Carlos Zambrano's brouhaha and apology

[Banedon]

After Z's blowup I would have put the odds at greater than 50/50 that he's not a Cub next year. Now I think the percentage is in the high 90's that he's wearing a new uniform in 2011 after this.

 

i'm 90% sure he'll still be a cub.

I'm betting he's a goner by the end of the season.

 

How? He has a NTC. And he earns a million bazillion dollars. He's not going anywhere.

[CUBZ99]

Suspend Z for however long you have to, but putting him back in the bullpen upon his return makes zero sense. And the fact that they announced this right away just a couple weeks after they all but admitted the Z bullpen experiment failed makes it apparent that the move back to the bullpen will be out of punishment instead of in the best interest of the team.

 

Suspending him is enough punishment. Let him return to the rotation and put Wells in the bullpen.

 

 

It's stupid. Not only is Z more valuable as a starter, but banishing him to the pen reduces his trade value. It's petty and obtuse on multiple levels, and only works against the best interests of the team.

There is no franchise in baseball that will let stupid petty garbage get between them and doing what's best for themselves like the Cubs. This is the third player in six years they've done this with. I suppose they should be counting their lucky stars that the last two times have turned out as well as they have, between getting a moderately useful backup infielder and a miraculous turnaround year out of a pitcher for the players they nuked bridges with.

 

It's Jim Hendry's demonize and devalue problem player movement philosophy. I mean what better way to get the most in return for a player you want gone than to make them look as unappealing as possible while demonstrating your desperation to get rid of them?

 

This situation demonstrates just how inept Hendry is. Z was out of line, but the reaction by management was just about as counterproductive as you could possibly imagine. As were the Sosa and Bradley situations. It's almost as if Hendry likes to challenge himself by sacrificing all his leverage.

 

Exactly what trade value did Z have? People need to stop overreacting to the Cubs handling of this, as if Hendry cost the Cubs a good prospect in a potential trade. Hendry tried to move Z in the off season and found that Z didn't have any trade value to begin with. Add on his horrendous year so far this year, and there weren't going to be any teams lining up to give anything of value.

 

If anything, he probably helped ensure that Zambrano will be more willing to waive his no trade clause.

[erik316wttn]

After Z's blowup I would have put the odds at greater than 50/50 that he's not a Cub next year. Now I think the percentage is in the high 90's that he's wearing a new uniform in 2011 after this.

 

i'm 90% sure he'll still be a cub.

I'm betting he's a goner by the end of the season.

 

How? He has a NTC. And he earns a million bazillion dollars. He's not going anywhere.

 

Similar situations haven't stopped other players with NTC's and large contracts from demanding trades. If he makes it known enough that he wants out pronto and won't be satisfied until he's gone, he'll be moved just to avoid the distraction surrounding this whole thing.

[erik316wttn]

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=9422017&query=%26game_pk%3D264927

 

just in case anyone wanted to see it

 

A) I wish we had a young cornerstone leader like Longoria

 

B) Longoria didn't budge an inch. BJ's inyoface act didn't intimidate him in the slightest.

 

and yes, the powder blues are dope

 

Forget being a leader, I wish we had a young player with simply the baseball ability of Evan Longoria.

[Banedon]

After Z's blowup I would have put the odds at greater than 50/50 that he's not a Cub next year. Now I think the percentage is in the high 90's that he's wearing a new uniform in 2011 after this.

 

i'm 90% sure he'll still be a cub.

I'm betting he's a goner by the end of the season.

 

How? He has a NTC. And he earns a million bazillion dollars. He's not going anywhere.

 

Similar situations haven't stopped other players with NTC's and large contracts from demanding trades. If he makes it known enough that he wants out pronto and won't be satisfied until he's gone, he'll be moved just to avoid the distraction surrounding this whole thing.

 

Well sure, but he hasn't given any indication he wants to be traded. In fact, previously he's been pretty anti-trade...he's a headcase, but he's a loyal headcase.

[C.C.]

If he stuck in the bullpen doing mop-up his loyalty won't last.

[Prizefight]

Steve Stone just gave us this gem on Mully and Hanley:

 

"Let Z start taking grounders at first base"

 

:banghead:

[lumafia]

What a nightmare. There are so many things wrong with this team, and so many horrible decisions being made by so many people that it's hard to tell where the fuse was lit and where it ends.

[mike2482]

Steve Stone just gave us this gem on Mully and Hanley:

 

"Let Z start taking grounders at first base"

 

:banghead:

 

 

In what context was he saying this? Was it, he should start taking grounders so he can see how hard that play he was mad at Lee is, or he should start taking grounders at first because he would be a better bat than Lee?

 

Sorry about the run-on sentence.

[BeerHere]

After Z's blowup I would have put the odds at greater than 50/50 that he's not a Cub next year. Now I think the percentage is in the high 90's that he's wearing a new uniform in 2011 after this.

 

i'm 90% sure he'll still be a cub.

I'm betting he's a goner by the end of the season.

 

How? He has a NTC. And he earns a million bazillion dollars. He's not going anywhere.

Pure speculation on my part and I may be reading between the lines but it sounds like the whole organization is tired of his act. I am fully aware of the money involved and I'm also aware that he has a no trade clause. I am saying that despite that, I can see the club eating some salary, I can also see Zambrano waiving his NTC to play for his friend Ozzie. There are several scenarios that I hope to see happen.

[jersey cubs fan]

After Z's blowup I would have put the odds at greater than 50/50 that he's not a Cub next year. Now I think the percentage is in the high 90's that he's wearing a new uniform in 2011 after this.

 

i'm 90% sure he'll still be a cub.

I'm betting he's a goner by the end of the season.

 

How? He has a NTC. And he earns a million bazillion dollars. He's not going anywhere.

Pure speculation on my part and I may be reading between the lines but it sounds like the whole organization is tired of his act. I am fully aware of the money involved and I'm also aware that he has a no trade clause. I am saying that despite that, I can see the club eating some salary, I can also see Zambrano waiving his NTC to play for his friend Ozzie. There are several scenarios that I hope to see happen.

 

The Cubs seem willing to go into "fight back until he waives his NTC" mode.

[Banedon]

After Z's blowup I would have put the odds at greater than 50/50 that he's not a Cub next year. Now I think the percentage is in the high 90's that he's wearing a new uniform in 2011 after this.

 

i'm 90% sure he'll still be a cub.

I'm betting he's a goner by the end of the season.

 

How? He has a NTC. And he earns a million bazillion dollars. He's not going anywhere.

Pure speculation on my part and I may be reading between the lines but it sounds like the whole organization is tired of his act. I am fully aware of the money involved and I'm also aware that he has a no trade clause. I am saying that despite that, I can see the club eating some salary, I can also see Zambrano waiving his NTC to play for his friend Ozzie. There are several scenarios that I hope to see happen.

 

So it's less that you think it will happen, and more that you hope it will?

[BeerHere]

No, like I said. If you read the quotes from Hendry, Randy Bush, Lou and others it sounds like the org wants him gone. Not too far of a stretch considering the treatment that Zambrano has been given this year (bullpen - twice). My guess is just that - a guess but I'm basing it on how I interpret those quotes. For the record, this team is going absolutely nowhere this year and a LOT of changes are needed to become competitive. If Zambrano can be moved in the right package I'm 100% in favor of it. Same goes for Lilly, Soriano, Fukudome, Dempster, Theriot etc. No, I don't like Z and I would love to see him fail elsewhere but it has to be in the right deal.

[TommyJohn]

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=9422017&query=%26game_pk%3D264927

 

just in case anyone wanted to see it

 

A) I wish we had a young cornerstone leader like Longoria

 

B) Longoria didn't budge an inch. BJ's inyoface act didn't intimidate him in the slightest.

 

and yes, the powder blues are dope

 

It doesn't intimidate Edmonds either. Word on the street is that he likes it!

[Banedon]

One Major League Baseball executive predicted Big Z would be back in a Cubs uniform by the middle or end of this week.

 

"Probably a four- or five-game suspension would suffice," he said. "As much attention as the incident received in Chicago, you really can't justify a suspension of more than that for acting like a goof and arguing with a teammate."

[jersey cubs fan]

One Major League Baseball executive predicted Big Z would be back in a Cubs uniform by the middle or end of this week.

 

"Probably a four- or five-game suspension would suffice," he said. "As much attention as the incident received in Chicago, you really can't justify a suspension of more than that for acting like a goof and arguing with a teammate."

 

Were there people thinking a longer term suspension was likely?

[Jon]

In case anyone needs to add to their Steve Stone is a [expletive] crazy and shouldn't allowed near a front office let alone microphone file:

 

Trib[/url]"]In the opinion of broadcaster Steve Stone, the Cubs should consider looking at Zambrano as a position player, given his proficiency with the bat and his continuing decline as a pitcher.

 

"He'll probably hit the ball as far as anybody on the team," Stone told "The Mully & Hanley Show" on WSCR-AM 670, noting that Zambrano is a switch-hitter with a lifetime .237 average and 20 homers.

With Lee possibly on his way out of town after this season, "It might be time for (Zambrano) to take some ground balls at first base," Stone said. "If you're going to get anything out of Zambrano and if you can't trade him ....

 

"There are teams that would take Zambrano as the fiery guy, but there are not teams that are going to take the 3-6, 5.65 ERA or whatever ... The fact is, Carlos' stuff is short. It's been short for a bit.

 

"The Big Z stuff where he won 18 games, those days are over for him," Stone said.

[Banedon]

In case anyone needs to add to their Steve Stone is a [expletive] crazy and shouldn't allowed near a front office let alone microphone file:

 

Trib[/url]"]In the opinion of broadcaster Steve Stone, the Cubs should consider looking at Zambrano as a position player, given his proficiency with the bat and his continuing decline as a pitcher.

 

"He'll probably hit the ball as far as anybody on the team," Stone told "The Mully & Hanley Show" on WSCR-AM 670, noting that Zambrano is a switch-hitter with a lifetime .237 average and 20 homers.

With Lee possibly on his way out of town after this season, "It might be time for (Zambrano) to take some ground balls at first base," Stone said. "If you're going to get anything out of Zambrano and if you can't trade him ....

 

"There are teams that would take Zambrano as the fiery guy, but there are not teams that are going to take the 3-6, 5.65 ERA or whatever ... The fact is, Carlos' stuff is short. It's been short for a bit.

 

"The Big Z stuff where he won 18 games, those days are over for him," Stone said.

 

After his move to the bullpen, I don't think I'd be surprised with anything the Cubs tried to do with him.

[lumafia]

In case anyone needs to add to their Steve Stone is a [expletive] crazy and shouldn't allowed near a front office let alone microphone file:

 

Trib[/url]"]In the opinion of broadcaster Steve Stone, the Cubs should consider looking at Zambrano as a position player, given his proficiency with the bat and his continuing decline as a pitcher.

 

"He'll probably hit the ball as far as anybody on the team," Stone told "The Mully & Hanley Show" on WSCR-AM 670, noting that Zambrano is a switch-hitter with a lifetime .237 average and 20 homers.

With Lee possibly on his way out of town after this season, "It might be time for (Zambrano) to take some ground balls at first base," Stone said. "If you're going to get anything out of Zambrano and if you can't trade him ....

 

"There are teams that would take Zambrano as the fiery guy, but there are not teams that are going to take the 3-6, 5.65 ERA or whatever ... The fact is, Carlos' stuff is short. It's been short for a bit.

 

"The Big Z stuff where he won 18 games, those days are over for him," Stone said.

 

After his move to the bullpen, I don't think I'd be surprised with anything the Cubs tried to do with him.

 

So, Steve Stone is saying that Zambrano sucks as a pitcher and has no more value (which is close to being accurate), so you might as well get the most out of him by letting him try to hit on a team that can't drive in a run to save their collective lives? I'm not sure I have a problem with that. I think Steve is trying to take a little jab at the organization, which it deserves.

[Soul]

One Major League Baseball executive predicted Big Z would be back in a Cubs uniform by the middle or end of this week.

 

"Probably a four- or five-game suspension would suffice," he said. "As much attention as the incident received in Chicago, you really can't justify a suspension of more than that for acting like a goof and arguing with a teammate."

 

Were there people thinking a longer term suspension was likely?

 

The term "indefinite" was thrown around, and can sometimes mean longer-term.

 

I'm not expecting anything, or hoping for anything. I'm just numb, pretty much, when it comes to this club and this season.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Why don't other people realize that Z is a terrible hitter? Just because he hits homers doesn't mean he's worth [expletive] at the plate.

[NCCubFan]

The only way I see Z getting a lengthy suspension is if they can place him on the restricted list and replace him on the roster. There's a limit to how long they can effectively go with a 24-man roster during a stretch with no days off.

[Guest]

There's a limit to how long they can effectively go with a 24-man roster during a stretch with no days off.

 

Otherwise the team might start losing.

[dew1679666265]

Why don't other people realize that Z is a terrible hitter? Just because he hits homers doesn't mean he's worth [expletive] at the plate.

 

In 625 career PAs, he has an OPS of .634. His wOBA is .270.

 

He's a very good hitter for a pitcher, but a very bad hitter for a hitter.

[treebird]

In case anyone needs to add to their Steve Stone is a [expletive] crazy and shouldn't allowed near a front office let alone microphone file:

 

Trib[/url]"]In the opinion of broadcaster Steve Stone, the Cubs should consider looking at Zambrano as a position player, given his proficiency with the bat and his continuing decline as a pitcher.

 

"He'll probably hit the ball as far as anybody on the team," Stone told "The Mully & Hanley Show" on WSCR-AM 670, noting that Zambrano is a switch-hitter with a lifetime .237 average and 20 homers.

With Lee possibly on his way out of town after this season, "It might be time for (Zambrano) to take some ground balls at first base," Stone said. "If you're going to get anything out of Zambrano and if you can't trade him ....

 

"There are teams that would take Zambrano as the fiery guy, but there are not teams that are going to take the 3-6, 5.65 ERA or whatever ... The fact is, Carlos' stuff is short. It's been short for a bit.

 

"The Big Z stuff where he won 18 games, those days are over for him," Stone said.

 

After his move to the bullpen, I don't think I'd be surprised with anything the Cubs tried to do with him.

 

So, Steve Stone is saying that Zambrano sucks as a pitcher and has no more value (which is close to being accurate), so you might as well get the most out of him by letting him try to hit on a team that can't drive in a run to save their collective lives? I'm not sure I have a problem with that. I think Steve is trying to take a little jab at the organization, which it deserves.

 

come on, there are tons of problems with that.

 

ONE there's no reason to write zambrano off as finished as a pitcher. his era in games that aren't the first game of the season this year is 4.49. he'd be right in line to have a fairly typical (if slightly down) carlos zambrano-type year if we'd just be smart enough to let him pitch every fifth day the rest of the way.

 

TWO turning pitchers into position players is going to make our team hit less, not more.

 

THREE you don't "get the most out of him" by forcing him to make bizarre and drastic position changes after he's been in the league ten years. that's how you guarantee you never get anything worthwhile out of him again.

 

FOUR shut up