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  6. article_body => "<p>SAN FRANCISCO \u2014 There was a smile plastered to Jeff Samardzija\u2019s face Friday and Saturday, and why wouldn\u2019t there be?<\/p>\n<p>A year ago at this time, the Giants right-hander&nbsp;was preparing for a camp in which&nbsp;his shoulder never quite got there. He knew there was something wrong, but he didn\u2019t reveal it until late March, when there was nothing else he could do on the mound to hide his condition. It was a year of starts-and-stops for the veteran, but after the most tedious offseason of his career, he\u2019s ready to head in one direction.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy arm is craving more work and wants to throw long toss, wants to throw bullpens and sliders and curveballs and everything,\u201d Samardzija said. \u201cAll I can go by is how I feel and I feel really good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Samardzija knows this is not the end game, or anywhere close. He spent most of last summer ramping it up in bullpen sessions, saying he felt good, only to return to a big league mound and see 91 mph on the radar gun. Doctor after doctor told Samardzija he didn\u2019t need surgery, which was a relief, but also led to some confusion. Ultimately, the Giants decided the 34-year-old needed an offseason of rest and rehab.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Samardzija, a former college football star,&nbsp;always has been such a good athlete that you could picture him rolling out of bed in mid-February and pumping 97. But he rededicated himself this offseason, starting his work the day after a disappointing season ended.<\/p>\n<p>He has lived in the Scottsdale area in the past, but he stayed in San Francisco this winter, working out at the ballpark three times per&nbsp;week and a San Mateo rehab facility twice per&nbsp;week. By Thanksgiving, he was cleared to start throwing. As camp approaches, he\u2019s already deep into bullpen session mode.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Giants need to make gains everywhere in order to stay in contention, and a healthy Samardzija would be a boost. A lot of fans gave up on him last season, but the Giants happily would take a repeat of his 2017, when he led the league in innings, struck out 205 batters and provided 2.5 Wins Above Replacement.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Farhan Zaidi, now the Giants\u2019 president of baseball operations,&nbsp;was in Oakland when the A\u2019s traded a massive package to the Cubs for Samardzija in 2014. He knows what he can provide, but he also is well-versed in Samardzija\u2019s 2018 issues at this point. He has said repeatedly this offseason that the Giants will not push Samardzija too hard. They have enough rotation depth that they can ease him in if the shoulder isn\u2019t fully ready. Zaidi said it would be a \u201cread and react\u201d situation in terms of Samardzija\u2019s innings this year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[<strong>RELATED<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/home-page\/jeff-samardzija-opens-about-what-bugged-him-about-playing-football\" target=\"_top\">Samardzija opens up about what bugged him about football<\/a>]<\/p>\n<p>\u201c(But) he\u2019s going to be built up as a regular guy,\u201d he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Samardzija isn\u2019t planning for an easy April. He\u2019s eager to put 2018 behind him, and he believes&nbsp;his shoulder will cooperate. Samardzija said last year was a tough one. But it\u2019s 2019, and thus far he\u2019s all smiles.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m just excited to get back into that routine of being a pitcher, man,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n"
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Giants

Giants

SAN FRANCISCO — There was a smile plastered to Jeff Samardzija’s face Friday and Saturday, and why wouldn’t there be?

A year ago at this time, the Giants right-hander was preparing for a camp in which his shoulder never quite got there. He knew there was something wrong, but he didn’t reveal it until late March, when there was nothing else he could do on the mound to hide his condition. It was a year of starts-and-stops for the veteran, but after the most tedious offseason of his career, he’s ready to head in one direction. 

“My arm is craving more work and wants to throw long toss, wants to throw bullpens and sliders and curveballs and everything,” Samardzija said. “All I can go by is how I feel and I feel really good.”

Samardzija knows this is not the end game, or anywhere close. He spent most of last summer ramping it up in bullpen sessions, saying he felt good, only to return to a big league mound and see 91 mph on the radar gun. Doctor after doctor told Samardzija he didn’t need surgery, which was a relief, but also led to some confusion. Ultimately, the Giants decided the 34-year-old needed an offseason of rest and rehab. 

Samardzija, a former college football star, always has been such a good athlete that you could picture him rolling out of bed in mid-February and pumping 97. But he rededicated himself this offseason, starting his work the day after a disappointing season ended.

 

He has lived in the Scottsdale area in the past, but he stayed in San Francisco this winter, working out at the ballpark three times per week and a San Mateo rehab facility twice per week. By Thanksgiving, he was cleared to start throwing. As camp approaches, he’s already deep into bullpen session mode. 

The Giants need to make gains everywhere in order to stay in contention, and a healthy Samardzija would be a boost. A lot of fans gave up on him last season, but the Giants happily would take a repeat of his 2017, when he led the league in innings, struck out 205 batters and provided 2.5 Wins Above Replacement. 

Farhan Zaidi, now the Giants’ president of baseball operations, was in Oakland when the A’s traded a massive package to the Cubs for Samardzija in 2014. He knows what he can provide, but he also is well-versed in Samardzija’s 2018 issues at this point. He has said repeatedly this offseason that the Giants will not push Samardzija too hard. They have enough rotation depth that they can ease him in if the shoulder isn’t fully ready. Zaidi said it would be a “read and react” situation in terms of Samardzija’s innings this year. 

[RELATED: Samardzija opens up about what bugged him about football]

“(But) he’s going to be built up as a regular guy,” he said. 

Samardzija isn’t planning for an easy April. He’s eager to put 2018 behind him, and he believes his shoulder will cooperate. Samardzija said last year was a tough one. But it’s 2019, and thus far he’s all smiles. 

“I’m just excited to get back into that routine of being a pitcher, man,” he said.