In Cubs news today, ex-Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matt Garza has some advice for current Cubs starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija -- do your job and get out of Chicago when you can.
According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times, Garza, now a member of the Milwaukee Brewers, speaks of his time in Chicago like a jail sentence. Garza believes that Samardzija, who will most likely be shopped around via trade this summer, should look at it the same way:
“All I can tell him is keep pitching; pitch your way out of it,” stated Garza who was acquired by the Cubs in 2011. Keep your eyes focused, your eyes straight ahead and just pitch. There’s nothing else you can do.”
Samardzija is having a great season from an ERA (top six in the NL) and innings pitched (top five in the NL) standpoint, but has been victimized by a lack of run support and/or spotty bullpen help.
“I told him, ‘It doesn’t matter, dude, you play in Chicago,’ ’’ Garza stated in Wittenmyer's article dated on Sunday. “ ‘I was there, and I lost 30 wins in three seasons. It’s not your fault. You pitch your way out of there.’ ”
Whether or not Samardzija will take Garza's advice remains to be seen.