Taking a chance: Cubs roll dice on rookie Samardzija

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CHICAGO - This is a different time, the era of the unproven rookie reliever. Instead of trading for veteran arms, contenders, having watched the Angels catch lighting in a bottle with Francisco Rodriguez in 2002, the White Sox ride Bobby Jenks to a World Series championship in 2005, are casting their lot with hard-throwing minor leaguers. They're looking in-house - at starters, relievers, closers, whatever. No matter the age, no matter the experience. At this point of the season, any fresh, live arm will do. The Yankees did it with Joba Chamberlain. Detroit did it with Joel Zumaya. It's why the Cubs had no problem handing the ball to Jeff Samardzija. He may have lacked experience, but the talent was there. He could help - now. So they cast their dice with Samardzija, knowing he could be the next Joba. “I don't think there's any doubt why [we brought him up],” Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said shortly after Samardzija, 23, made his big-league debut. “He's got the whole package. He's got a great arm. This guy ... down the road [he] can be a high-end starter, or he could probably close some day. And I don't think it matters to him.” The Cubs don't need him to start right now - they don't need him to close, either. They do need him, however, as the bullpen is undoubtedly better with him in it. “I like him. I've got confidence in him,” manager Lou Piniella said. While the Cubs believe in Samardzija's stuff, they absolutely adore his poise. “He's cool as a cucumber out there,” Piniella said. Ted Lilly raved about last Friday, when Albert Pujols, at first with two outs in the top of the 10th inning, broke early, hoping to rattle the young right-hander. Rather than balk, however, Samardzija calmly stepped off and threw to second. “That's a big play there, to not panic, step off, make a good throw,” Lilly said. Hendry said there isn't much that can shake Samardzija. “He wasn't going to be afraid,” the GM said. “Whether he succeeded or failed in his first visit up here, he wasn't going to be afraid. He likes the action. He thrives on it. “Everywhere he's gone, the higher you push him up the better he does.” Piniella credits Notre Dame for Samardzija's composure. “Playing in front of 80,000 people pays big dividends,” he said. “He's used to TV exposure, national TV exposure. The schedule they play ... nothing fazes him. “That's one of the reasons he's been able to make the transition [to the majors].” Piniella will continue to rely on Samardzija, just as the Sox relied on Jenks - who was pitching for Double-A Birmingham when he was called up in August. Jenks, though only 24 at the time, went on to save four playoff games, including the series clincher in Houston. Samardzija - barring inju-ries to incumbent closer Kerry Wood and set-up man Carlos Marmol - isn't going to be asked to do that, but he will be expected to pitch in high-pressure situations over the next few months. Samardzija said he isn't scared. In fact, he relishes those situations. “I enjoy pitching on a big stage ... I think it's a blast,” he said. That confidence, Hendry said, is exactly why he decided to bring him up. “This is what he wanted,” he said. “This is what he signed for.”