This doesn't sound like the Big Z I know...

[Schwarber Fan]

Just say no -- Pitcher-slugger Carlos Zambrano claimed to have no interest in the designated hitter role during interleague play.

 

"Nope," Zambrano said. "My job is to pitch."

 

In three starts, Zambrano has as many home runs (one) and one more RBI (two) than he has victories.

 

I'm glad he said that, but it sure doesn't sound like him

 

Link

[TB_11]

Could be that he's dissatisfied with two of his three starts so far.

 

Or that he casually mentioned it to Lou, who shot it down.

 

Whatever the reason, it's a non-issue.

[Lockes Eye Scar]

When will these pitchers stop throwing him breaking balls? He can't catch up to a decent fastball.

[Brian]

Why would a reporter ask him about DHing in the 2nd weak of the season anyways?

[Banedon]

I'm sure that as much as he likes to hit, he think he should be doing better right now at pitching.

[98navigator]

I'm sure that as much as he likes to hit, he think he should be doing better right now at pitching.

 

Bingo! For a guy who is suppose to be the best pitcher in the rotation, he's currently looking like the number 4 starter; with Hill, Lilly, and Marquis all pitching better to this point.

[Mephistopheles]

as bad as Zambranos been hes outpitched Marquis even if the results argue otherwise. This place gets its panties in a twist over two weeks of baseball. Come on.

[98navigator]

He has not outpitched Marquis. Period. I know it's only 11 games, and I'm only talking about the games that have been played.

[Mephistopheles]

If only it were that easy. You can look at ERA and the such if you want. Be my guest. I'm not looking at them.

[98navigator]

If only it were that easy. You can look at ERA and the such if you want. Be my guest. I'm not looking at them.

 

The stats back it up but I don't need them. I have eyes. You can sit back and be critical of the board if you want but people have the right to complain when someone isn't producing. Stop being so quick to talk about others getting their "panties in a twist" as if there is no reason to be upset about some of the performances thus far. Being critical of Zambrano, or anyone else, has nothing to do with how I feel about the season as a whole or him specifically.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Zambrano ERA+ (3 games): 48

Zambrano 10 K/11 BB

Zambrano HRA: 4

 

Marquis ERA+ (2 games): 116

Marquis 4 K/6 BB

Marquis HRA: 0

[98navigator]

Zambrano ERA+ (3 games): 48

Zambrano 10 K/11 BB

Zambrano HRA: 4

 

Marquis ERA+ (2 games): 116

Marquis 4 K/6 BB

Marquis HRA: 0

 

That speaks for itself.

 

It's actually worse than I thought!

[CubColtPacer]

If only it were that easy. You can look at ERA and the such if you want. Be my guest. I'm not looking at them.

 

Or WHIP (Z-1.875, Marquis-1.27) or BB/9 (Z-6.188, Marquis-4.90), or HR/9 (Z-2.25, Marquis-0), or even VORP (Marquis/1.1, Zambrano/(-5.0). The only thing Z has been better in is K/9 and K/BB.

 

Is this going to continue? Of course not. Z will rebound, and Marquis can't sustain anywhere near this ERA. I don't see how Z has pitched better than Marquis so far this season though. It's not like Z has even been unlucky-every run that has been scored off of him has been definitely his fault, if that be giving pitches right down the middle to Adam Dunn or walking people in his last start.

[Mephistopheles]

I have eyes.

 

You also have the brain of a human being. With that comes selective memory. It's nothing personal, just part of the human condition. The brain's terrible at remembering rates unless you make a mental note to remember them. I'm sure you didn't and your memory links success with runs.

 

You can sit back and be critical of the board if you want but people have the right to complain when someone isn't producing.

 

You can complain and vent all you want. At the end of the day it's two weeks into the season and some people should writing off the team. It's April 15th and Alfonso Soriano and Derrek Lee have zero homers. You can say the team has performed as bad as you want, but given the history of the players on the team it's going to change. They'll start producing. The team's problems are not just an isolated issue. As someone mentioned both the AL and NL as a hole are slugging under .400 by a pretty big margin. The Cubs have scored 43 runs and allowed 42 runs. That's usually a good indicator of .500 performance. It carries more predicative power than the teams current .363 performance. I know that. I accept it and am not worried.

 

Stop being so quick to talk about others getting their "panties in a twist" as if there is no reason to be upset about some of the performances thus far.

 

Sure be upset all you want. It's not as if the teams trying to lose. Just understand that there are swings like this in all seasons no matter how good the team is. To get bent out of shape or your panties in a bunch over it is a complete overreaction.

 

Being critical of Zambrano, or anyone else, has nothing to do with how I feel about the season as a whole or him specifically.

 

Good, so that means being critical of him means....nothing. In other words you're being critical because you want to emo-rant. Being ticked off with Z isn't going to mean anything. He's not trying to walk hitters.

 

Zambrano ERA+ (3 games): 48

Zambrano 10 K/11 BB

Zambrano HRA: 4

 

Marquis ERA+ (2 games): 116

Marquis 4 K/6 BB

Marquis HRA: 0

 

That speaks for itself.

 

It's actually worse than I thought!

 

Congrats. I said I didn't care about his ERA and you went on to say that his ERA speaks for itself. Hmm...

 

Or WHIP (Z-1.875, Marquis-1.27) or BB/9 (Z-6.188, Marquis-4.90), or HR/9 (Z-2.25, Marquis-0), or even VORP (Marquis/1.1, Zambrano/(-5.0). The only thing Z has been better in is K/9 and K/BB. 

 

Of the things you posted guess which are the most important. Answer: K/9 and K/BB. I don't care about the actual HR rate. I care about the expected HR rate which is 1.16 HR/9 for Zambrano and 0.84 HR/9 for Marquis, which is expected as Z hasn't kept the ball on the ground much. Marquis has also allowed a .228 BABIP, our defense isn't nearly that good.

[98navigator]

I have eyes.

 

You also have the brain of a human being. With that comes selective memory. It's nothing personal, just part of the human condition. The brain's terrible at remembering rates unless you make a mental note to remember them. I'm sure you didn't and your memory links success with runs.

 

You can sit back and be critical of the board if you want but people have the right to complain when someone isn't producing.

 

You can complain and vent all you want. At the end of the day it's two weeks into the season and some people should writing off the team. It's April 15th and Alfonso Soriano and Derrek Lee have zero homers. You can say the team has performed as bad as you want, but given the history of the players on the team it's going to change. They'll start producing. The team's problems are not just an isolated issue. As someone mentioned both the AL and NL as a hole are slugging under .400 by a pretty big margin. The Cubs have scored 43 runs and allowed 42 runs. That's usually a good indicator of .500 performance. It carries more predicative power than the teams current .363 performance. I know that. I accept it and am not worried.

 

Stop being so quick to talk about others getting their "panties in a twist" as if there is no reason to be upset about some of the performances thus far.

 

Sure be upset all you want. It's not as if the teams trying to lose. Just understand that there are swings like this in all seasons no matter how good the team is. To get bent out of shape or your panties in a bunch over it is a complete overreaction.

 

Being critical of Zambrano, or anyone else, has nothing to do with how I feel about the season as a whole or him specifically.

 

Good, so that means being critical of him means....nothing. In other words you're being critical because you want to emo-rant. Being ticked off with Z isn't going to mean anything. He's not trying to walk hitters.

 

Zambrano ERA+ (3 games): 48

Zambrano 10 K/11 BB

Zambrano HRA: 4

 

Marquis ERA+ (2 games): 116

Marquis 4 K/6 BB

Marquis HRA: 0

 

That speaks for itself.

 

It's actually worse than I thought!

 

Congrats. I said I didn't care about his ERA and you went on to say that his ERA speaks for itself. Hmm...

 

Or WHIP (Z-1.875, Marquis-1.27) or BB/9 (Z-6.188, Marquis-4.90), or HR/9 (Z-2.25, Marquis-0), or even VORP (Marquis/1.1, Zambrano/(-5.0). The only thing Z has been better in is K/9 and K/BB. 

 

Of the things you posted guess which are the most important. Answer: K/9 and K/BB. I don't care about the actual HR rate. I care about the expected HR rate which is 1.16 HR/9 for Zambrano and 0.84 HR/9 for Marquis, which is expected as Z hasn't kept the ball on the ground much. Marquis has also allowed a .228 BABIP, our defense isn't nearly that good.

 

You have no point. I said Zambrano was being outpitched by others on the staff and it's a fact that can't be disputed.

 

end of story

[Mephistopheles]

Just because you say it's true doesn't make it true.

[Mizzou]

Of the things you posted guess which are the most important. Answer: K/9 and K/BB. I don't care about the actual HR rate. I care about the expected HR rate which is 1.16 HR/9 for Zambrano and 0.84 HR/9 for Marquis, which is expected as Z hasn't kept the ball on the ground much. Marquis has also allowed a .228 BABIP, our defense isn't nearly that good.

You look at K/9 and K/BB and nothing else? Hahaha, okay.

[Mephistopheles]

Did I say that? No. Did you read after the second sentence? No. Who's laughing now?

[98navigator]

Haha, and just because you say Zambrano has outpitched Marquis, to this point, doesn't mean it's true.

[Mizzou]

Did I say that? No. Did you read after the second sentence? No. Who's laughing now?

Okay, so you look at K/9 and K/BB and HR's allowed. Awesome. Hits, walks, and runs allowed are kinda sorta important too.

[Mephistopheles]

I'm pretty sure I know a little more than you about statistical analysis and various topics in it today so I'm also pretty sure that makes what I say carry more weight.

 

There are four things that I look at for pitchers. 1.) K Rate. 2.) Walk rate coupled with BB rate. In this case, the expected walk rate is about the same because theyre throwing strikes just as infrequently. 3.) Groundball/Outfield Fly rate which turns into homers. Again Z's given up a lot of longballs, but come on its luck that some of them were homers. By luck i dont mean they werent hit hard. Your eyes cant apply to this argument. 4.) Offense. Z's hit a hell of a lot better than Marquis. Perhaps I define a pitcher much more broadly than you but in the national league you have to include hitting, and i have.

[Mephistopheles]

Did I say that? No. Did you read after the second sentence? No. Who's laughing now?

Okay, so you look at K/9 and K/BB and HR's allowed. Awesome. Hits, walks, and runs allowed are kinda sorta important too.

 

Not really...

[imb]

Did I say that? No. Did you read after the second sentence? No. Who's laughing now?

Okay, so you look at K/9 and K/BB and HR's allowed. Awesome. Hits, walks, and runs allowed are kinda sorta important too.

 

They're important looking backwards, but after three games they are in no way important as a predictive stat.

[CubColtPacer]

Did I say that? No. Did you read after the second sentence? No. Who's laughing now?

Okay, so you look at K/9 and K/BB and HR's allowed. Awesome. Hits, walks, and runs allowed are kinda sorta important too.

 

They're important looking backwards, but after three games they are in no way important as a predictive stat.

 

Nobody's trying to predict the rest of the season. They are just saying-who has pitched better so far-Z in his 3 starts, or Marquis in his 2?

[imb]

Did I say that? No. Did you read after the second sentence? No. Who's laughing now?

Okay, so you look at K/9 and K/BB and HR's allowed. Awesome. Hits, walks, and runs allowed are kinda sorta important too.

 

They're important looking backwards, but after three games they are in no way important as a predictive stat.

 

Nobody's trying to predict the rest of the season. They are just saying-who has pitched better so far-Z in his 3 starts, or Marquis in his 2?

 

Well in that case obviously Marquis has had more success, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's pitched better. It would be easy to say that he has, but with such a small sample and so many of the different variables that go into pitching, I'd have to look at the stats way deeper and after just a combined 5 starts, it wouldnt be worth it.