Z's Explanation

[BigbadB]

I disagree. Booing someone who makes fundamental mistakes that they should not be making is definitely grounds for booing.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

You know who's 100% right? Carlos Zambrano

[BigbadB]

You know who's 100% right? Carlos Zambrano

 

I'm sure he sees it that way.

[kente777]

Z also did say that the fans pay to see a good pitcher and right now hes not a good pitcher. However he says that when something bad happens in a family, you expect your brother or sister to support you and show you love, and instead the fans tryied piling on him. Said he will remember it in the future when things are going good, whatever that means. Bottom line is, Z needs to grow up. He really doesnt want to start a war of words with his fanbase when he just signed a long term deal. Right now is when DLee or Wood need to go to him and tell him this and that he should probably offer an apology.

 

I agree he was wrong to say what he did but the booing is getting ridiculous. Z is a bit of a spoiled baby, but a lot of these fans are irrational. The team has a bad inning or a pitcher has a bad game and they are booing? It doesn't look like a knowledgeable fan base when they boo or throw stuff on the field whenever things go bad. The crowd reaction is like the way it is in game threads. Suicide alert whenever the Cubs are losing and cloud 9 when they are winning. 162 game seasons have high and low points and supporting your team seems a lot more constructive then booing them whenever they fail.

 

Fans have a right to boo. They pay the salaries of the players. They boo'ed Z because he has sucked for over a month, not because he sucked today.

 

It's Z's job to ignore the boos and do what is required of him. If he does that, the boos will turn to cheers.

 

I know this booing argument has been done before so I don't want to beat that dead horse, but what are they booing? To me the reason I would ever boo a player that is on a team I root for is lack of effort. Does anyone doubt Z wants to win as much or more than anyone on that field or in the stands? If so, then is he getting booed because he is not good? Has there ever been a case of a bad player suddenly becoming good because he was booed and realized he should play well instead? Clearly Z has an issue with his mechanics or something else that is causing his effectiveness to drop. I think he gets that, but it would be nice for the fans to take the approach of "hey, we are behind you Z, we have faith that you get it together and help us win" instead of "you suck, you better do better next time or we will boo you and call you bad names". It just does not make sense to me.

I think today's running the stop sign, in addition to his non-stop overthrowing and overswinging, is showing that he views himself as bigger than the rest of the team. I'll back off the grow up angle a bit, but the religious man could use a little humility.

 

Amen, brother!!

[BigbadB]

More than anything, Carlos needs to drop the drama and just play the game the way it's supposed to be played. We watched all the drama unfold in 2004 and then watched other teams compete in the playoffs.

 

I want nothing more than to be cheering Carlos Zambrano as he takes the hill in game one of the 2007 World Series.

[NCCubFan]

I don't think fans make a conscious decision to boo; it's just a natural human reaction resulting from frustration. The fans want a championship and they want to see Z (and all players for that matter) do well. When he stinks for over a month after signing an extension, and the result is a lost opportunity to gain a game on the competition, it's frustrating and the result is booing.

[rawaction]

I agree. Players need to shut up and get over it. Play poorly = get booed. Play well = get cheered. No need to get upset when it happens.

 

As for the fans, I'm not a boo-er. Never have been. But can anyone honestly blame them? Carlos has been ejected from huge games for throwing at hitters (Edmonds). He's punched his battery mate. He's shown up his teammates on the field. But most importantly, he's pitched like crap. He's pitched like crap in a pennant race. He's pitched like crap after signing a huge contract (which fans do hold against him). He's pitched like crap after vowing to lead this team to the playoffs and win a Cy Young.

[oldcubsfan]

Z also did say that the fans pay to see a good pitcher and right now hes not a good pitcher. However he says that when something bad happens in a family, you expect your brother or sister to support you and show you love, and instead the fans tryied piling on him. Said he will remember it in the future when things are going good, whatever that means. Bottom line is, Z needs to grow up. He really doesnt want to start a war of words with his fanbase when he just signed a long term deal. Right now is when DLee or Wood need to go to him and tell him this and that he should probably offer an apology.

 

I agree he was wrong to say what he did but the booing is getting ridiculous. Z is a bit of a spoiled baby, but a lot of these fans are irrational. The team has a bad inning or a pitcher has a bad game and they are booing? It doesn't look like a knowledgeable fan base when they boo or throw stuff on the field whenever things go bad. The crowd reaction is like the way it is in game threads. Suicide alert whenever the Cubs are losing and cloud 9 when they are winning. 162 game seasons have high and low points and supporting your team seems a lot more constructive then booing them whenever they fail.

 

Fans have a right to boo. They pay the salaries of the players. They boo'ed Z because he has sucked for over a month, not because he sucked today.

 

It's Z's job to ignore the boos and do what is required of him. If he does that, the boos will turn to cheers.

 

I know this booing argument has been done before so I don't want to beat that dead horse, but what are they booing? To me the reason I would ever boo a player that is on a team I root for is lack of effort. Does anyone doubt Z wants to win as much or more than anyone on that field or in the stands? If so, then is he getting booed because he is not good? Has there ever been a case of a bad player suddenly becoming good because he was booed and realized he should play well instead? Clearly Z has an issue with his mechanics or something else that is causing his effectiveness to drop. I think he gets that, but it would be nice for the fans to take the approach of "hey, we are behind you Z, we have faith that you get it together and help us win" instead of "you suck, you better do better next time or we will boo you and call you bad names". It just does not make sense to me.

 

The bottom line is THE FANS BUY THE TICKETS...they can boo if they want to. I don't care if you or I disagree with it. It is their right. All players get boo'ed. Wrigley is a lot less hostile than New York or Boston or Philadelphia.

 

If I go to a game and I want to boo, it is my right. Period!

 

And the players have every right to comment on the booing.

[kente777]

Z also did say that the fans pay to see a good pitcher and right now hes not a good pitcher. However he says that when something bad happens in a family, you expect your brother or sister to support you and show you love, and instead the fans tryied piling on him. Said he will remember it in the future when things are going good, whatever that means. Bottom line is, Z needs to grow up. He really doesnt want to start a war of words with his fanbase when he just signed a long term deal. Right now is when DLee or Wood need to go to him and tell him this and that he should probably offer an apology.

 

I agree he was wrong to say what he did but the booing is getting ridiculous. Z is a bit of a spoiled baby, but a lot of these fans are irrational. The team has a bad inning or a pitcher has a bad game and they are booing? It doesn't look like a knowledgeable fan base when they boo or throw stuff on the field whenever things go bad. The crowd reaction is like the way it is in game threads. Suicide alert whenever the Cubs are losing and cloud 9 when they are winning. 162 game seasons have high and low points and supporting your team seems a lot more constructive then booing them whenever they fail.

 

Fans have a right to boo. They pay the salaries of the players. They boo'ed Z because he has sucked for over a month, not because he sucked today.

 

It's Z's job to ignore the boos and do what is required of him. If he does that, the boos will turn to cheers.

 

I know this booing argument has been done before so I don't want to beat that dead horse, but what are they booing? To me the reason I would ever boo a player that is on a team I root for is lack of effort. Does anyone doubt Z wants to win as much or more than anyone on that field or in the stands? If so, then is he getting booed because he is not good? Has there ever been a case of a bad player suddenly becoming good because he was booed and realized he should play well instead? Clearly Z has an issue with his mechanics or something else that is causing his effectiveness to drop. I think he gets that, but it would be nice for the fans to take the approach of "hey, we are behind you Z, we have faith that you get it together and help us win" instead of "you suck, you better do better next time or we will boo you and call you bad names". It just does not make sense to me.

 

The bottom line is THE FANS BUY THE TICKETS...they can boo if they want to. I don't care if you or I disagree with it. It is their right. All players get boo'ed. Wrigley is a lot less hostile than New York or Boston or Philadelphia.

 

If I go to a game and I want to boo, it is my right. Period!

 

And the players have every right to comment on the booing.

 

Yep, they do. But a player does that at his own risk. You want the fans on your side. If you don't think so, ask Latroy Hawkins.

 

Carlos will apologize because he knows that is the right thing to do.

[Irrelevant Dude]

He's pitched like crap after vowing to lead this team to the playoffs and win a Cy Young.

How dare we expect better than 14-12 out of him after that???

[BigbadB]

Today was a game that we expected to win. LA had to fly in late and got little rest. Their bullpen went through 4 arms yesterday, and we had Z on the mound to rebound from 4 straight bad outings, coupled in with the fact we have a game and a half lead. And just to add a little more to that, the team was coming off an emotional high after DLee brought them back late in the game the day before.

 

I wouldn't have expected Felix Pie to score from first on that double to the left field corner, let alone Zambrano. Why chance it? Why take yourself out of a potentially huge inning? It was a horrible decision. Yes, it was heat of the moment, and it can be forgiven. But, not when you go out to the mound and throw 7 straight balls and then proceed to come unglued on the mound.

[Cubzfan64]

There's only one way to get fans to stop booing you (which they have every right to do btw - whether anyone thinks it's a smart or stupid thing to do) - someone should let Z know that calling the fans selfish ISN"T that one way to get them to stop.

 

Fans in Chicago have changed a bit - we've gotten a taste now and then of what it's like to play for something in September and October.... we're no longer satisfied to just spend "a lovely day at the park" regardless of the outcome.... It's been painful watching the Red Sox break their curse, see an average Cardinals team win the WS and watch the cross town White Sox win one....

 

We've watched this organization spend a crapload of $$ on a team in a division that is essentially the worst in baseball and we have every reason to expect the team to compete for the division title and a chance for a WS.

 

If Z (or any other player on any team) expects their fanbase to watch a poor performance and continue cheering as if nothing is wrong and just go home with the "oh well, we'll get them tomorrow" attitude - they are deluding themselves.

 

My guess is, with the emotions that Z can't seem to control, if he was a fan on the sidelines watching his favorite soccer team lose when it's supposed star player has sucked for a month, he'd be right there with his buddies booing right along side them.

 

Grow a pair, step up and take responsibility for sucking and then go out and do something about it Z!!!! I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO TURN THE BOO'S INTO CHEERS!!!

[Keener98]

I agree. Players need to shut up and get over it. Play poorly = get booed. Play well = get cheered. No need to get upset when it happens.

 

As for the fans, I'm not a boo-er. Never have been. But can anyone honestly blame them? Carlos has been ejected from huge games for throwing at hitters (Edmonds). He's punched his battery mate. He's shown up his teammates on the field. But most importantly, he's pitched like crap. He's pitched like crap in a pennant race. He's pitched like crap after signing a huge contract (which fans do hold against him). He's pitched like crap after vowing to lead this team to the playoffs and win a Cy Young.

 

Exactly Raw, Z has brought on all this himself.

[Keener98]

And Ill tell you this, Z has had it soooooo easy in Chicago. If he played in New York, Boston, maybe even LA, the stuff hes said and done would be even more of an issue. The Chicago media is soft, and so are the fans. It takes alot for Cubs fans to boo, its not like this was his 1st bad outing.

[Alfonso Soriano]

Does Z realize that New York Yankee fans booed A-Rod last year?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Does Z realize that New York Yankee fans booed A-Rod last year?

 

And those Yankee fans were correctly labeled idiots by most of the rational world.

[Keener98]

Does Z realize that New York Yankee fans booed A-Rod last year?

 

And those Yankee fans were correctly labeled idiots by most of the rational world.

 

Do you think Cubs fans are idiots for boo'ing Z? Z has done nothing close in the Majors to compare at all to what Arods done.

Edited September 4, 2007 by Keener98

[UMFan83]

This is what I have to say to Z.

 

 

Thinking about ourselves? A) what the hell does that mean? B) do you not pay attention to what goes on in front of you? do you not see what the circumstances were for other people that got booed? do you think that 4 years of great stuff you are off the hook, that you can get away with complete garbage performances during the stretch run? did you not see Sammy Sosa? I'm sorry that Cubs fans are boo'ing you but you have to realize that we've been 99 freaking years without a title. it's not like you've had 1-2 starts where you've been bad. You've had 29 starts and you've given up 4 ER or more in 11 of them. Thats not good. Figure out what the hell is going on and fix it. You sure as heck make a hell of a lot of money. Figure this crap out and fix it.

Edited September 4, 2007 by UMFan83

[Keener98]

This is what I have to say to Z.

 

 

Thinking about ourselves? A) what the hell does that mean? B) do you not pay attention to what goes on in front of you? do you not see what the circumstances were for other people that got booed? do you think that 4 years of great stuff you are off the hook, that you can get away with complete garbage performances during the stretch run? did you not see Sammy Sosa? I'm sorry that Cubs fans are boo'ing you but you have to realize that we've been 99 freaking years without a title. it's not like you've had 1-2 starts where you've been bad. You've had 29 starts and in probably 17 of them you've given up 4 ER or more in 11 of them. Thats not good. Figure out what the hell is going on and fix it. You sure as heck make a hell of a lot of money. Figure this crap out and fix it.

 

I I cant believe it took you 4 pages to respond lol

[Omar]

Touche Z. Damn those fans that sell out every game at "Wrigley Stadium" ... The ones that pay your salary... The ones that check ahead of schedule to see when you're starting so they can buy tickets to see your over-paid ass pitch... or whatever it is you're doing (or not doing) out there. Edited September 4, 2007 by Omar

[UMFan83]

This is what I have to say to Z.

 

 

Thinking about ourselves? A) what the hell does that mean? B) do you not pay attention to what goes on in front of you? do you not see what the circumstances were for other people that got booed? do you think that 4 years of great stuff you are off the hook, that you can get away with complete garbage performances during the stretch run? did you not see Sammy Sosa? I'm sorry that Cubs fans are boo'ing you but you have to realize that we've been 99 freaking years without a title. it's not like you've had 1-2 starts where you've been bad. You've had 29 starts and in probably 17 of them you've given up 4 ER or more in 11 of them. Thats not good. Figure out what the hell is going on and fix it. You sure as heck make a hell of a lot of money. Figure this crap out and fix it.

 

I I cant believe it took you 4 pages to respond lol

 

I'm in London...its 2AM here. I watched the game on NASN. Takes time to relay this stuff :)

[hawkeyecub]

Why is it that every time this type of thing comes up, 15 people start in with "Fans have the right to boo"? I don't think anyone reasonable says that fans don't have the right to boo. That's certainly their right.

 

I just don't necessarily think it's the right thing to do, especially in this case. I understand why they were upset, so I'm not upset with the fans. But the last thing Z needs is another mental battle. I just don't think the booing results in anything positive, other than some fans getting stuff off their chest. So in that regard, Carlos is right.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Does Z realize that New York Yankee fans booed A-Rod last year?

 

And those Yankee fans were correctly labeled idiots by most of the rational world.

 

Do you think Cubs fans are idiots for boo'ing Z? Z has done nothing close in the Majors to compare at all to what Arods done.

 

Not idiots, but definitely selfish like Z said.

[Alfonso Soriano]

Does Z realize that New York Yankee fans booed A-Rod last year?

 

And those Yankee fans were correctly labeled idiots by most of the rational world.

You mean New Yorkers weren't idiots before that :lol:

[Soul]

Why is it that every time this type of thing comes up, 15 people start in with "Fans have the right to boo"? I don't think anyone reasonable says that fans don't have the right to boo. That's certainly their right.

 

I just don't necessarily think it's the right thing to do, especially in this case. I understand why they were upset, so I'm not upset with the fans. But the last thing Z needs is another mental battle. I just don't think the booing results in anything positive, other than some fans getting stuff off their chest. So in that regard, Carlos is right.

 

The fans are concered that their ballclub is blowing a golden opportunity at a playoff berth. I fail to see how that is "only thinking of themselves." Wouldn't it also be a good thing for........oh I dunno.....everyone else if the Cubs made it?

 

Fans boo because they want better for their team and their city, as well as themselves. Saying it's a selfish thing to boo is a total misread, IMO. It just shows me that Z's head isn't where it needs to be.

 

What Z most desperately needs is to find out why he no longer gets hitters out when he has done so consistently for 4 years. And he needs to find that out in very short order.