Why is Samardzija being so heavily added?

[Triplec223]

Just trying to see if I'm missing something here. As of today (Wed., July 30), Cubs reliever Jeff Samardzija has been added by 22,888 teams in Yahoo leagues, making him easily the most-added player in the last few days (next closest is Scott Baker - 3,856 adds). I just have to ask why?

Yes he got a save the other day, but it came out after the game that he was just subbing in for Marmol, who had thrown a few innings the previous day. Lou Piniella said Samardzija would have a chance to close while Wood is out (below), but that's hardly a vote of confidence.

Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Jeff Samardzija will be in the mix for the closer's role as long as Kerry Wood remains unavailable with his slow-healing blister.

"Why not?" Piniella said Monday. We're going to pitch whoever is available, whoever is the freshest," Piniella said. "I've got three people I can throw out there in the closer's role. We can just rotate it around and throw the freshest arm."

So he MAY get the occassional save and have a K/9 average of around 8-9, but it just seems to me that there are always better options on the WW than this. Maybe there are just a bunch of Notre Dame fans playing on Yahoo...

[Phatferd]

Because NBC broadcasts Notre Dame games nationally.

[OREO fan]

I added him because he is SP eligible and Kerry Wood is known to miss significant time with injuries. The potential of an SP eligible closer is more valuable to me than some random bench player that I had.

[acsguitar]

Keeper leagues he throws 100mph

[MashinSpuds]

Cause you know baby, he's the next big thing! (Dictators paraphrase)

Eh, wild numbers in the minors. I think it's because he has a z and a j in his last name.

[Field]

Just trying to see if I'm missing something here. As of today (Wed., July 30), Cubs reliever Jeff Samardzija has been added by 22,888 teams in Yahoo leagues, making him easily the most-added player in the last few days (next closest is Scott Baker - 3,856 adds). I just have to ask why?

Yes he got a save the other day, but it came out after the game that he was just subbing in for Marmol, who had thrown a few innings the previous day. Lou Piniella said Samardzija would have a chance to close while Wood is out (below), but that's hardly a vote of confidence.

Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Jeff Samardzija will be in the mix for the closer's role as long as Kerry Wood remains unavailable with his slow-healing blister.

"Why not?" Piniella said Monday. We're going to pitch whoever is available, whoever is the freshest," Piniella said. "I've got three people I can throw out there in the closer's role. We can just rotate it around and throw the freshest arm."

So he MAY get the occassional save and have a K/9 average of around 8-9, but it just seems to me that there are always better options on the WW than this. Maybe there are just a bunch of Notre Dame fans playing on Yahoo...

Not a guy to consider in standard leagues IMO. Let someone else grab him.

[Inukchuk]

Cause you know baby, he's the next big thing! (Dictators paraphrase)

Eh, wild numbers in the minors. I think it's because he has a z and a j in his last name.

Agree on the wildness. Honestly, the funky last name (sadly) might actually contribute to the add-fiesta. Not as much as the Notre Dame thing, but still... Also, Brad Evans pimped him a few days ago. Anytime a guy's on Yahoo's front page, he's bound to get added. There's a guy in our league that checks his team early every morning and picks up whoever the experts are touting every time . Then, like clockwork, they get dropped 3 or 4 days later.

Anyway, back on track: I'm not touching Jeffy either. Even in my keeper, I don't have room for such a long shot...

[dracovonborax]

i for one am glad to see it. the guy with the #1 waiver used it on him so now i'm in 1st place and hold the #1 priority..nothing to stand in my way of David Price.

[bazzy_51]

i snagged him after he cleared waivers in my league and the only reason i did is i do think he has great potential, but also we carry an 8 man farm club and i had 1 opening so i grabbed him and added him to my farm club...but i don't think JSama is that terrible i mean young with a cannon arm with crazy movement on his fastball, not that bad of a mixture...but i did grab him for my farm club...

[Neato Torpedo]

i for one am glad to see it. the guy with the #1 waiver used it on him so now i'm in 1st place and hold the #1 priority..nothing to stand in my way of David Price.

You should see my league, everyone is a Cubs fan. One guy added him and two others posted "YOU BASTARD" on the message board. All the while I'm sitting here with WW pickups Kemp, B. Wilson, B. Molina, Bills, Marcum, and Giambi.....just laughing.