The Very Best Move the Cubs can make before the deadline

[cubfan1955]

Yeah, nobody possibly had any potentially legit and thought reasons to trade Zambrano at the time. It was all kneejerk hyperbole. Boy, you guys sure have everyone covered. All the trade ideas had to do with him fighting Barrett and nothing else.

Yeah, there were a few like that but the vast majority of it was "kneejerk hyperbole".

[Mizzou]

I'd rather Zambrano be pitching to earn a big contract in every remaining start this year than give him a fat one now, but I certainly wouldn't complain if he received an extension now.

[badger1679666666]

I'd rather Zambrano be pitching to earn a big contract in every remaining start this year than give him a fat one now, but I certainly wouldn't complain if he received an extension now.

 

Z strikes me as someone too competetive to tank after getting a contract, but that's just me.

[Mizzou]

I'd rather Zambrano be pitching to earn a big contract in every remaining start this year than give him a fat one now, but I certainly wouldn't complain if he received an extension now.

 

Z strikes me as someone too competetive to tank after getting a contract, but that's just me.

I'm not saying he'd tank if he received a contract tomorrow. What I meant was that given the choice between a pitcher who just received a huge contract, and one who is pitching to earn that huge contract, I'd rather have the latter.

[NCCubFan]

Yeah, nobody possibly had any potentially legit and thought reasons to trade Zambrano at the time. It was all kneejerk hyperbole. Boy, you guys sure have everyone covered. All the trade ideas had to do with him fighting Barrett and nothing else.

The Barrett incident certainly was part of the reason for the talk, but your "and nothing else" assertion is definitely wrong. His crappy start to the season definitely had something to do with it. There were people advocating trading Zambrano even before the incident. The talk increased after the incident, but it started before then.

[Sammy Sofa]

Yeah, nobody possibly had any potentially legit and thought reasons to trade Zambrano at the time. It was all kneejerk hyperbole. Boy, you guys sure have everyone covered. All the trade ideas had to do with him fighting Barrett and nothing else.

The Barrett incident certainly was part of the reason for the talk, but your "and nothing else" assertion is definitely wrong. His crappy start to the season definitely had something to do with it. There were people advocating trading Zambrano even before the incident. The talk increased after the incident, but it started before then.

 

I know. I was responding sarcastically to the people gloating as if any ideas to trade Zambrano weren't thought out and were all based on emotion.

[Peoriaman]

Has a pitcher ever won the Cy Young and not made the all-star game?

[erik316wttn]

Didn't most people on this board want Z gone after the fight with Barrett?

I don't know if I'd go as far as saying most, but a lot did.

LOL...funny how that changed so quickly. :lol:

I'll admit I'm one of the ones who wouldn't have minded seeing him traded at the time. The Cubs didn't look to be in contention and it looked like he was in a freefall. Now his claim about winning the Cy Young Award this year doesn't look so crazy after all.

He should be the leading candidate after today. Wonder how much teeth gnashing there is in the front office after not signing him to the very reasonable deal at the beginning of the season?

 

I have a very bad feeling this will be Maddux redux.

 

Hendry had all freaking winter to get a very reasonable deal done, and now it's going to cost him tens of millions more because he couldn't come to terms with our ace.

 

Be prepared to see him in New York next year, boys.

[inari]

Zambrano's not the leading Cy Young candidate. He's probably not top three.

[TruffleShuffle]

Zambrano's not the leading Cy Young candidate. He's probably not top three.

 

he doesn't deserve to be in the top 3, but he probably is. Penny is easily the leader right now, though.

[Have a seat, Neifi]

Z probably shouldn't be top 3 or even top 5 (at least not yet), but he's got the one stat voters actually look at- wins. He'll be in the conversation, especially if his ERA continues to head south and his strikeout totals remain impressive (the only other 2 stats the voters look at).

[Lockes Eye Scar]

Chris Young has been the best pitcher, but he won't win it http://tinyurl.com/34xgjs

[Peoriaman]

has a cy young winner ever been passed over for the all-star game?

[pitchcs]

has a cy young winner ever been passed over for the all-star game?

 

 

Johan Santana - 2004

[Peoriaman]

has a cy young winner ever been passed over for the all-star game?

 

 

Johan Santana - 2004

 

 

thanks.

[pitchcs]

has a cy young winner ever been passed over for the all-star game?

 

 

Johan Santana - 2004

 

 

thanks.

 

I couldn't come up with his 2nd half stats very easily so I quit trying. But I'm assuming that was the year he went like 14-1 in the second half, or whatever it was.

[badgercub]

has a cy young winner ever been passed over for the all-star game?

 

Rick Sutcliffe in 1984. It should be mentioned that he started the season with Cleveland going 4-5, was traded to the Cubs and went 16-1 to close out the season and lead the Cubs to the Eastern Division Title, garnering him Cy Young in the N.L. while Sandberg was named MVP.

[Soriano12]

Didn't most people on this board want Z gone after the fight with Barrett? Hmmmm....

 

With regards to Zambrano, I had a "Crap, or get off the pot" philosophy. The Cubs were nearly 10 games out of the dvision lead, compounded by the ownership situation, I didn't want the Cubs to lose Z for nothing. Either extend him or trade him. Obvisouly you can't trade him now in the heat of a pennant race, so I am prayng they will find a way to get a contract done this offseason.

[TheDude]

Zambrano is going to have a tough time in the Cy Young running. Although, I will be very surprised if the season ends with 6 guys under 3.00 ERA, as it currently stands.

 

Zambrano was 5th in the NL in 2006 in ERA with an ERA that was all of .005 less than his current ERA, which is presently 13th best in the NL.

 

If Z can maintain an ERA around 3.50 and eclipse 20 wins (needs 6 of last 10 starts) while approaching 200 Ks (needs 7.2 per start the rest of the way) he stands a chance. But only if many of the 12 guys ahead of him in ERA regress.

[badgercub]

Zambrano is going to have a tough time in the Cy Young running. Although, I will be very surprised if the season ends with 6 guys under 3.00 ERA, as it currently stands.

 

Zambrano was 5th in the NL in 2006 in ERA with an ERA that was all of .005 less than his current ERA, which is presently 13th best in the NL.

 

If Z can maintain an ERA around 3.50 and eclipse 20 wins (needs 6 of last 10 starts) while approaching 200 Ks (needs 7.2 per start the rest of the way) he stands a chance. But only if many of the 12 guys ahead of him in ERA regress.

 

I think if Z is the only 20 game winner and his ERA drops just a tad more he will win the Cy Young. Wins still mean the most to the voters

[Backtobanks]

Zambrano is going to have a tough time in the Cy Young running. Although, I will be very surprised if the season ends with 6 guys under 3.00 ERA, as it currently stands.

 

Zambrano was 5th in the NL in 2006 in ERA with an ERA that was all of .005 less than his current ERA, which is presently 13th best in the NL.

 

If Z can maintain an ERA around 3.50 and eclipse 20 wins (needs 6 of last 10 starts) while approaching 200 Ks (needs 7.2 per start the rest of the way) he stands a chance. But only if many of the 12 guys ahead of him in ERA regress.

 

I think if Z is the only 20 game winner and his ERA drops just a tad more he will win the Cy Young. Wins still mean the most to the voters

 

Also, a lot depends on whether the Cubs get to the playoffs.

[TheDude]

Zambrano is going to have a tough time in the Cy Young running. Although, I will be very surprised if the season ends with 6 guys under 3.00 ERA, as it currently stands.

 

Zambrano was 5th in the NL in 2006 in ERA with an ERA that was all of .005 less than his current ERA, which is presently 13th best in the NL.

 

If Z can maintain an ERA around 3.50 and eclipse 20 wins (needs 6 of last 10 starts) while approaching 200 Ks (needs 7.2 per start the rest of the way) he stands a chance. But only if many of the 12 guys ahead of him in ERA regress.

 

I think if Z is the only 20 game winner and his ERA drops just a tad more he will win the Cy Young. Wins still mean the most to the voters

 

Also, a lot depends on whether the Cubs get to the playoffs.

 

Not for the Cy Young. For whatever reason a double-standard exists: Typically MVP must come from a playoff team, Cy Young goes to best pitcher regardless.

 

And yes for Cy Young, Wins rank very high in the voters minds, while ERA, K's, and even Innings Pitched tend be the secondary delineations.

[NCCubFan]

Regardless of whether he wins the Cy Young this year I think he's a near-lock for the Silver Slugger. And knowing Z he may take more pride in that anyway. :D

[CUBZ99]

Stoney was on WSCR and predicted that the Cubs were close to signing Zambrano to a 4 yr. deal. :D Please be true.

[seanimal]

Stoney was on WSCR and predicted that the Cubs were close to signing Zambrano to a 4 yr. deal. :D Please be true.

 

That really would be incredible news, and would give me hope that the Cubs would be able to keep up with the Brewers next season.