Z taken out early due to back spasms (day-to-day)

[JeffH]

"Lower back stiffness" is Cubspeak for "ruptured ulnar collateral ligament".

[Soul]

"Lower back stiffness" is Cubspeak for "ruptured ulnar collateral ligament".

 

Yep. And "I don't have my horses" is Dusty-ese for "get ready folks, it's May and I don't intend to manage at all the entire season."

 

I know that now 8)

[Mark Priors Calves]

I'm betting he won't miss a start and throw 110+ pitches his next time out.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

Per Rotoworld.com

 

Carlos Zambrano, who left Monday's game in the second inning, will undergo an MRI on his sore back Tuesday.

"I couldn't throw today," Zambrano said. "I couldn't bend today, and as a pitcher, you have to bend as much as possible to get the strike zone and to get your command. If you throw straight, you let your pitches go high and that's what happened today." Zambrano did request the MRI, even though he didn't think the problem was particularly serious. "There are certain things that we look for," Cubs trainer Mark O'Neal said. "It seems like it's all muscular. He's not having some of the other symptoms you would be worried about with significant disc injuries."

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Per Rotoworld.com

 

Carlos Zambrano, who left Monday's game in the second inning, will undergo an MRI on his sore back Tuesday.

"I couldn't throw today," Zambrano said. "I couldn't bend today, and as a pitcher, you have to bend as much as possible to get the strike zone and to get your command. If you throw straight, you let your pitches go high and that's what happened today." Zambrano did request the MRI, even though he didn't think the problem was particularly serious. "There are certain things that we look for," Cubs trainer Mark O'Neal said. "It seems like it's all muscular. He's not having some of the other symptoms you would be worried about with significant disc injuries."

 

Thanks Cheese.

 

As Serena alluded to in the Barrett thread, I have no faith in O'Neal anymore. He didn't know Barrett could have been seriously injured. Barrett asks to go to the hospital, Z asks for MRIs. The players seem to be better trainers than the trainer itself.

[mhuber92211]

I understand the general sentiment of mistrust but seriously I thin kwe are making more of this then what it really is. Many pitchers have trouble getting loose throughout the season and this appears to be the case here.

 

It must be my blind optimism but in all reality I am more of a guy not ready to jump off the bridge unless I know all the facts. No reason to get excited unless we know what we are dealing with

[CubsInNC]

I understand the general sentiment of mistrust but seriously I thin kwe are making more of this then what it really is. Many pitchers have trouble getting loose throughout the season and this appears to be the case here.

 

It must be my blind optimism but in all reality I am more of a guy not ready to jump off the bridge unless I know all the facts. No reason to get excited unless we know what we are dealing with

 

I would generally agree, however, *if* there was prior knowledge by Dusty, Larry, or any other coach, I *do* think that a prior-knowledge holder should be fired immediately. This season is lost, and the games meaningless (aside from the #1 overall pick), so to risk a long-term injury to the only reliable great pitcher we have is asinine. If there was no prior knowledge (which I don't believe judging by the facial expressions and reactions of Larry and Dusty in the dugout in the first inning), then shame on Z for trying anyway. And either way, I hope it's not serious.

[Laura]

See what can happen when you take infield practice?!?

 

The Trib[/url]"]And pitcher Carlos Zambrano was fielding grounders at first during batting practice.

 

"I can play anything," Zambrano said. "I just want the chance."

[YearofDaCubs]

See what can happen when you take infield practice?!?

 

The Trib[/url]"]And pitcher Carlos Zambrano was fielding grounders at first during batting practice.

 

"I can play anything," Zambrano said. "I just want the chance."

Wow, no way, this is ridiculous.

[NCCubFan]

See what can happen when you take infield practice?!?

 

The Trib[/url]"]And pitcher Carlos Zambrano was fielding grounders at first during batting practice.

 

"I can play anything," Zambrano said. "I just want the chance."

Wow, no way, this is ridiculous.

Not really surprising, considered he's also said he'd like to be a DH in winter ball.

[NCCubFan]

I've finally got the Cubs' injury problems figured out. O'Neal is actually a double agent. He worked for the Cardinals before coming to the Cubs, and is still a Cardinals' fan. He's taking payola from the Cardinals' organization to make sure that the Cubs are never healthy enough to compete.

 

No, I don't actually believe that.

[Laura]

...

 

Paul Sullivan / The Trib[/url]"] The Cubs' ace [Zambrano] lasted 11/3 innings in a 5-4 loss to Pittsburgh, then said afterward a team physician told him he could be shut down for the rest of the season with a lower back problem.

 

Zambrano will have an MRI on Tuesday morning. He has experienced back problems in the past, but none since 2004.

 

"I feel like my back was locked," Zambrano said. "The doctor talked to me (about) what can happen, `If we want to stop you for this year.' I don't know. That's their decision."

 

Trainer Mark O'Neal, however, downplayed the seriousness of the injury.

 

"An MRI is the first thing that needs to be done," O'Neal said. "Carlos has requested to have it done, so we're going to have it done."

 

O'Neal declined to speculate on whether Zambrano would be shut down but said there are no indications of any "significant disc or lower back injury." Cubs pitchers are falling like dominos, with Zambrano the latest to suffer an injury.

 

Even more disturbing was the fact that Zambrano felt pain beforehand but did not inform manager Dusty Baker. After Ronny Cedeno's throwing error allowed another run in the second, Zambrano decided to quit.

 

"That was my mistake," he said. "I had a problem before the game and didn't tell anybody, trying to be the hero."

 

Baker said Zambrano's velocity was noticeably down, but added: "A lot of games his velocity is down and he picks it up. Today he just didn't have it."

 

 

DLee -

 

"We can't get a pitcher through the fifth inning without getting hurt," first baseman Derrek Lee said. "I'm not exactly sure what's going on. Hopefully `Z' is all right. He's having a great season. We don't need him getting hurt."

[Andy]

A part of me wants Z to have some kind of herniated disc, just whatever can spare him from more Dusty abuse this year. Then when the new management team comes in they can teach Z how not to walk people and he won't have to throw 100 pitches to get to 6 every time.

[Guest]

a back injury can be as bad as an arm . . . this is not good news although I would be pleased to see him not pitch anymore in 2006. somebody needs to have a talk with him about the future.

[abuck1220]

does everybody love how cool and tough zambrano is now? though knowing dusty, even if he would have mentioned the pain, he probably still would have started.

[YearofDaCubs]

does everybody love how cool and tough zambrano is now? though knowing dusty, even if he would have mentioned the pain, he probably still would have started.

I'll give Dusty some credit, if Z was complaining about an inury I don't think he would let him go out there, especially now that we're completely out o fit.

[NCCubFan]

does everybody love how cool and tough zambrano is now? though knowing dusty, even if he would have mentioned the pain, he probably still would have started.

I'll give Dusty some credit, if Z was complaining about an inury I don't think he would let him go out there, especially now that we're completely out o fit.

I don't give Dusty that credit at all. If Zambrano said he was capable of pitching despite the injury, we know very darn well Dusty would have started him.

[YearofDaCubs]

I

ve just read that tribune article in which was posted and all I have to say is Mark O'Neil is a clown. Is it me or does this guy downplay every damn injury!??!?! Completely clueless.

[UMFan83]

Cubs starters and whether they've been hurt this year

 

Zambrano - Yes

Prior - Yes

Wood - Yes

Maddux - No

Williams - No

Marshall - Yes

Marmol - Yes

Mateo - Yes

Hill - No

Ryu - No

O'Malley - Yes

Rusch - Yes

Guzman - Yes

Walrond - Yes

 

10/14 starters, not bad guys not bad.

[Schwarber Fan]

Cubs starters and whether they've been hurt this year

 

Zambrano - Yes

Prior - Yes

Wood - Yes

Maddux - No

Williams - No

Marshall - Yes

Marmol - Yes

Mateo - Yes

Hill - No

Ryu - No

O'Malley - Yes

Rusch - Yes

Guzman - Yes

Walrond - Yes

 

10/14 starters, not bad guys not bad.

 

Once Wade Miller starts, 11-15

[thedaymen]

I'm not sure which sarcastic joke to make right now...

 

"Stupid fans hurting Zambrano with their racism"

 

or

 

"Too bad there was no way to know this could happen to a pitcher"

 

or

 

"Stupid goat hurting the Cubs with its magic curse"

 

So many unreal excuses to choose from.

[neely crenshaw]

2 things..

they kept mentioning on the radio that the trainer was looking at z's forearm not his back....not that the cubs would lie..

and i'm pretty sure ryu left his start with a very sore neck after the beating he took- don't know if that counts or not!

[Outshined_One]

If they were looking at his forearm, then he might have had some tingling in it.

 

If that's the case, he should be shut down immediately since that sure is NOT a sign of a muscular problem in the back.

[CuseCubFan69]

I think Z should prove he's a workhorse and pitch through this.

[JeffH]

I think Z should prove he's a workhorse and pitch through this.

 

RumDum, is that you?