Z's Explanation

[XZero771679666304]

Let's also get one thing straight. He's not having a horrible year. He's on pace for a 6+ WARP season. Not his usually 8 WARP stuff, but to put it into perspective, Carp's 2004 was under 5.

 

Ok a very bad year for my standards on Carlos Zambrano.

 

Maybe standards that don't allow a pitcher (even an ace) to have a bad year are unrealistic?

 

True, but his numbers have been declining for three years now.

 

Well, yes and no. His ERA has gotten higher each year, but his k/9 and BAA had been getting better, and his OBP and SLG had been about the same (prior to this year). His k/bb ratio has been declining, which obviously has an overall negative effect, as well as his gb/fb ratio.

 

Personally, I think his problem is that he is simply trying too hard to strike guys out and getting away from what has made him successful, which is throwing his hard sinking stuff in the zone and inducing grounders.

 

This has resulted in more walks and more fly balls.

 

 

To tell you the truth, Z's troubles along with the fact that most other Cubs pitchers seem to have a real problem with control/nibbling that dates back several years makes me seriously wonder about the efficacy of Rothschild's coaching. I had been hoping that much of this was a result of Dusty's overruling him, but I am starting to wonder what, if anything, Larry is teaching these guys.

 

If it was just a handful of pitchers it would be one thing, but this problem seems almost institutional at this point.

[kente777]

Don't know if anyone has posted this yet but ESPN 1000 just reported that Z has called a pregame press conference to apologize for his statements yesterday.

 

Just what I predicted yesterday. :)

[XZero771679666304]

Don't know if anyone has posted this yet but ESPN 1000 just reported that Z has called a pregame press conference to apologize for his statements yesterday.

 

Predictable, and appropriate.

[C.C.]

Don't know if anyone has posted this yet but ESPN 1000 just reported that Z has called a pregame press conference to apologize for his statements yesterday.

 

I knew that was coming...

[kente777]

Don't know if anyone has posted this yet but ESPN 1000 just reported that Z has called a pregame press conference to apologize for his statements yesterday.

 

Just what I predicted yesterday. :)

 

I also predict that Cubs fans will greet Z with a standing "O" when he next takes the mound.

[moorecg]

Don't know if anyone has posted this yet but ESPN 1000 just reported that Z has called a pregame press conference to apologize for his statements yesterday.

 

I knew that was coming...

 

I knew it should come, I wasn't positive it would....I'm very glad it is....

 

IF he's sufficiently contrite I expect a standing ovation next time he walks on the field.

[C.C.]

Don't know if anyone has posted this yet but ESPN 1000 just reported that Z has called a pregame press conference to apologize for his statements yesterday.

 

I knew that was coming...

 

I knew it should come, I wasn't positive it would....I'm very glad it is....

 

IF he's sufficiently contrite I expect a standing ovation next time he walks on the field.

 

Depends what he does on his next two road starts.

[moorecg]

Don't know if anyone has posted this yet but ESPN 1000 just reported that Z has called a pregame press conference to apologize for his statements yesterday.

 

Just what I predicted yesterday. :)

 

I also predict that Cubs fans will greet Z with a standing "O" when he next takes the mound.

 

beat me to it.

[kente777]

Don't know if anyone has posted this yet but ESPN 1000 just reported that Z has called a pregame press conference to apologize for his statements yesterday.

 

I knew that was coming...

 

I knew it should come, I wasn't positive it would....I'm very glad it is....

 

IF he's sufficiently contrite I expect a standing ovation next time he walks on the field.

 

Depends what he does on his next two road starts.

 

I don't think so. Cubs fans are among the best in baseball. They boo, yes. But they also forgive. Carlos will say something like, "The fans have every right to boo because I've been pitching so badly. I must pitch better for the team and the fans."

 

That, in and of itself, guarentees a warm applause next time he pitches.

[wolf stansson]

Trade him to the Blue Jays.

[A New Era]

Don't know if anyone has posted this yet but ESPN 1000 just reported that Z has called a pregame press conference to apologize for his statements yesterday.

 

Just what I predicted yesterday. :)

 

I also predict that Cubs fans will greet Z with a standing "O" when he next takes the mound.

 

beat me to it.

 

Ofcourse that's they way it was going to happen.

[justin23iu]

It would be nice if Carlos never had to have a press conference to apologize for anything. This is 2 apologies already this year. Time to get this immaturity behind him.

[XZero771679666304]

 

I don't need to look too far. Jake Peavy.

 

Peavy's a perfect example. And like Z in 2007, his peripherals in 2006 were all pretty much in line with his career norms, save for a couple.

[Mephistopheles]

 

I don't need to look too far. Jake Peavy.

 

Peavy's a perfect example. And like Z in 2007, his peripherals in 2006 were all pretty much in line with his career norms, save for a couple.

 

In Zambrano's case his peripherals line up but his previous peripherals lined up to his current ERA, and that's something I haven't gotten into.

[soccer10k]

It's so stupid that it's beyond my comprehension how fans can cheer a player for two months and the minute they struggle they get booed not sporadically, but by the entire crowd.

 

It's not as if this was his first bad start in a month or two, this is his fifth bad start in a row Not to mention that he's been bad more than he's been good this year.

[C.C.]

Don't know if anyone has posted this yet but ESPN 1000 just reported that Z has called a pregame press conference to apologize for his statements yesterday.

 

And he announces that his "New season" start's today!

[soccer10k]

From the quotes, I think Z thinks of the fans as one of his teammates. If he sees it that way, I can see why he's upset.

 

I can too because Z realizes if he punches one of his fans he knows he'll have a lawsuit on his hands.

[soccer10k]

Jesus Christ, I wasn't indicting every Cubs fan everywhere; just the ones in this thread who are unnecessarily villifying Zambrano.

 

If Carpenter was in the same situation, I'm sure there would be some Cardinals fans doing the same thing, and I would say the same thing I said here.

 

So we are villifying him by wanting him to stop sucking and start pitching like the ace he is? Ya sounds like we are real irrational.

 

you've been villifying him from your very first post.

 

And no one said anything about the fact that wanting him to stop sucking is a bad thing. But that yesterday was beyond that.

 

We are going to have to agree to disagree because you arent going to change my mind that there was nothing wrong with what took place yesterday from the fans.

 

I was just about to say the same thing, because I think yesterday was bushleague and classless.

 

So was his performence...

 

hahahahaha.

 

that's a good one.

 

yea z's all out hustle and zeal and passion for which he plays the game is the complete opposite of bushleague and classless. But I know you need to feel justification for the way he was treated by supposed fans yesterday.

 

And his stupidity caused him to run through a stop sign and make the first out of the inning at home plate by a wide margin.

[badger1679666666]

It's so stupid that it's beyond my comprehension how fans can cheer a player for two months and the minute they struggle they get booed not sporadically, but by the entire crowd.

 

It's not as if this was his first bad start in a month or two, this is his fifth bad start in a row Not to mention that he's been bad more than he's been good this year.

 

SO WHAT?

 

He's been good for 4 freaking years. 5 bad starts and you turn on a guy. Yep that exhibits class.

[soccer10k]

Actually, let me add an idiot as well. Anyone who predicts he will be the Cy Young winner is arrogant and an idiot.

 

This is untrue. If I am Pedro Martinez and it's the offseason between 1999 and 2000, and I say I predict I will win the CYA, does that make me an idiot or arrogant? That makes me betting on the odds. But this is a tangent but there are a few cases where predicting a CYA for yourself isn't idiotic. I don't have a problem with that comment. It came off wrong, but it seemed to me like that was his goal. Frankly, I'd rather his goal be to win the CYA than make the playoffs, because of he does the first the second would come.

 

No, because Pedro usually backs it up.

 

And so does Z. Until 3 months out of this year.

 

Z's never had Cy Young stuff. Pedro did.

[kente777]

It's so stupid that it's beyond my comprehension how fans can cheer a player for two months and the minute they struggle they get booed not sporadically, but by the entire crowd.

 

It's not as if this was his first bad start in a month or two, this is his fifth bad start in a row Not to mention that he's been bad more than he's been good this year.

 

SO WHAT?

 

He's been good for 4 freaking years. 5 bad starts and you turn on a guy. Yep that exhibits class.

 

Booing is not classless. It's the way fans communicate. They also communicate by cheering. It goes both ways.

 

I wouldn't be a very good father if I always stroked my daughter. She needs discipline at times.

 

Z needs to take criticism. Usually a hot-headed and arrogant person is the first one who lashes out against those who criticize. His apology is probably coming from a mandate from Lou. I don't see "Z" as a humble man.

Edited September 4, 2007 by kente777

[A New Era]

It's so stupid that it's beyond my comprehension how fans can cheer a player for two months and the minute they struggle they get booed not sporadically, but by the entire crowd.

 

It's not as if this was his first bad start in a month or two, this is his fifth bad start in a row Not to mention that he's been bad more than he's been good this year.

 

SO WHAT?

 

He's been good for 4 freaking years. 5 bad starts and you turn on a guy. Yep that exhibits class.

 

Booing him does not mean "you turn on a guy". It means, "get your act together". .

[synergy]

It's so stupid that it's beyond my comprehension how fans can cheer a player for two months and the minute they struggle they get booed not sporadically, but by the entire crowd.

 

It's not as if this was his first bad start in a month or two, this is his fifth bad start in a row Not to mention that he's been bad more than he's been good this year.

 

SO WHAT?

 

He's been good for 4 freaking years. 5 bad starts and you turn on a guy. Yep that exhibits class.

 

who cares what he did 4 years ago or last year?? is that going to help us get to the playoffs this year? he is supposed to be the ace of this staff....he should start playing like one.

[BigbadB]

Don't know if anyone has posted this yet but ESPN 1000 just reported that Z has called a pregame press conference to apologize for his statements yesterday.

 

:cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

 

Loud roaring standing ovation for Big Z.

 

Now let's get down to the business of winning baseball games.

[soccer10k]

Don't know if anyone has posted this yet but ESPN 1000 just reported that Z has called a pregame press conference to apologize for his statements yesterday.

 

Hooray for artificial and forced apologies!!

 

Save the words and just pitch well, Z.