Zambranos antics continue

[Neuby]

Todays Tribune has a tidbit with about Zambrano kicking dirt and making gestures on the mound after a couple plays didn't go his way. Baker talked to Zambrano after the game in a "long session". Baker is worried that Zambranos behavior can be "destructive" in Zambranos relationships with his teamates.

 

I keep hearing Zambrano talk about being a Bull and a leader but he continues to do this even during Spring training can we ever expect Zambrano to take that next step and keep his emotions in check this season.

[Jon]

Cubs.com has the full quotes from Baker, which changes the story quite a bit.

[mhuber92211]

This is ironic because ont he broadcast yesterday Len was praising Big Z and his work with Angel Guzman. Apparently, Z has taken him under his wing. He even travelled to Tucson just to support Guzman.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

This is ironic because ont he broadcast yesterday Len was praising Big Z and his work with Angel Guzman. Apparently, Z has taken him under his wing. He even travelled to Tucson just to support Guzman.

 

In 2004, the two seemed very close. When Guzman was at Fitch pitching in minor league games, it was not uncommon for Zambrano to be sitting in the stands watching him.

[stitchface]

we ever expect Zambrano to take that next step and keep his emotions in check this season

 

 

I keep hoping Clemens will control his emotions and really become good.

 

I'm sorry but this is so overblown. Let Z be Z. He is fine.

[Omar]

I call it motivation... and the fact that he does it in spring training means he means business and he's playing his hardest even though it's ST.

[Soul]

Unless he learns to focus his anger, Z will self-destruct.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

Unless he learns to focus his anger, Z will self-destruct.

Self destruct and put up a sub-3 era.

[srbin84]

Unless he learns to focus his anger, Z will self-destruct.

Self destruct and put up a sub-3 era.

 

Exactly. Maybe some people aren't very emotional or competitive but there is nothing wrong or unhealthy about how Zambrano pitches, and furthermore, if any of the other players on our team have a problem with it and their quality of play is directly effected by it, I'd like to seem them traded as soon as possible, regardless of who it is, Prior, Lee, Ramirez, etc. This is Carlos Zambrano's team and I love the fact that he plays with such passion on the mound, at bat and on the basepaths. The best part about it is that no matter what Z does or says, he backs it up every single time with results. Clemens has thrown sharp broken bats at other players on the field, intentionally hit batter upon batter and celebrated his success on the field just like Z does, except it just so happens that almost all of that stuff happened when Clemens was in the AL, so he's not much of a man. Clemens is constantly praised, Z is constantly criticized.

[soccer10k]

People just look at his win total from last year (14) and his age (24) and think that he's immature. I guarantee that if Zambrano finishes top 5 in the Cy Young this year, nobody will say anything.

[stitchface]

People just look at his win total from last year (14) and his age (24) and think that he's immature. I guarantee that if Zambrano finishes top 5 in the Cy Young this year, nobody will say anything.

 

 

And I hope he drills Edmonds again. He got panned for it but I thought it was appropriate and should win his teammates affection.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

Unless he learns to focus his anger, Z will self-destruct.

Self destruct and put up a sub-3 era.

 

Exactly. Maybe some people aren't very emotional or competitive but there is nothing wrong or unhealthy about how Zambrano pitches, and furthermore, if any of the other players on our team have a problem with it and their quality of play is directly effected by it, I'd like to seem them traded as soon as possible, regardless of who it is, Prior, Lee, Ramirez, etc. This is Carlos Zambrano's team and I love the fact that he plays with such passion on the mound, at bat and on the basepaths. The best part about it is that no matter what Z does or says, he backs it up every single time with results. Clemens has thrown sharp broken bats at other players on the field, intentionally hit batter upon batter and celebrated his success on the field just like Z does, except it just so happens that almost all of that stuff happened when Clemens was in the AL, so he's not much of a man. Clemens is constantly praised, Z is constantly criticized.

That's cause Clemens was a Yankee and Z hasn't been bought out yet.

[Soul]

Unless he learns to focus his anger, Z will self-destruct.

Self destruct and put up a sub-3 era.

 

I was thinking more along the lines of burning out early in his career and no longer being the Z we know and love......

Edited March 27, 2006 by Soul

[Blueheart05]

Z's emotional nature isn't really a problem as long as it's directed at the opposition and his pitching can back it up. [sarcasm]There's nothing better than a guy pumping his fists and giving up a homerun on the next pitch.[/sarcasm] The problem is showing up teammates. Even if it's unintentional, it should be avoided... The quotes in the Cubs.com article make it sound like he was angry with himself and not Murton or Hairston. FWIW, it was described as more like a stare-down or tantrum on the radio.

 

This quote from Bruce Miles is telling:

 

As the evening wore on, Zambrano became more animated on the mound, appearing agitated when things went wrong behind him.

 

For example, in the Rangers’ 2-run fifth inning, Cubs left fielder Matt Murton couldn’t come up with the ball on a tough play at the wall. On the next play, a hard-hit ball got by second baseman Jerry Hairston, who had no realistic shot at it.

 

Zambrano responded by kicking and fussing on the mound and then appearing to throw too hard with his pitches.

 

If he's going to try and throw harder because he's upset then it's a problem.

[Soul]

Z's emotional nature isn't really a problem as long as it's directed at the opposition and his pitching can back it up. [sarcasm]There's nothing better than a guy pumping his fists and giving up a homerun on the next pitch.[/sarcasm] The problem is showing up teammates. Even if it's unintentional, it should be avoided... The quotes in the Cubs.com article make it sound like he was angry with himself and not Murton or Hairston. FWIW, it was described as more like a stare-down or tantrum on the radio.

 

This quote from Bruce Miles is telling:

 

As the evening wore on, Zambrano became more animated on the mound, appearing agitated when things went wrong behind him.

 

For example, in the Rangers’ 2-run fifth inning, Cubs left fielder Matt Murton couldn’t come up with the ball on a tough play at the wall. On the next play, a hard-hit ball got by second baseman Jerry Hairston, who had no realistic shot at it.

 

Zambrano responded by kicking and fussing on the mound and then appearing to throw too hard with his pitches.

 

If he's going to try and throw harder because he's upset then it's a problem.

 

Exactly. Someone please show me the legions of Hall of Fame pitchers who whined when their teams failed to turn a double play, or made a fielding error.

[yfinn6]

People just look at his win total from last year (14) and his age (24) and think that he's immature. I guarantee that if Zambrano finishes top 5 in the Cy Young this year, nobody will say anything.

 

 

And I hope he drills Edmonds again. He got panned for it but I thought it was appropriate and should win his teammates affection.

 

I remember watching that game. IIRC, Edmonds got plunked once, then hit a HR and Z was yelling at him to go around the bases quicker and then didn't Edmonds get drilled a second time?

 

The thing that bothered me was, Zambrano is young. No matter how good your stuff is you have to earn respect to be able to yell at a veteran for trotting around the bases during a homerun.

 

Usually when someone hits a HR off of Clemens he will make sure they run or else he's likely to throw at them. I don't have much of a problem with this because Clemens has been in the league and has been a top 10 pitcher basically his whole career.

 

I'm not the biggest Cubs fan, just come here to post since it seems much more civil than other Cub fans I've been around. But I do think Zambrano is a terrific pitcher, his emotions may hurt him once in a while, but I think he's just super competitive which is something you want in a pitcher.

[Soul]

People just look at his win total from last year (14) and his age (24) and think that he's immature. I guarantee that if Zambrano finishes top 5 in the Cy Young this year, nobody will say anything.

 

 

And I hope he drills Edmonds again. He got panned for it but I thought it was appropriate and should win his teammates affection.

 

I remember watching that game. IIRC, Edmonds got plunked once, then hit a HR and Z was yelling at him to go around the bases quicker and then didn't Edmonds get drilled a second time?

 

The thing that bothered me was, Zambrano is young. No matter how good your stuff is you have to earn respect to be able to yell at a veteran for trotting around the bases during a homerun.

 

Usually when someone hits a HR off of Clemens he will make sure they run or else he's likely to throw at them. I don't have much of a problem with this because Clemens has been in the league and has been a top 10 pitcher basically his whole career.

 

I'm not the biggest Cubs fan, just come here to post since it seems much more civil than other Cub fans I've been around. But I do think Zambrano is a terrific pitcher, his emotions may hurt him once in a while, but I think he's just super competitive which is something you want in a pitcher.

 

I think he's terrific too, but if he continues to act like a baby when things don't go his way he's going to lose his teammates and coaches real quick.

 

He needs to grow up a little.

[stitchface]

People just look at his win total from last year (14) and his age (24) and think that he's immature. I guarantee that if Zambrano finishes top 5 in the Cy Young this year, nobody will say anything.

 

 

And I hope he drills Edmonds again. He got panned for it but I thought it was appropriate and should win his teammates affection.

 

I remember watching that game. IIRC, Edmonds got plunked once, then hit a HR and Z was yelling at him to go around the bases quicker and then didn't Edmonds get drilled a second time?

 

The thing that bothered me was, Zambrano is young. No matter how good your stuff is you have to earn respect to be able to yell at a veteran for trotting around the bases during a homerun.

 

Usually when someone hits a HR off of Clemens he will make sure they run or else he's likely to throw at them. I don't have much of a problem with this because Clemens has been in the league and has been a top 10 pitcher basically his whole career.

 

I'm not the biggest Cubs fan, just come here to post since it seems much more civil than other Cub fans I've been around. But I do think Zambrano is a terrific pitcher, his emotions may hurt him once in a while, but I think he's just super competitive which is something you want in a pitcher.

 

What you left out was that Edmonds posed and then started the talk as he rounded the bases. He then continued the chatter from the dugout.

[Jon]

Carlos isn't a rookie and this isn't anything new. It's also not getting any worse. I don't see why he'd burn out if he keeps this up. It's just how he pitches. He can use to control it a bit more at times, but it's not really doing him much harm. And he's still one of the best pitchers in the league.

[Blueheart05]

People just look at his win total from last year (14) and his age (24) and think that he's immature. I guarantee that if Zambrano finishes top 5 in the Cy Young this year, nobody will say anything.

 

 

And I hope he drills Edmonds again. He got panned for it but I thought it was appropriate and should win his teammates affection.

 

I remember watching that game. IIRC, Edmonds got plunked once, then hit a HR and Z was yelling at him to go around the bases quicker and then didn't Edmonds get drilled a second time?

 

The thing that bothered me was, Zambrano is young. No matter how good your stuff is you have to earn respect to be able to yell at a veteran for trotting around the bases during a homerun.

 

Usually when someone hits a HR off of Clemens he will make sure they run or else he's likely to throw at them. I don't have much of a problem with this because Clemens has been in the league and has been a top 10 pitcher basically his whole career.

 

I'm not the biggest Cubs fan, just come here to post since it seems much more civil than other Cub fans I've been around. But I do think Zambrano is a terrific pitcher, his emotions may hurt him once in a while, but I think he's just super competitive which is something you want in a pitcher.

 

What you left out was that Edmonds posed and then started the talk as he rounded the bases. He then continued the chatter from the dugout.

 

Yeah but it was also a rivalry game and a big spot for a homerun. You have to admit that Carlos' demonstrative nature, after strikeouts (or any other big out), is also frustrating to the opposition. If he's going to dish is out he has to take it.

 

Next time don't throw a fat pitch.

Edited March 27, 2006 by Blueheart05

[Blueheart05]

Carlos isn't a rookie and this isn't anything new. It's also not getting any worse. I don't see why he'd burn out if he keeps this up. It's just how he pitches. He can use to control it a bit more at times, but it's not really doing him much harm. And he's still one of the best pitchers in the league.

 

In general I agree with everything you say but there are times when his competitiveness adversely affects his pitching.

 

I don't remember the team but I do recall a game where he repeatedly threw over to 1B to pickoff someone off (it seemed like he was trying to show the guy up) then finally threw a pitch to the batter that went out of the park.

 

That's just one example of being out of focus with the larger picture. Getting tossed out of Opening Day 2005 (in a blowout) when he had not yet qualified for a win is another example.

[erik316wttn]

I love Z, I love the way he plays, I love his intensity...

 

But I've been saying since he's been brought up that he needs to get that temper to work for him instead of against him. Even last year after a few bad calls/plays in the field, he'd stomp around and curse and overthrow and walk a few batters and get himself into trouble. He can't do that.

 

He made some strides last year, as I saw him on the bad end of some questionable calls, he bore down and kicked some butt, almost becoming Super Z. If he can harness that anger in that way, he'll go into the Hall of Fame. But if he keeps losing his temper, he'll never reach his full potential.

[Andy]

I want Z to remain passionate and excitable out there on the mound, so long as he never directs it at an umpire to get himself thrown out, or at his teammates to get himself distanced from the clubhouse. I love the way Z plays and if it makes Cardinals and Sox fans hate him more, so much the sweeter when he schools them again the next time he pitches against them. :)

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

It's like Grace was saying today on the FSN Ariz broadcast. The game has changed. Hitters get to go around hopping and staring and flipping bats. The pitcher doesn't get to do anything. It's lame. Guys like Gibson and Sutcliffe would have put one in your earhole for the kind of crap that batters pull now adays.

 

I have no problem with Z hitting Edmonds (twice). I wish he'd do it again.

 

Z does need to tone down his antics after mistakes (either his or his teammates). That's something different than being emotional and pumped up about a game.

[Soul]

I want Z to remain passionate and excitable out there on the mound, so long as he never directs it at an umpire to get himself thrown out, or at his teammates to get himself distanced from the clubhouse. I love the way Z plays and if it makes Cardinals and Sox fans hate him more, so much the sweeter when he schools them again the next time he pitches against them. :)

 

I like Z's passion too, but when it gets him ejected from games that doesn't help him or the team.

 

By the way, he was ejected last year for ridiculing the home plate umpire. He has already turned his temper on the umpires.