SCOTTSDALE http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-max-kepler-jersey , Ariz. (AP) — Jeff Samardzija kept a locker at Oracle Park in San Francisco this offseason and worked out at the ballpark three days a week. The Giants pitcher also spent two days per week rehabbing at a clinic in San Mateo, California.The work paid off Wednesday in his first spring start, the next phase of his comeback from a disappointing 2018 season.Making his first in-game appearance since July 14, Samardzija threw 32 pitches over two scoreless innings, giving up one hit and striking out one against the Royals at Scottsdale Stadium.“I think everybody saw last year that I was hurt,” said Samardzija, who was limited to 10 starts in 2018 because of soreness in his right shoulder. “For a lot of the year, I thought I could muscle through it. That’s usually how I approach injuries, is ignore and move on. That had worked for me in the past, but that had been other parts of the body — obliques and hamstrings and quads.“What I learned is you can pitch with all those feeling 50 percent Anibal Sanchez Jersey , but that shoulder and that arm needs to be 95 to 100 percent to get done what you need to get done,” he said. “Sometimes that stubborn approach just isn’t the right way to go.”Samardzija, 34, started his offseason program Oct. 5 and began throwing at Thanksgiving.“It’s the new formula for me, which is staying ahead of the game and listening to yourself and listening to your body and your arm,” Samardzija said. “If anything acts up, take care of it right then and there. Last year was a learning process for me. We’re starting to shape that for me of what we need to do every day to stay ahead of the game.”On Wednesday, Samardzija threw 22 pitches to four batters in the first, with the stadium radar gun registering his fastball at 93-94 mph. He needed just 10 pitches to retire the side in order in the second, including a strikeout of Brett Phillips to end the inning.Samardzija was more interested in the radar readings on his offspeed pitches to make sure there was enough difference between them and his fastball. He was pleased with those results.“Absolutely http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-max-kepler-jersey ,” Samardzija said. “For me, it’s important to have that pitch mix so you’re not relying on the fastball velo all the time.”“It was good to see Jeff where he was,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “His command will just get better as he goes. You could see that he was back and letting it go free and easy and used all his pitches.”NOTES: Catcher Buster Posey is on schedule to make his first spring appearance Friday. Posey is coming off offseason hip surgery and was expected to catch three innings. … Outfielder Steven Duggar (left shoulder) also was expected to make his first start on Friday. … Pablo Sandoval, sidelined because of soreness in his side, was not expected to play until the weekend, Bochy said. Andrew Weber/Getty ImagesChicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein told reporters Monday that manager Joe Maddon was informed the team wouldn't be discussing a contract extension this winter and "will re-evaluate the situation later in the 2019 season," according to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic.Maddon is under contract through the 2019 campaign.Monday's announcement doesn't come as a huge surprise. In early October,Ken Rosenthalof The Athletic reported that "for months talk has persisted within the industry that Epstein and Maddon are not always on the same page."Epstein did deny that report two weeks later, however."I didn't read the whole thing," he said at the time http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-max-kepler-jersey , perPaul Sullivanof theChicago Tribune. "But I saw in there that there were some claims that he and I had personal friction. Not true at all. We have a terrific working relationship."Also in early October,Bob NightengaleofUSA Todayreported that Maddon wouldn't be offered a contract extension this winter and would be evaluatedafter the 2019 season, despite Maddon hoping for an extension.All of that smoke turned out to be a fire.That doesn't mean that Maddon won't ultimately be retained. Under his watch, the Cubs have gone 387-261, reached the postseason in four straight years and won the World Series in 2016. Maddon has led one of the most successful periods in franchise history and ended the team's legendary World Series drought.But the 2018 season ended in disappointment, as the team blew a five-game lead in the NL Central in September, lost the divisional tiebreaker game to the Milwaukee Brewers and were one-and-done in the postseason, losing the Wild Card Game to the Colorado Rockies. That end to the season has led to questions about Maddon's future in Chicago, questions that won't be answered until some point in 2019.