Hopefully all of you have been watching the college baseball Super Regional games. They dont get any better than that. Funny story, I remember going to the ND Super Regional games as a kid back when ND went to the College World Series. The best part of the story is that our family went to the CWS that year in Omaha to watch ND play. If you ever get a chance to visit the athletic office at ND, check out the baseball section of the hallway where all the pictures are. Theres actually a funny picture of the ND outfielder at the CWS making a catch at the wall. If you look at the front row of fans, you can see me right there as a kid trying to snag it! Ha. Funny how things work out...
Great to see Louisville get in this year and hold down the Big East. They're a tough, scrappy team that will surprise a lot of people. Though its hard not to like ASU and their bats. I think they might pull it out. Talk to you guys later...
6/8/07 Just wanted to drop a quick note and say the entries so for the contest have been great! Tommy who is 11 years old from Austin, TX had some fun with a baseball picture of me and photoshop. Nothing funnier than seeing me tweaked and distorted on photoshop. It should make for a fun contest. Also I believe Ill be in the pen tonight. Check it out if you have time, and Ill give my report on the game Monday.
6/7/07 OK, let's deal with this right up front: You guys probably heard that I have been moved to the bullpen.I didn't win a game as a starter in April and May, so I was put into the Daytona bullpen to work on some things.The Cubs think it's the best thing right now.I cannot lie:I want to be a starter so I am going to do whatever it takes to get back to being a starter.
I have no choice but to work my way back into the starter role.Last night was a good start. I came into the game in the seventh inning with the score tied at 1.I pitched two innings and retired all six batters I faced consecutively.My brother told me the radio guys said I hit 99 MPH on the radar gun.The bad part is I came out of the game after only two innings.I wanted to stay in and battle.
My plan is to get back into the rotation.Soon.It's hard to imagine staying in the bullpen forever, but if its whats best for the team then ok. Im all about it. Though I did pitch out of the bullpen in spring training with the big league team, but it's different during the season.Stay tuned ...
6/6/07 Submit Your Best Shark Contest!!!
Alright everyone, the first of many Jeff-Samardzija.com contests is finally here! This is your chance as a fan to win an amazing prize. The winner of the Submit Your Best Shark contest will take home a personally SIGNED Cubs fitted hat. This isnt any ordinary Cubs hat, this is the official game hat that Jeff wore during Spring Training in Mesa, Arizona. Only one of these hats exists let alone autographed, and you have the chance to win it!
DETAILS: Ok heres whats up. Everyone will have the chance to submit their best piece of original artwork or photograph that they have of Jeff. This means it can be a simple drawing your child did on the computer, an elaborate piece done on photoshop, or a sweet picture you took at a game. Jeff will be choosing the winner personally, so everything is free game! Please keep it at one entry per person.
Entry deadline is July 1st 2007. Any designs received after the 1st will not be elgible for the grand prize. Winner will be announced the first week of July on the website, and will receive the signed hat along with having their design posted under the Photo Gallery section on the Home Page. Please submit all entries in a jpeg, gif, photoshop, or pdf file to: ssamardz@hotmail.com Upon submitting please include your name, age, and mailing address.
The participant should be aware that competing for equivalent competitions with the same or a similar design could infringe the right of third parties. The participant agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Jeff-Samardzija.com from any damages resulting from a claim of rights infringement by a third party. The design shall not in any way infringe any third party's right, including but not limited to copyright, logos, trademark, trade names, image rights or other proprietary rights of publicity or privacy. Each participant is aware he may be a winner and therefore participants have to be 100 % sure their designs are completely free of rights for any use by Jeff-Samardzija.com. This means that the participant undertakes to obtain the consent for the use of designs by Jeff-Samardzija.com from all people involved. Pretty much dont steal something off the net and pass it off as your own...
Good luck everyone and have fun!
-The Jeff-Samardzija.com Team
6/5/07 Exciting little update here. We're working on the final stages of a little contest that will be featured on the site here soon. A fun opportunity for everyone from kids to adults to win a pretty cool prize. Details will follow soon, so be sure to check the Blog and News page for the annoucement! If you havent already, please rent "The Song Remains the Same" dvd by Led Zeppelin. Doest get any better than that.
6/4/07 Had a couple cool questions submitted to me over the weekend. They were both asking about what the average fan is like, and what are the not so average fans like? Each of those questions are great, and I thought Id shine some light on that topic. Fans are great. Especially Cubs and Notre Dame fans. I still see ND 83 jerseys in the crowd every night that I pitch. Pretty amazing feeling to see all these kids hangout just to get a handshake or something signed. When I was a kid I did the same thing. Hangout by the first or third base side hoping to get a foul ball or get my hat signed. Thats why I will always make time for a kid no matter if Im on or off the field. Adult fans are cool for the most part too, however sometimes you get the occasional Ebay guy who wants ten different things signed so they can stick it on the net. Its funny but every guy on the team knows who those guys are, and it was the same at ND. Oh and the occasional letter from people wanting a lock of hair is pretty funny too... In all honesty theres nothing better than a fan who is truly just that. Being as young as I am, it really is quite a trip and I appreciate it all. Nothing better than making someones day just from a picture or a simple signature. That never gets old.
6/1/07 Hello everyone. We're trying something a little bit different today. Jeff is pitching tonight 7pm. You can listen to the game on your computer at the folowing link: http://www.wele1380.com/ Jeff will be back on Monday to talk about the game.
-Sam
5/30/07 What a perfect off day yesterday. A couple guys from the team and I went out and did some serious fishing a little South of Tampa. I myself hauled in two 18lbs + snook that might have been the biggest of the day. Great weather, and doing some fishing. Cant beat it. I've had a lot of requests from people for me to "add" them as a friend on MySpace and Facebook. Well just to let everyone know I dont have a MySpace or Facebook page. I think my brother said theres like two pages of people on MySpace saying that they're me. Unfortunately none of them are real. Actually Id venture to say about 98% of those athlete/celebrity pages are fake. Sorry guys. I took some time to answer a couple questions on the Mailbag page so check them out to see if I picked yours. Talk to you guys tomorrow.
5/29/07 Hopefully everyone had a great holiday weekend. Can't beat grilling outside, and eating all the hotdogs and hamburgers you can. Unfortunately for us guys a lot of our families are far away so we usually spend the time together just hanging out. Was good to get a little time to ourselves and do whatever we wanted. For myself, a little time on the beach relaxing, surfing, and watching about 5 hours of Band of Brothers fit the bill perfectly. Today we actually have some time set up to do some fishing. Nothing like a 30 min struggle to get a tarpon in the boat! Should be a fun time. The family picked up some of those bobble head dolls over the weekend. Actually heard they didnt look to bad! Guess Ill have to check them out.
5/25/07 Hey everybody, quick note. Ill be throwing tomorrow on the road agaisnt Fort Myers. Its another 7pm EST start, and you can listen to the game at http://www.wele1380.com/ . I want to say thanks to 9 year old Jason from San Diego, CA who wrote in and told me to start striking people out and throw the "curve" more. I like what youre saying Jason, I agree and will do my best.
Also a couple pretty funny things that were brought to my attention... Christina from Ohio just wanted everyone to know that you can adopt me in the Rabbit form at: http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=8466159 The Akron Humane Society, along with some of my other friends like "Zibby" and "Laws". Or if you have nothing going this weekend, you can take a trip to the Peoria Chiefs ballpark on Sunday to pick up a Jeff Samardzija bobblehead. Guess the first 1,500 fans get one. Heres a link to the website to check out the promotion and more info on how to track one down. http://www.peoriachiefs.com/schedule/promotions/
Cant imagine that thing looking pretty.
5/24/07 Took some time yesterday to really push my body physically. Went at it pretty good during my throwing session, and got after it on some conditioning. We're still currently on the road, but will be heading back home to Daytona here soon. A lot of people have been writing in asking what the pitching rotation is, but nothing is really set in stone. Usually its about every 5th or 6th day, but I will do my best to post ahead of time on when I will be throwing. Anyone catch the highlights of Roger C. throwing in that class A game last night? Pretty awesome. Had the usual card game last night and came out ahead. There's only so much tv you can watch in the hotel, so usually some big poker games start up... Ill check back in tomorrow.
5/23/07 Hi everybody. I took some time and updated the questions on the Mailbag page today. A lot of the questions were great, and off the usual sports topic which I like. One of my favorites was from Sean who is 11 years old and lives in St. Paul, Minnesota. Sean writes "Jeff Im a huge fan and am trying to become the next Jeff Samrja at my school. One thing, I think I can outfish you. We should have a contest!" I like how Sean thinks. Well Sean, If I wasnt in the middle of my season I would definitely take you on! A good little Bass tournament sounds like a great time. A Bass Pro Shop "Samardzija Bass Fishing Contest" for chairty has a nice ring to it... Well thanks for writing in Sean, keep them coming.
5/22/07 Another fan submitted video:
5/21/07 There are a couple new videos up under the Video section of the site. One is a halftime special NBC did during the Tenn game, and the other is a fan donated highlight film. Both are cool videos to check out. Pretty good Cubs Sox series over the weekend. Where Im from, that weekend sometimes divides a house for a couple days! The games were great back and forth battles with a couple grand slams sprinkled in. Do they get any better than that? We are currently on the road for an 8 game road trip. Should be throwing early this week so tune in to http://www.wele1380.com/ to listen to the game. Talk to you soon...
5/18/07 Bulls are done. Man I was really hoping we were going to take it to game 7. If youre going to lose though Detroit is the team youd want to knock you out. Is there a tougher all around starting five in the league? Hopefully we'll see that team split up a bit and head to different teams after this season. As a kid I remember those old Bulls vs Pistons games. Back then I think everyone was a Bulls/Jordan fan, and you sure as heck didnt miss a game. Maybe its me, but those games for some reason always seemed electric. Either Jordan was putting up 40, or Paxson was lighting it up from outside. I think youll see this Bulls team get to that championship level here soon too. Talk to you guys on Monday...
5/17/07 Tough one to swallow yesterday. Cruising through the sixth and got dinged. Gave up two earned runs. We're heading back home to Daytona for a three game stretch. Time to get back to work.
5/16/07 Gameday. Throwing tonight against Vergo Beach. Its an away game that starts at 7pm EST. To listen to the game check out http://www.wele1380.com/ Ill check back in tomorrow...
5/15/07 Ive had quite a few questions about my opinion of my top plays at ND. Needless to say my four years playing at ND were pretty amazing along with my teammates. Today though Ill give it a shot at my Top 5:
5.) Sept. 6th 2003 First game that I had the chance to run out of the tunnel. I think I only had like 1 catch for 5 yards that game, but still it was a pretty big highlight for me.
4.) Dec. 28th 2004 Insight Bowl. First career start that actually gave me the opportunity to show everyone what I could do. Ended up with around 5 catches for almost 100 yards.
3.) Sept. 3rd 2005 ND at Pitt. First career TD catch. Obviously I was pretty excited after that one, and I actually think theres a picture of that celebration somewhere.
2.) Oct. 1st 2005 / Nov. 4th 2006 ND at Purdue and NC at ND. Catch at Purdue that kind of put me on the map showing that I could play a bit. 23rd TD catch against UNC where I passed Derrick Mayes. Pretty amazing day where I actually got to shake Derrick's hand after the game. Hopefully someone will be doing the same and passing me up here soon.
1.) Oct 21st 2006 UCLA at ND. The TD that you practice every day in your backyard as a kid. I was lucky enough to make the dream come true.
5/14/07 Hopefully everyone had a great weekend with their family. Luckily for me I had two good friends from ND fly in, and then my brother actually surprised me and flew in too. Funny because one of my buddies on the team came up to me before the game on Friday and said "did you see that guy in the front row with his hat on backwards? He looks just like you." Pretty hilarious, I had no clue. Got to do some body surfing and actually had the chance to do some fishing. Was a great weekend and totally what I needed. I believe Ill be throwing early this week, so Ill post an update tomorrow morning.
5/11/07 Quick blog today as some friends and family are flying into town. Always good to have people close to you come down and visit. Should be a lot of fun and a little recharge with some close friends. Enjoy the weekend, and a Happy Mothers Days to all the moms out there.
Gameday. Throwing tonight at 7pm EST against the Lakeland Flying Tigers. Game is a home game so you can listen to the game live at http://www.wele1380.com/ .
5/9/07 We had our first game cancellation yesterday that we wont be making up unfortunately. Heavy rains? Nope. Lightening? Nope. Too hot? Nope. The game was actually cancelled due to heavy smoke in the Tampa area. From what I hear there are some insane wildfires a couple miles inland. Yesterday it was pretty windy so that smoke was pushed towards the coast. See picture: Pretty wild. Hopefully everyone is ok that was close to it. On a lighter note, we used the extra time off to hit the beach and relax a bit. Florida sun, ocean, and beach in May...you cant beat it. Fortunately for us we are now on our way back home for a 4 game stretch. Have some ND buddies flying in so it should be a fun weekend. I believe Ill be throwing tomorrow or Friday.
5/8/07 14 year old Mike Evans from Huntington Beach, CA has been writing in nonstop wanting to know about other things that Im into other than baseball and football. Well Mike, thats a great question because I noticed you wrote about some of my sponsors on the Links page. Growing up I spent a lot of time fishing, camping, skateboarding, snowboarding, and anything else that involved being outside. Every summer my family would make a trip up to Canada for a week long fishing trip. So needless to say fishing is a pretty big passion of mine. In the offseason if you ever want to find me, odds are that Ill be out in our boat bass fishing. In addition to fishing, being from the good old Midwest we always seem to get those long, snowy winters. That means you either stay inside a lot, or you take up snowboarding/skiing. For my brother and I it was snowboarding, but if my dad had it his way it would have been hockey. Unfortunately I was more interested in throwing snowballs and my brother couldnt ice skate to save his life.
As I grew older I started having less and less time to do all of those things. Now when I do have time off, it means that much more to me to spend it with friends and family. And if I can convince them to go on a fishing or camping trip, then Im super happy... New CD in rotation: Led Zeppelin "II"
5/7/07 I want to thank everyone for writing in with their questions and topic suggestions for the Blog. It gives me a good heads up to what everyone wants to read about. Over the weekend there were a lot of questions regarding Tommy and how this 07' ND team will be. First things first, Tommy is on a mission this year. No distractions, he's living by himself, and making himself the best possible football player is his number one priority. To be honest he's going to scare a ton of WR's this year. He's cut a little back on his weight, been in speed camp all offseason so you know he can flat out fly, and he's as strong as ever. Might see some helmets flying off if there's any crossing routes infront of him this season. Bottom line is Tommy is back and he's looking to prove something.
Im pretty excited to watch this season unfold. Got a great deal of the core guys coming back that should give some teams a fit. We're strong on defense side this year with almost all of the DB's coming back. D line looks good with Trevor holding it down on the end. Look for them to really mix up the 3-4 and 4-3 looks to put guys in the right spots at different times. The offense should develope to be pretty good as time goes on and people gain experience. Travis will be a force running the ball along with Sully leading the way on the line. Its a great opportunity for this team to surprise some people this year. I think you'll see some of the younger guys step up and make a name for themselves by seasons end.
5/4/07 Gameday. Throwing today against St. Lucie. Game starts at 7pm EST. To listen online check out http://www.wele1380.com/ .
5/3/07 Ive had a lot of emails from parents and kids lately regarding playing sports as a youngster in my hometown of Valparaiso, IN. Thought I could talk about that a little today... Valpo is a pretty decent sized city in Northwest Indiana with roughly 35,000 people which is about 35 minutes from downtown Chicago. Growing up in Indiana, basketball usually always reigns supreme. However in Valpo its usually football and baseball that gets all of the attention. Though the Bryce Drew run in 1999 when Valparaiso University went to the Sweet 16 in mens basketball kind of put us on the map back then.
When I was a kid we had an amazing Pop Warner and Little League program called The Valparaiso Americans that my dad help create. Back then even if you didnt like baseball or football, you still played because all your friends did and it was the "thing" to do. Unfortunately as time has moved on, all the traveling and AAU teams have caused Pop Warner and Little League programs to fizzle out. For me, playing Little League and Pop Warner were some of the best times of my life and a lot of kids today are missing out on that. Like the BIO talks about, when I was younger I really tried to copy whatever my older brother did. Both on and off the field. Sports didnt totally consume my life, as we spent a lot of time fishing and running around outside getting into things like normal kids do. I think we were a handful for my mom back then! It was pretty normal back then growing up in Valpo. I still have a lot of the same good friends now as I did then. Hopefully some day Ill get to see my kids grow up in a town like Valpo and have the same fun that I did.
5/2/07 Had a nice bus drive back to Daytona last night. Today we start our three game home stand against St. Lucie. Right now we're actually ranked third in the league. I believe we are two games back from Brevard County. Its easy to see how these games are getting more and more competitive as the season goes on. Had a nice little package waiting for me when I got back into town. Some sweet new gear from Under Armour, Quiksilver, Electric Sunglasses, and Red Bull. Cant beat that! Its funny when these packages arrive because its like Christmas at my place. Everyone always checks out what was shipped because a lot of it isnt on the market yet. I cant complain about that...
5/1/07 Wasn't too much of an "action packed" day yesterday as my main focus was working out. Since the game was the day before, I really wanted to hit the cardio hard and flush out my arm. Took a nice long distance run, and really went after my plyometric workout to keep my speed and agility up. Really helps me both physically and mentally to include these cardio workouts on my off days. Keeps my body in shape and also allows me to stay loose. A lot of people dont see pitchers working out and running that much, but trust me we do.
On the road again tonight for our last game of this series. We head back to Daytona for a 3 game stunt against St. Lucie starting tomorrow. Will be nice to get back for a little while and sleep in my own bed. Got a tip from a reader this morning that Modest Mouse will be on David Letterman tonight. Check it out if you have time.
4/30/07 What a crazy weekend. Great to hear all my guys getting their name called by a NFL team or signing as a free agent. Im sure all the stress and anxiousness just disappeared when they got that phone call. I heard from a couple of them right after they were picked, and by the sound of their voices you could tell its been a long time coming. Some people dont realize, but a lot of these guys have been working towards that goal for a majority of their lives. To have it finally come true is an amazing feeling. When I was drafted by the Cubs last year it finally felt like all the hard work and countless hours practicing paid off. Youre there, you reached your goal that a lot of people said you could never do. I guess what Im trying to say is no matter how small a town you come from, how "undersized" you are, or how many people just say you cant do it...keep working hard and believe nothing is going to stop you from reaching your goal. Those guys that had their named called on Saturday and Sunday are no different than you. They just worked that much harder, and made it their passion to get to that level. They earned it.
4/27/07 T-minus 24 hours and counting. Tomorrow is a pretty insane day for a lot of people. Luckily some of those people are my ND guys who will start an amazing part of their life. I imagine they are all pretty excited and nervous right about now. Phone is ringing off the hook, getting little tid bits of information on who might take them and when. Needless to say I think each of them are sitting pretty...
Brady Q. Its been a circus around Brady and people are finally starting to see how talented he is. No way you can pass him up. Top 5 forsure, I say to Cleveland.
Victor A. Some of the media is saying he is a late 2nd round guy. How can you let Vic fall that far? He had the fastest 10 yard dash time on our team and he is a beast. He leaves the board way earlier than that.
Rhema M. My right hand man who loves to compete and win. Dont know why he hasnt been getting all the hype as the rest of the WR group because he is just as good if not better. I see Rhema fitting into any system you plug him into. Should be a first day pick bottom line.
Darius W. A utility guy who can get it done in every aspect. Could be right now a heck of a 3rd down back. Can catch the ball out of the backfield and is a slick runner who is tough to get a hold of. Shouldnt get past the 4th round.
Derek L. Hard nosed DT who would flourish on any team. Goes 100mph on every play and never gives up. Could be a gift to some team who hasnt done all their scouting on him. Will surprise a ton of people on the next level.
Chinedum N. You saw his times at the combine and pro day, it was as good as any other big FS. Someone is going to give him a shot and Nedu will make them happy that they did. Great athlete who always wants to improve and do whatever it takes for his team to win. As he gets more experience back there look for him to shine.
Chris F. Tough California guy who brings a smart angle to the game. Works super hard on and off the field. Exactly is what every NFL team is looking for in a quality guy who can play the game tough. Along with Landri, could flourish in the right system and surprise a lot of people.
So there you go, my 2 cents on the upcoming NFL draft for our guys. Should be a great day tomorrow with a lot of proud and happy families. I wish each of them the best of luck and cant wait to see them all in the NFL.
Also tomorrow around 12 EST I will be live on ESPN News once the draft kicks off. Ill be on discussing some of the picks and how its going down here in Daytona.
4/26/07 Its funny to think about where I would be today if I had made a different decision back in January. With all of the hype and speculation around the NFL Draft I applaud my friends who are currently going through it. One day your the top guy at your position, and the next youre on the outside looking in. Interesting how all that works. I imagine today I probably would have been somewhere in New York giving numerous interviews talking about where I think I fit in the draft. Id have to run out and buy a new suit because mine is MIA and I never like wearing them anyways. After all the interviews and tv spots Id probably get some alone time with my family back in the hotel wondering what my future might hold and where I would end up in the draft. One guy on your right saying youre a surefire top 10 pick, yet you never know until your name is called. Cant imagine these next two nights before the draft laying in bed trying to go to sleep.
Draft day rolls around and youre expected to be in New York for the big announcement. Camera guys following you around by the second getting your every facial expression. Though you could pull a Joe Thomas from Wisconsin and say thanks but no thanks Im going fishing with my family so call me when I get drafted. Talk about a cool dude, that seems a little more my style. Countdown clock begins as you and the other top draft picks file into the draft waiting room. Each guy has his own table that he sits at with his family and close friends. Take your worst exam or job interview and mulitply it by a thousand to get the feeling of waiting to hear your name called. In reality though, I imagine once your name is called its all totally worth it. Im proud of my guys for going through the process and handling themselves like they have.
So you might be wondering why I chose to pass it all up. Well its a simple answer. I love baseball. I love playing it and everything that it represents. There hasnt been one day where I question the decision that I made. Im the happiest that Ive been in a long time, and I wouldnt give that up for anything. Warm sunny days, eating sunflower seeds and playing the game Ive loved since I was kid. Still have the same feeling everytime I take the field that I did when I was a kid playing little league. Its as simple as that.
4/25/07 Well as you can see over on the News page I took my first loss yesterday. Really came out throwing strikes and locating my pitches well. Got myself into some trouble by walking a couple guys which resulted in a run. The atmosphere was great too with a ton of elementary kids at the ballpark for Daytona Cubs educational day. I need to get on top of my first pitch strikes and really start to get out in front early. I believe my next start will be early next week.
I promised last week that I will be touching on the NFL Draft this week and all of my ND guys who have entered. There has been a lot of talk about Brady, and how I fit into this whole thing. Ill take some time tomorrow to talk about my thoughts and how I see it playing out.
4/24/07 Gameday. Throwing today against the Palm Beach Cardinals. An early one with a 10:35am EST start. To listen check out http://www.wele1380.com/ . Back with a full report tomorrow about the game.
4/23/07 So I hear the show last night was amazing. A couple encores, and the best songs from the past and present. Luckily I think Im getting a concert t-shirt out of the deal so it isnt all that bad. Also over the weekend we had the Blue and Gold game. Last week I made some predicitions on who the MVP's would be. I believe Trevor had a couple sacks, but couldnt pass up Bruton with his pick six. Travis performed well, but Jabbie really showed up. Good to see young guys stepping up too. Robby P came up with a couple nice catches along with a TD catch. Lookout for him this season. Whos the starting QB? I have no clue. They all had their bright spots, so it should be an interesting summer camp. Talk to you guys tomorrow about the upcoming NFL draft...
4/20/07 A lot to talk about as its a pretty big weekend. The Blue and Gold game is Saturday which should give us a decent idea on how we are going to look this season. Cant always look too much into the game though as mainly its a chance to get some of the young guys a chance to see some live action. Still though we will be able to see who the potential starters are and how they look. Any predictions for offensive and defensive MVP? Absolutely. I think I see my man T Laws racking up his third consecutive defensive MVP award, along with Travis T taking home the offensive MVP. A little story about Travis, I remember when our class was new to the block back in 2003. At that point the starting RB was Julius Jones who was sharing time with Ryan Grant. When Travis came in, he honestly looked just as good JJ. When we would scrimmage the starters, Travis would run wild. No joke, so look for him to have a big year if he stays full time at RB.
Does the weekend get any better? Oh yes it does because Modest Mouse is coming to town Sunday night. Though I cant make the trip, hopefully Ill get a full report from my brother and a car load of my buddies from ND. Its sold out, but I hear some tickets will be available at the door. Staying on the music topic, my brother mailed me The Smashing Pumpkins "Greatest Hits" the other day. Great record from start to finish.
Next week Ill start talking about the upcoming NFL Draft and how I see it playing out. Also check out ESPN News "The Pulse" tomorrow at 2pm. Ill be on there talking some baseball and answering questions. Ill talk to you guys on Monday...
4/19/07 For all you young pitchers out there, never walk the lead-off man. It will always come back to haunt you. I did it twice last night and it cost me two runs. Felt super good though and settled down after the second inning. Came away with the No Decision again last night after a rain delay and a late push by the Devil Rays. I believe we are still tied for first in the league and looking to jump ahead tonight. A lot more to come tomorrow. Talk to you guys later...
4/18/07 1st Home Outing. Im pumped to be throwing tonight in front of my home Daytona Beach crowd. Where Im from, its not too often you get to call Daytona Beach your home crowd! Needless to say Im ready to go. Game time is 7pm EST, and you can listen to the game via the net at: http://www.wele1380.com/ Ill stop in tomorrow for my thoughts on the game.
4/17/07 Quick little entry today as we have an early 10am game. Ill be throwing tomorrow for our last home game against Vero Beach. I believe game time is at 7pm. Ive had a lot of questions on the mailbag page regarding the Blue and Gold game this weekend at ND. Unfortunately I will not be able to make the game this weekend. I know some of you wanted to know if Ill be there signing autographs like some of the other past players, so Ill be sure to let you all know ahead of time on when Ill be at ND next. New CD in the rotation is an older record by Built To Spill called "Keep it Like A Secret". Talk to you guys later...
4/16/07 I heard Brady threw out the first pitch over the weekend at Wrigley. Anyone know if it was a strike?! Actually was told there was about 4 or 5 of my ND buddies there that day too. Sounds like they had a pretty good time. If anyone was at the game and heard those characters sing the 7th inning stretch please email me and let me know how bad it was. If you have it recorded for some odd reason, Ill buy it off you because thats some good blackmail material!
Picked up some new Ping clubs and now Im hoping for some freetime so I can go hit some balls. My brother is coming down soon so I have to get my game on point. He and I are super competitive so I need to be ready to take him to the cleaners. Problem is I cant shake the baseball swing so everything I hit is a slice. Guess he is allowed to beat me one thing every once in a while. I think Im going to be throwing early this week, so Ill keep you guys posted as to when. Anyone ever seen the movie Seven Samurai? Really old movie, but super good.
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