Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio wasn't happy with a report in the Chicago Tribune that had one opposing hitting coach saying Chicago starter Jeff Samardzija was getting the reputation of a headhunter.
The Tribune's Phil Rogers wrote, "In some quarters, the Cubs right-hander is getting a reputation as somebody who retaliates against hitters when he's upset." Rogers writes he spoke with Braves hitting coach Greg Walker, late of the White Sox, who said some Braves believed Samardzija hit Jason Heyward on purpose on May 7. This past weekend, Samardzija hit Paul Konerko -- although nobody, including Walker or Konerko -- seems to think there was intent behind that pitch. Heyward and Konerko are the only two batters Samardzija has hit this season.
Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times notes Bosio wasn't pleased with, as Wittenmyer writes, "the suggestion by another Chicago newspaper that Samardzija is getting any kind of reputation as ugly as that."
Wittenmyer not only spoke to Bosio, but also Astros third baseman Chris Johnson, the only player on the Houston squad that had been plunked by the right-hander. Johnson said he didn't believe Samardzija has headhunting.
“I don’t think he’s that kind of guy at all. I don’t know why that would come out that he’s trying to hit people. I’m sure he’s trying to get people out," Johnson told Wittenmyer. "Guys in our situation, where we’re trying to make a name for ourselves and trying to stay in the big leagues -- I don’t think that’s really something that he’s about."
Wittenmyer didn't talk to Samardzija, because Samardzija was the Cubs' starting pitcher on Wednesday. Starting pitchers don't speak to the media before their starts.
The former Notre Dame wide receiver hit five batters last season and has 11 in his career.
On Saturday, Samardzija hit Konerko after the White Sox first baseman homered in the first inning. However, he hit him with a 2-2 split-finger fastball, neither the count nor the pitch to hit someone intentionally. Samardzija contacted Konerko, who reportedly told the pitcher he had no hard feelings.
However, the Braves do hold some hard feelings. In the May 7 game, Heyward homered, then in his next at-bat grounded into an out on a 3-0 pitch. Samardzija hit Heyward with his first pitch the next time up. According to Walker, the Braves thought Samardzija was saying on the mound that he was upset with Heyward swinging at a 3-0 pitch.
